Our Mission 
To improve the learning outcomes and well-being of all children and youth by providing services and leadership in partnership with families, schools and communities. 

Our Goals 
• Increase learning growth for students 
• Decrease the gap in achievement 
• Increase annual graduation rates 
• Increase gateways to post-secondary success

Happy Holidays to You and Yours!

On the behalf of the Board and administration at Heartland AEA, I want to wish all of you a peaceful and joyous holiday season. Please enjoy this special time with family and friends and make sure you really do get away from work. 

Heartland AEA is a special place because so many of you invest yourselves in your work so wholeheartedly. I am thankful for that level of dedication because it makes such a difference to so many. However, holiday breaks are for you! So, please get away from your work completely and without guilt. Rest, relax and enjoy. You deserve it. Thank you again for the impact you’ve made throughout 2019 for the children, families and educators of Central Iowa. Rest up, and we will see you in 2020! 

 

- Jon

Payroll Dates for 2020 Announced

Staff members frequently inquire when timesheets, addendum pay, direct deposit forms and other changes need to be submitted to the Payroll Department in order to be processed for a particular pay date. 

To assist you in your planning, a list of 2020 pay dates and corresponding due dates is available. This document is archived on the Intranet > Business Office > Payroll Forms & Information > 2020 Payroll Dates. Payroll needs to receive all information by the end of the day on the due date to ensure payments and/or changes are made on the corresponding pay date. Any information received in Payroll after the due date may be processed during the next payroll cycle. 



For those staff members being paid from a timesheet or receiving addendum pay, please keep in mind these items are to be completed, approved/signed by a supervisor and submitted to Payroll within four working days after the end of the pay period. Any items received after the due date may be processed on the next payroll. 

If you have any questions, contact Steve Jordan, Senior Payroll Specialist, at ext. 14908.

Having Trouble Keeping Track of Your Wellness Points? This Document May Help! And Welcome Our New Wellness Contact

Still have some questions about how to complete the new Wellness Program through Interactive Health? Having trouble keeping track of the points you need to complete the program? Take a look at the document below to get a little help in tracking and completing the program. 

How to Complete the Entire Wellness Program 

Britini Jones – New Wellness Contact 

Britini Jones

Carol McDaniel will be transitioning to the Accounting Specialist position in the Business Office after the 1st of the year, so Britini Jones, who has been a Professional Learning Assistant for AEA Learning Online, has been hired as the new Human Resources Assistant. Welcome Britini to her new position and please reach out to her with your Wellness questions.

Online Wellness Apparel Store Open for All Staff For the Next Two Weeks

Back for December…The Heartland AEA online store where staff can redeem their Wellness incentive for agency logo apparel is open for ALL employees today through Dec. 31, 2019! Employees who have earned their $40 coupon towards logo apparel will receive a separate email with specific ordering information once Interactive Health has notified us. 

But new this year—all employees can purchase any items in the store (and shipping) at their own cost during the two-week period when the online store is open monthly through June 2020. (Use Speedee delivery or pick up your purchase at P&M Apparel in Polk City or use UPS for out-of-state shipping.) Keep your eye on The Connection for the link and monthly online store order dates! 

P&M Apparel Heartland AEA Online Store 

If you have any questions, contact Juliette Houseman, Benefits Specialist.

When You Can Expect Quarterly HRA Contributions in 2020

FYI for those staff who have an HRA: Quarterly HRA contributions and reimbursements that are based on the contribution will occur on the following dates in 2020. Note that these are the dates you can expect the funds to be placed in your account, not the following Friday. If you have any questions, contact Juliette Houseman, Benefits Specialist, at ext. 14315. 

Jan. 10, 2020 
April 10, 2020 
July 10, 2020 
Oct. 9, 2020

Remember You Can Still Get Your Biometric Screening Done! (But Don’t Forget Your Physician Verification Form!)

Good news – you can still go to your primary care physician (PCP) for your annual physical or visit your local Hy-Vee dietician to have your biometric screening done. You’ll just need to take the Interactive Health Physician form with you. You can find the form in your Interactive Health portal at the end of your health assessment. You can also contact Interactive Health to request your form. 

On your Interactive Health portal home page, find “Schedule Your Health Evaluation-Schedule Now.” 

Answer/Complete the information and select “Choose Location.” 

Select a Health Evaluation Location and select “Next.”

Follow the final steps to get your form, print it and take it with you. 

Already had your physical or biometric screening but didn’t use the form? No worries! Get your form from your Interactive Health portal or contact Interactive Health to receive a form. Then take it to wherever you had your screening completed, have the provider complete and sign the form and then mail it to Interactive Health. Once they receive your form, the information will be manually uploaded into your portal, usually within 2 days of receiving it. 

If you have any questions about biometric screenings, contact Britini Jones, Human Resources Assistant.

Some Podcasting Stats and More Staff Recommendations

Here is the next installment in the Podcast series from the Instructional Technology Consultants… 

We thought we’d start this installment out with a bit of podcast data. Don’t worry, we’re not talking spreadsheets, histograms, or box and whisker plots. Take a look at the infographic below to learn more about podcast listeners. 

Infographic from podcastinsights.com

This infographic comes from the Podcast Insights blog. There were lots of great statistics and more detailed information. Here’s the link to the post in case you’d be curious to learn more.  

As promised, here are more podcast recommendations from Heartland AEA staff. If you are new to the world of podcasts, check out the November 11 Connection; we can help you get started. 

Christina Imsland (Special Education Consultant/AM) and Julie McCarty (Communications Specialist/JO)  -- My Favorite Murder

“Lifelong fans of true crime stories Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark tell each other their favorite tales of murder and hear hometown crime stories from friends and fans.” 

Tyler Higgs (School Psychologist/AD) -- Radiolab 
“A two-time Peabody Award-winner, Radiolab is an investigation told through sounds and stories. It is designed for listeners who demand skepticism, but appreciate wonder.” 

Berrett Rice (School Psychologist/AM) -- The Ezra Klein Show 
“Ezra Klein brings you far-reaching conversations about hard problems, big ideas, illuminating theories, and cutting-edge research. Want to know how Stacey Abrams feels about identity politics? How Michael Lewis reads minds? How Hasan Minhaj is reinventing political comedy?”  



Thanks again to those that have shared their recommendations. Feel free to add your podcast favorites to our list, and stay tuned to see if your recommendation makes it into an upcoming edition of the Connection.

Reminder: G Suite for Education Professional Learning Sessions Coming Second Semester

Heartland AEA is excited to share professional learning opportunities aimed at enhancing and supporting continued staff skill development in the area of technology! Beginning in January 2020, the Agency will offer monthly learning opportunities focused on skill development around the productive, efficient use of G Suite for Education apps. 

All agency staff members are welcome to engage in one or all of these learning opportunities based on their individual skill assessment and prioritized needs. The format of the sessions will include a segment of learning, lead by agency technology instructors, with additional time allotted to practice the skills.

 

Each learning session will be focused on a different Google app. Sessions will focus on skill development, practical application, increasing productivity, simplifying workflow and gaining knowledge around digital privacy, safety and security.  

The following areas of focus will be offered across the semester:  

• Google Calendar
 
• Gmail
 
• Google Keep
 
• Google Chrome
 
• Google Tasks
 
• Google Forms 
 
• Google Drive
 
• Google Slides
• And sessions about Zoom and how to search the Internet like a pro! 
 

Session Details 
Face-to-face participants, please see room locations below.  
Participants joining via Zoom, join using this Zoom link.

Registration
You can find topics, dates/locations and registration links in this document.  

Questions? 
Contact your supervisor or Martha Condon, Director of Professional Learning.