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
At its meeting on Feb. 11, the Heartland AEA Board of Directors unanimously passed the changes that were recommended to the Agency’s medical insurance and Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) plans.
You can read details of the recommendation and the plan changes in an article from last week's Connection.
Stay tuned for a Q & A document that provides more specifics into the changes as we enter benefit open enrollment month in April.
Last week the Communications Department sent out the third issue of the Educator Connection newsletter for the 2019-20 school year. The Educator Connection is intended to keep educators in the Heartland AEA service area better connected to our agency and to the many programs and services we offer to educators, students and families. The newsletter is emailed to educators and automatically archived on our agency website. Anyone can also subscribe to the newsletter via the webpage.
Heartland AEA Educator Connection Feb. 2020
- Make Math Fun and Turn Your Classroom into a Hands-on Learning Environment!
- Heartland AEA English Learners News: Multicultural Texts, Books, Library Resources
- Keep Calm and Write On: Handwriting Without Tears and Writing Readiness Workshop
- Heartland AEA Library & Digital News: Research Skills, Financial Lit, The Yearling and More!
- Why Do Bears Hibernate? Where Do Bugs Go in Winter?
- Middle School Science PD to Include Elements from OpenSciEd OER Curriculum
- Heartland AEA Math Consultants Invite You to Numeracy Project Training
- Friday! Friday! Friday! Join Us for Standards-Based Learning Framework Fridays!
- Can’t Miss Opportunity: Transforming School Culture with Dr. Anthony Muhammad
- Educators: Spring Into These Professional Learning Opportunities
- OT Team Develops Guidance Around Responding to Sensory Concerns in School Setting
- Share This Networking Opportunity with Parents and Caregivers of Students with Special Needs
- IEP Teams Encouraged to Use New Agenda Tool for IEP Meetings
- New, More Robust Special Education Information System Coming
- Register Today for Matt Miller's Webinar + New Courses, Heart of Innovation Summit & DigiGirlz Day
We wanted to provide some clarification on where staff can get promotional items if they are representing the Agency with a table at an event or through a presentation.
Please contact the Communications Department, so they can set you up with items to put your best foot forward as you represent the Agency. They can provide you with the following:
- Agency logo tablecloth
- Tabletop or full-size banner stand
- Promotional items such as pens, pencils, note-pads and clips
- Introduction to Heartland AEA brochures
Contact the Human Resources Department for promotional items if you are representing the Agency at an event that is specifically tied to recruiting new staff.
Keep that brain healthy!
This challenge combines components such as physical activity, consuming brain health-promoting foods, social activities and taking on new skills and information in order to create a well-rounded challenge focused on keeping your cabbage strong. See the flyer for more information.
Important Dates
Challenge starts: Feb. 24
Challenge ends: March 22
Last day to sign up: March 2
Last day to record participation: March 22
Healthy Brain Challenge Flyer
Only one more challenge remains following the Healthy Brain Challenge!
Back for February…The Heartland AEA online store where staff can redeem their Wellness incentive for agency logo apparel is open for ALL employees today through Feb. 29, 2020! 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. Important reminder: if you are not ordering apparel with your Wellness credit, you’ll need to pay for shipping using Spee-Dee Delivery or UPS or pick up your purchase at P&M Apparel in Polk City. 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.
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
Remember that learning sessions are taking place this semester on the various apps in G Suite for Education. Sessions will focus on skill development, practical application, increasing productivity, simplifying workflow and gaining knowledge around digital privacy, safety and security.
- 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.
Recorded Sessions
Each of the sessions has been or will be recorded for your reference. Check out this site for links to the recordings.
Questions?
Contact your supervisor or Martha Condon, Director of Professional Learning.
The following two classes are for teachers who work with students who have significant cognitive disabilities. If you have any questions, contact Pam Childers.
Conventional Literacy Strategies for Students on Alternate Assessment
This class is for students with significant cognitive disabilities, K-12, who take the alternate assessment and are beginning readers and writers. This class is not appropriate for students with dyslexia or other learning disabilities. In this course, teachers will learn about specially designed instruction and the comprehensive literacy framework as developed by Karen Erickson and David Koppenhaver. Content will include principles of effective literacy instruction, the importance of communication and core vocabulary, a brief overview of reading theory, and literacy routines (comprehension instruction, word identification, independent reading, spelling, and writing). Included in the class is a copy of the book Comprehensive Literacy for All, 2020, by Karen Erickson and David Koppenhaver. This class is designed for teachers and assumes instructional knowledge, but it may also be appropriate for paraeducators.
Course: 182326 HL
July 24, 27, 28, 2020
8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Emergent Literacy Strategies for Students on Alternate Assessment
This class is a revision of Emergent Literacy Instruction for Students on Alternate Assessment. It reviews the same routines but adds depth and breadth. This course will focus on emergent literacy skills for students with significant cognitive disabilities. The concepts and strategies apply to any student on alternate assessment, K-12, who is not yet reading or writing. It is not appropriate for students with dyslexia or other learning disabilities. Content is based on the work of Karen Erickson and David Koppenhaver and will include specially designed instruction, the comprehensive literacy framework, principles of effective literacy instruction, communication and core vocabulary, and five instructional routines: shared reading, independent reading, foundational skills, independent writing, and predictable chart writing.
Course: 182335 HL
July 24, 30, 31, 2020
8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
