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

Aug. 6: Don’t Miss Our Agency Return-to-Workplace Overview Webinar

All Heartland AEA staff are encouraged to join our Return-to-Workplace Overview Zoom session on Aug. 6. 

This hour-long webinar-style session will provide staff with the opportunity to hear Chief Administrator Jon Sheldahl review the Agency’s Return-to-Workplace Guide, which will be released at the end of this week. 

The webinar format will allow staff to type questions in a Q & A box, and members of the Agency Planning Council will respond to those questions during the session. If the questions can’t all be addressed in the time provided, we will follow-up after the meeting. The session will also be recorded. 

Aug. 6, 2020 

3:30 – 4:30 p.m. (This time will allow new staff to join us) 

Zoom link coming this week

Required Before Returning to an Agency Workplace: Health & Safety Online Training

Any time after Aug. 1, 2020, before returning to an office or other workspace either full- or part-time or as needed, it is required that Heartland AEA staff take the AEA Learning Online module called R2L (Return to Learn): Health and Safety for Teachers and Staff. This module was developed by the Iowa Department of Education to provide districts and staff with information on creating a culture for health and safety. The training should take about 30 minutes to complete and needs to be completed only once.

Instructions for Accessing the AEA Learning Online Training System 

In addition, before returning to an agency workspace or district building or client home, review this video tutorial regarding how to put on and take off a face mask/covering, face shield or other protective equipment. 

Do not return to agency offices or other workspaces including district buildings and client homes after Aug. 1, 2020, without taking the Return to Learn training and reviewing the video. 

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

Reminder: Structure for 2020-21 Certified Staff Meetings & Learning Announced

We are pleased to share dates for important agency and job-alike meetings and learning during the fall of 2020. 

Agency leadership groups, including the Agency Planning Council (APC), Regional Directors, Job-Alike Facilitators and MTSS agency leads, continue to consider our unique circumstances and have designed a flexible structure for Certified staff meetings and learning, Aug. - Dec. 2020.   

2020-21 Certified Staff Meeting & Learning Structure

Should You Modify Your Federal Income Tax Withholding? Check Out the Tax Withholding Estimator

Effective Jan. 1, 2020, the IRS issued a new W-4 form, also known as the Employee's Withholding Certificate. New Heartland AEA staff, and any other staff wanting to modify their federal income tax withholding, need to complete the new form.  

To assist in determining how much federal income tax to be withheld, the IRS has issued a Tax Withholding Estimator. Please consider using this tool when completing your W-4 form. 

W-4 – Employee’s Withholding Certificate 

Tax Withholding Estimator

July 2020 Newsletter from the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners Available

The July 2020 quarterly newsletter from the BOEE is available. 

In this issue: Substitute Teachers, Helpful Hints for Administrators, Renewal Tips, Online Licensing System, Conditional Licensure, Legislative Update, Troops to Teachers, Ethics - Racism and Equality, Recent Cases. 

Updates from the BoEE - August 2020 newsletter

New Optional Wellness Items: Advance Directives for Healthcare Decisions

For the past few months, the Agency's Wellness Team has been developing the 2020-21 Heartland AEA Wellness Program. We anticipate this year's new wellness portal will be launched by Sept. 1, 2020. A few of the new optional wellness activities include advance directives. 

Advance Directives 

Staff can read about and complete “Advance Directives,” which are known as a Living Will and Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare Decisions. Advance directives are used to request or refuse treatment and to express feelings about other healthcare issues. You can execute the document(s) free of charge, but you must sign the document(s) in the presence of a notary or in the presence of two witnesses.

Declaration Relating to Life-Sustaining Procedures and Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care Decisions Document

LifeWorks, the Agency's Employee Assistance Program provider, also provides a variety of planning resources for Heartland AEA staff.