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

Annual Communications Publications Updated on the Intranet Including Updated Regional Map

With the new school year comes updated agency publications and resources (listed below) for 2020-21, which are now available on the Intranet > Communications. If you have any questions about these publications, contact the Communications Department.  



Communications > Annual Publications  

• Regional Map w/ Regional Directors 
• Regional Director Assignments 
• Staff & Schools Directory 
• School Composite Calendar 
• Superintendent Directory 
• Van Route Schedule 


Communications > Resources  

• Agency Playbook 
• Agency Infographic  
• Planning Councils Structure & Membership Chart  
• Agency Blueprint 
• Regional Map (new look and updated to include I-35’s move to Region 3)

Google Goodness: Logo Google Doc Template in Landscape Orientation Added to Gallery

A new template has been added to the Google Doc Template Gallery – an agency logo template in landscape orientation (third item in the list). Enjoy!

Sept. 2020 School Leader Update Available

The Sept. 2020 School Leader Update newsletter is available from the Iowa Department of Education.

Reminder: Review 2020-21 Staff Handbook & Sign Receipt

You should have received an email last week asking you to review the updated 2020-21 Staff Handbook and acknowledge receipt of the Handbook. A copy of the Handbook can be found on the Intranet > Human Resources > Staff Handbook. 

 If you have not already acknowledged receipt, please read the updated Staff Handbook and click on the following link to indicate your completion. 

Acknowledgment Receipt

Reminder: Heartland AEA 2020-21 Wellness Program is Here!

The 2020-21 Wellness Program officially launched Sept. 1, 2020! We have linked up with Navigate Wellbeing Solutions to bring you a brand-new Heartland AEA Wellness Portal. No matter where you stand in your wellness journey, this program has something for everyone! Look for all the information on the Intranet > Wellness Program. 

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

Reminder: State of Iowa Financial Fitness Challenge is Back and Starts Tomorrow; Look for an Email!

 We're excited to announce the launch of our new financial wellness platform! Our organization has been selected to participate in the Iowa State Financial Fitness Challenge, a unique program in conjunction with the Financial Fitness Group and the Iowa Insurance Division. This challenge starts Sept. 9, 2020, and will run through Dec. 31, 2020.   

Why are we doing this?  

Because we care about your financial future and want to extend to you every opportunity to be financially successful, we are rolling out this benefit to all employees. As a bonus, you may also invite your spouses and family members to participate, free of charge!



What is it?  

The wellness platform, Financial Fitness Academy is designed to assess, educate, and empower individuals to improve their overall financial health. Once you start, you will see how easy it is to achieve an improved financial future. You’ll be auto-enrolled into 3 courses; Iowa Programs that Work for You, Introduction to Retirement Planning, Personal Finance Basics in addition to gaining access to 400 courses, tutorials, calculators, activities, and video content, including courses related to the economic impact of COVID-19 and the CARES Act. The platform also includes search and recommendation tools to help each user create a personalized learning experience.   

The goal of the Challenge is to have each of you participate and pass at least 5 courses with a score of 70% or higher on the post-test, earning you Certificates of Completion after each course. The best part, each tutorial takes only 15 minutes to complete, including pre- and post-quizzes, making learning easy and fun!   

How do you get started?  

On Sept. 9, you will receive an invitation email from the platform to get started. Simply click on the link in the email, and you'll be up and running in just a few minutes. If you don't receive an email, let us know and we will give you the link to our program site.   We encourage you to take advantage of this amazing opportunity to strengthen your financial muscles with the fastest and easiest courses available.

Sept. 2020 Heartland AEA Board of Directors Meeting Agenda Available

The agenda for the Sept. 8, 2020, Heartland AEA Board of Directors meeting is available.

2020-21 Teacher Quality Course & Study Group Registration Info is Here!

Registration for Teacher Quality (TQ) courses and study groups begins Oct. 9 and ends Nov 1, 2020. TQ courses and study groups are offered as an optional format for professional learning for our Certified staff. They meet for 15 hours off-contract time, and participants are eligible for a stipend upon completion of the course. All Certified staff members are eligible to register for these opportunities. TQ opportunities are offered Nov. 1, 2020 - June 30, 2021.  

Heartland AEA has a strong commitment to time spent in service to our partners. TQ courses will be offered at times when service to children, educators and families is least impacted. TQ courses and study groups will be offered between Nov. 1, 2020 and June 30, 2021, outside of contract hours Monday through Friday or on weekends, with only a few exceptions. 

TQ Timeline for 2020-21 

Study Groups 

Online and Remote TQ Courses

Repository of Course and Study Groups Here is the list of courses and study groups that were offered in 2019-20. If you want to request the syllabus for one of those courses or study groups so you can offer it, contact Dawn Peitzman. You can also create a new course or study group. Here is the running list of TQ courses and study groups approved for 2020-21. This list will be updated as courses and study groups are approved.  

Creating Study Groups 

Study groups must have at least four participants, and one participant must agree to be the study group facilitator and will not receive license renewal credit for the study group. The content must align with Heartland AEA’s four goals and/or support a specific job-alike function.   

Anyone who wants to participate in a study group on a book that was used last year or wants to create a study group for a new book still needs to fill out this form to indicate their interest in forming a study group between Sept. 7 and Nov.1, 2020. The Professional Learning Dept. will work with interested participants in writing new proposals and support them in entering the proposal in the AEA Professional Learning Registration System. Study groups can begin after Nov. 1 or Dec 1, 2020, depending on which window (see above) you submitted your study group proposal under. This allows time for books to be ordered and distributed.  

TQ Participant Stipends  

Those who complete a TQ course or study group and meet eligibility requirements will be provided a stipend. Eligible participants will receive $700 for completing a course/study group, and facilitators will receive a $750 stipend for facilitating a course/study group.  

License Renewal Credit to Move on the Salary Schedule 

Heartland AEA has changed its policy on paying for license renewal credit for TQ courses and study groups. If you want to use them to move on the salary schedule, the Agency will cover the license renewal fee for one TQ opportunity for which you are receiving a stipend even if you use it to move on the salary schedule. If you take additional TQ opportunities and want to use the additional credits to move on the salary scale, you will need to pay the license renewal fee. In order to have the license renewal fee covered, you will select “Purchase Order - HL” on the Payment Selection page. In the Purchase Order Number field, enter HEART (all capitals) and complete the required fields on the form. No other action will be needed on your part.  

FAQ Document 

Here is a frequently asked questions document that will help answer questions about Teacher Quality.  

Questions 

If you have any further questions about TQ payment or guidelines, contact Kevin Fangman, Chief Academic Officer. 
If you have any further questions about courses or study groups, contact Brandie Gean, Licensure & Conference Center Manager.

A Menu of Offerings Is Available for 2020-21 Technology Lunch & Learn Sessions! First One Begins on Sept. 11

All agency staff members are encouraged to take advantage of Technology Lunch & Learn sessions for 2020-21! These sessions will provide tips, tricks, hints and skills for proficiency in using varied tools and resources for increased productivity in the workplace and will address our Heartland AEA Technology Competencies. 

Offered twice a month, these learning sessions vary in topics. Participants may attend one or all of the sections offered throughout the 2020-21 school year. The format includes 20 minutes of new learning and 20 minutes of guided practice with members of our Instructional Technology Team. Each session will be held virtually, with a link to be shared upon registration. 

Professional Learning Sessions 

See the list of dates and topics for this year’s learning sessions. 

As they were last year, each session will be recorded and archived. To access the recorded sessions, go to the Intranet > Technology > Professional Learning. 

Register Now! 

HL - 2020-21 Technology Lunch and Learn - 190361 

Log in to the AEA Professional Learning Registration System using your AEA Login, which is the same email and password you use to login to the AEA Learning Online Learning System (e.g. Mandatory Reporter, Bloodborne Pathogens). You will have to register for each section you wish to participate in.

Tech Tip of the Week: Finding What You Need in a Google Doc, Sheet or Slide

You can search to find words in a document, spreadsheet, or presentation with Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides. You can also search within a file using the keyboard shortcut ⌘ + f on a Mac. 

Learn more…