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

Heartland AEA COVID-19 Dashboard to Be Shared in Each Connection

Beginning today, we will provide you with COVID-19 case and quarantine data each Monday in The Connection. The numbers will fluctuate on a weekly basis, and our report will show what is current as of the previous Friday. If you have any questions, contact Nia Chiaramonte, Director of Human Resources.  

Thank you for your continued cooperation and flexibility as we work together to support children, students, families, educators and each other throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Click the image to view it in a larger view. 

United Way Campaign Coming to You in Digital Format This Year; Look for Kick-off Email Next Monday

Central Iowa LIVES UNITED year-round, but United Way is extra special during the fall, when organizations like ours across the community-run campaigns to raise money for the fight—the fight for the health, education and financial stability of all central Iowans.  




Heartland AEA and United Way are so grateful to you for the courage and compassion you’ve shown in the past toward this fight. You are truly an impact-maker for so many central Iowans in need! As a donor or volunteer, or as someone who wants to learn more about United Way’s work, you are joining the effort to ensure that everyone in Central Iowa gets a chance at a quality life.  




When you watch the videos below that show you two examples of how United Way has assisted those in need, consider filling out a pledge card at our All-Staff Meeting on Sept. 27. Note that pledges of at least $50 can be designated toward the county United Way or organization of your choosing.  

Watch your email for a message from United Way of Central Iowa on Oct. 5 with a link to donate to United Way online. 

Why We Support United Way

A Mom With a Plan 

In July 2019, Alexis Lee enrolled her two daughters, Avianna and Aubrey, at Bidwell Riverside Child Development Center. As any mother would be, Alexis was anxious sending her girls to a new place but was hopeful Bidwell would be a childcare center they could call “home” during their younger years. 

Read more… 

Tara’s Story 

Struggling with illness and trying to live day-to-day for six years, Tara finally called United Way's 211 helpline and was directed to local food pantries, where she found help. 

Watch…

Do You Need to Order Business Cards?

To place your order for Heartland AEA business cards:  
 

1. Go to Creative Services Online.   
2. Log in using your email and password that you use for AEA Learning Online.  
3. Go to Browse Heartland AEA Products, then Heartland AEA Catalog.  4. Click Continue on Staff Business Cards.  
4. A window will come up for you to enter your information in real-time! Type in your information, then submit your order.   

This information is archived on the Intranet > Creative Services. If you have any questions, contact the Creative Services Department. 

Do You Need Logo Virtual Backgrounds for Zoom?

Take a look at the nine different options with the Heartland AEA logo we have for you to choose from! 



Agency Logo Zoom Backgrounds 



Instructions on Adding Virtual Backgrounds to Zoom

Check Out the Sept. 2020 Educator Connection Newsletter

Last week the Communications Department sent out the first issue of the Educator Connection newsletter for the 2020-21 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. 
 

Sept. 2020 Educator Connection 

• Visit Our Central Hub for COVID-19 Resources for Educators, Administrators, Students & Families 
• Restock Your Toolbox with Resources to Serve Your School’s English Learners 
• 5 Ways to "Do Math" Using Pear Deck + Book Lists! 
• There’s Something for Everyone in Our Library & Digital Resources Offerings 
• Our Literacy Consultants Share Resources to Improve Students’ Reading, Writing, Speaking, Listening 
• Get These Individualized Math Kits for K-2 and 3-5 Into Your Students' Hands 
• Our Virtual Math Manipulatives are a Great Way to Enhance Learning 
• Take a Look at How Iowa’s AEAs Are Making the Transition to Online Instruction a Little Bit Easier 
• Feel Like You’re About to Lose It? It Could be a Good Time for a Meta-Moment 
• New School Year Brings Updates to Alternate Assessment Processes 
• Effective Strategies for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders--New Google Site! 
• John Spencer Webinar Sign up + Resources for Teaching Reading Online to Elementary Students

Early Notification Incentive Again Offered to Certified Union & Management Staff

Last year, Heartland AEA filled 45+ vacancies in the Certified Union and Management staff employee groups. It has been to the Agency’s advantage to enter the recruitment cycle as early as possible.  






For 2020-21, the Heartland AEA Board of Directors has again approved an Early Notification Incentive for staff who have a signed contract and who notify Heartland AEA of their intent to not renew their contract for the 2021-22 school year by Dec. 4, 2020. Details are listed below.





Early Notification Incentive Process & Requirements   

• Certified Union and Management staff who do not plan to return to Heartland AEA for the 2021-22 school year must submit early notification letters of resignation that are effective at the end of the 2020-21 work year.   
• Early notification letters must be received in the Human Resources Department by 4:30 p.m. on Dec. 4, 2020.   
• Heartland AEA’s Board of Directors acts on early notification letters no later than the regular meeting on Dec. 8, 2020.   
• Departing staff must fulfill their individual employment contract obligations for the 2020-21 work year.   


Early Notification Incentive   

• A $1,500 early notification incentive will be paid on June 30, 2021, to employees fulfilling these requirements.

If you have any questions about the early notification incentive, contact Nia Chiaramonte, Director of Human Resources, at ext. 14534.

From the Department of Ed: myIGDIs Access for 2020-21

The Iowa Department of Education is pleased to bring myIGDIs to preschool in Iowa at no cost. As an optional screening tool, myIGDIs for preschool literacy complements the required GOLD assessment. It is also part of a healthy MTSS system supporting a robust universal tier of instruction. 

In Iowa myIGDIs is: 

• Recommended for learners attending a preschool program in the year before kindergarten. 
• Available for use with learners participating in programs with a state assigned district ID, building ID, and student ID 
• Administered on two bluetooth-enabled iPads (one in teacher mode, one in student mode) using the free myIGDIs App.  
• Available to previous users of myIGDIs right away during the fall window (through November 14). 
• Potentially available to new users through the state contract. Stay tuned for more information. 

Training on the myIGDIs Early Literacy assessments, data displays, and data use will be available online. There are several resources available through Renaissance online, and planning is occurring to support Iowa specifically with live webinars. For 2020-2021, data will be housed in the myIGDIs early literacy data system. Future plans include integrating the data into the state-supported MTSS system.  

Early literacy in preschool provides the foundation for academic and social-emotional success. Assessment data from myIGDIs can translate into creating learning experiences to build oral language, vocabulary, phonological awareness, comprehension, and alphabet knowledge. It (myIGDIs) is aligned to the Iowa Early Learning Standards (IELS). 

Stay tuned for more information about sign-up and how to receive regular communications about myIGDIs.  

If you have any questions, contact Jennifer Adkins at the Iowa Dept. of Education.

Sept. 29 Board of Directors Meeting Agenda Available

The agenda for the Sept. 29 Heartland AEA Board of Directors meeting is available.

Reminder: Register for Tech Sessions and Access Them Later on the Intranet

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: How to Use Your Agency iPad as a Document Camera in Zoom

Reminder: You Won’t be Required to Use a Passcode or Waiting Room in Zoom, But We Encourage You to Do So

Recently Zoom announced that on Sept. 27, 2020, it would be requiring ALL meetings to have either a passcode or waiting room enabled. Zoom has since released a statement that those security measures will NOT be mandatory. So, after Sept. 27, no mandatory change will happen to meetings that do not have a passcode or waiting room enabled. 

While passcodes and/or waiting rooms are no longer being required by Zoom, Heartland AEA encourages staff to strongly consider using either, or both, of these security measures. We want our staff and those we serve to feel secure and comfortable when hosting and participating in virtual meetings, and the passcode and waiting room features that Zoom provides allow for that.  

The previously scheduled “Virtual Office Hours” Zoom sessions will continue to be available this week. Aaron Cook and David Hammer will be available to answer any questions you have about waiting rooms, passcodes or anything else related to Zoom security. 

If you have any questions, contact David Hammer or Aaron Cook, Multimedia Specialists.