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

Raynor Selected as New Senior Director of Information Technology

Darrel Raynor

Heartland AEA is pleased to announce the hiring of Darrel Raynor as our new Senior Director of Information Technology. Darrel began his new position at the Agency today and will collaborate in the coming months with Rod Howell, Information Systems Manager, who is set to retire from the Agency in April 2021. 

Darrel has been working with the Agency for over a year in a consultant/coach/project manager capacity, and he’s played a key role in bringing the Agile framework to our Information Systems team. We intend to leverage his skills and experiences to enhance our team’s ability to keep improving agency technology systems and processes in the most secure, efficient, effective and innovative ways.  

Darrel spent 34 years as the President/CEO of Data Analysis & Results in Austin, Texas, where he consulted with hundreds of businesses on operational improvement and culture transformation and provided interim leadership during times of business transition. 

A native Iowan, Darrel holds a master’s of business administration degree from Golden State University and bachelor’s degrees in accounting and finance from Iowa State University. 

From the first trip he made to Iowa to work with Heartland AEA, he’s commented frequently on the quality of our staff and how amazing our culture is. He is excited to make the transition from consultant to staff member, and we are fortunate to have someone with Darrel's skill set and experience come to our agency.

Reminder: Register for a Listening Circle; Facilitators for Each Session Announced

With the crisis of the current pandemic, there has been an increased awareness of the stressors faced by ALL our staff and the need to provide quality supports. One of the supports we are making available for our staff, starting in November, are Listening Circles. 

The goal is to create a brave space for staff to be heard, free of judgment, and with no fear of consequences for speaking their truth. It is believed that this practice will be helpful for building and maintaining a healthy community in which ALL staff feel connected and respected. Listening circles have been scheduled at various times throughout the day to accommodate as many schedules as possible.  

Facilitators

The first and second facilitators for each of the sessions (as they stand today) are listed below. 

Nov. 19, 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.      Jadie Boens & TBD 

Nov. 20, 2:30 - 4:00 p.m.                  Rebecca Carver & Jadie Boens 

Nov. 23, 12:00 - 1:30 p.m.                Emily Donovan & Dave Wood 

Nov. 24, 1:00 - 2:30 p.m.                  Dave Wood & Emily Donovan 

Nov. 30, 8:30 - 10:00 a.m.                Stacey Warren & TBD 

Dec. 1, 2:30 - 4:00 p.m.                    TBD & TBD 

Dec. 7, 8:00 - 9:30 a.m.                    Dorothy Landon & Jean Boger 

Dec. 8, 10:00 - 11:30 a.m.                Jean Boger & Brianna Sayre-Geiser 

Dec. 9, 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.        Andrea Matheson & Aimee Schuppe 

Dec. 14, 8:00 - 9:30 a.m.                 Rebecca Carver & Kari Miller 

Dec. 16, 2:30 - 4:00 p.m.                 Aimee Schuppe & TBD 

Dec. 17 2:30 - 4:00 p.m.                  Jay Boens & TBD 

Brenda Gerdes (SEBMH/Prof. Learning & Leadership Consultant/JO) lends her encouragement to staff to register for a session. 

“I know you have likely heard about Heartland AEA providing Listening Circles. I wanted to tell you I just participated in a practice circle, and while it was only a practice, I was very surprised how helpful it was. This first round of circles will focus on the pandemic and how it has had an impact on us directly as well as vicariously. If you are curious or on the fence about participating, I want to encourage you to take the plunge and register for one. They are not therapy sessions or admiring problems sessions, and it truly felt relieving to share even with colleagues I didn't know very well.” 

Listening Circles Flyer 

Registration

Heartland AEA COVID-19 Dashboard for the Week Ending Nov. 13, 2020

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 for a larger view.

Reminder: 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.

Reminder: Holiday Streakers Registration is Open! Sign Up for Exercise and Giving!

 Registration is officially open for Holiday Streakers! It is year #8 for Holiday Streakers, and the Streakers Board (including Eric Weichers, School Psychologist/JO) is anticipating an even bigger Streaker Nation and donating even more to their recipients than ever before. Help them build on the over $20,000 donated last year by registering today! 

Holiday Streakers is supporting some incredible families again this year. If you need a reason to be a Streaker, wait until you meet the amazing recipients who will be provided with financial, emotional and spiritual support. They will be introduced the week of Nov. 9-13.



Due to COVID-19, timelines have changed this year: you will need to register by Nov. 16 to get your shirt by Thanksgiving. You can still register all the way up through Thanksgiving, but you won't have a shirt to start the Streak if after the 16th.



Check out the Holiday Streakers website for additional details or go straight to Streaker Central to register now. Remember, Holiday Streakers was the original: they were virtual well before it became so trendy! Whether you are an original Streaker or just stripping down to give it a try, join Streaker Nation by registering today! 

Holiday Streakers will be reimbursable under the Wellness Program for up to $20 and would be a GREAT donation/exercise opportunity that can be done through social distancing during our pandemic times!

Reminder: You Have Until Nov. 30 to Sign Up for the Dependent Care Flex Plan!

  

If you DO NOT want to enroll, do nothing! (In the past, non-enrollees had to enter a $0 amount).   

Online enrollment for the 2021 Dependent Care Flex benefit plan will be open to eligible employees from Sunday, Nov. 1 through Monday, Nov. 30, 2020, at 4 p.m.  

Full-time employees and Certified Union employees working a 96-day contract are eligible to participate. Eligible part-time CU employees with a 96-day contract must contact Juliette Houseman to enroll via paper.

 


Dependent Care Flex is a pre-tax benefit account used to pay for eligible dependent care services, such as preschool, summer day camp, before or after school programs and child or adult daycare that you incur in order to allow you (and your spouse, if married) to work. If married, both spouses must be working to claim dependent care expenses. 

A dependent is defined as:   

• A dependent of the employee who is under 13 years of age  
• A dependent or spouse who is physically or mentally disabled  

The maximum amount your family may flex per calendar year is $5,000 ($208.33 per pay period). 
All dependent care expenses for the 2021 plan year must be incurred by Dec. 31, 2021, and must be submitted to 121 Benefits for reimbursement by March 1, 2022. 

To Enroll 

Log in to Employee Online.

For more detailed instructions and screenshots to guide you through Enrollment, view How to Enroll in Dependent Care. 




NOTE: IF YOU ENTER AN AMOUNT GREATER THAN “0” IN EMPLOYEE COST PER PERIOD, THEN THAT AMOUNT WILL BE DEDUCTED FROM YOUR PAYCHECK PER PAY PERIOD. 





If you have any questions, contact Juliette Houseman, Benefits Specialist, at ext. 14315.

Reminder: Heartland AEA is Offering Professional Learning to Support Educator and AEA Staff Well-being and Resiliency Building

Through the use of COVID-19 Relief Funds, made available by the State of Iowa and our partners at Polk County Health Services, Heartland AEA is offering an exciting opportunity to support educator well-being and resiliency building.  


As a result of the current pandemic, the stressors placed upon educators have been further magnified, with many lives significantly disrupted due to millions of students now at home, thousands of educators teaching from home, and entire families and communities living in isolation. ALL educational staff is facing a plethora of challenges due to the coronavirus pandemic. Schools may be shifting between online learning and in-person learning; educators are adapting to new schedules and different ways of teaching; and trying to meet the needs of their students, while also meeting the needs of their own family and friends. 


CARE (Cultivating Awareness and Resilience in Education) workshops are unique, evidence-based professional development programs that help educators handle the stresses and rediscover the jobs of teaching.  


The goal of CARE is to:  

• Offer educators tools and resources for reducing stress, preventing burnout, enlivening teaching, and helping students thrive socially, emotionally and academically.  


CARE introduces tools such as: 

• Mindful awareness practices 
• Caring and emotion skills training 


Research shows that such practices are helpful for developing awareness, openness, emotional responsiveness and sensitivity - all essential qualities for modeling healthy behavior in the classroom and optimizing teaching and learning. By practicing the skills learned in the program, educators learn to cultivate calmness, awareness, presence, compassion, empathy and ability to listen. In the classroom these qualities improve teachers’ classroom management, curricular implementation and relationships with their students. 


REGISTRATION 

We will be offering separate sessions to meet the unique needs of administrators, educators and Heartland AEA staff. Registration is limited to 35 participants per session. 

Administrator Session 

Dec. 7 and 14; Jan. 14, 22, 27 and 29 

8:30 - 10:30 a.m.  

Via Zoom  

Registration  Course 190771 
 

Educator Session 

Dec. 9 and 14; Jan. 13, 22, 27 and 29 

8:30 - 10:30 a.m.  

Via Zoom  

Registration  Course 190771 
 

AEA Staff Session 

Dec. 9 and 14; Jan. 13, 22, 27, and 29 

8:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. 

Via Zoom  

Registration  Course 190771

Tech Tip of the Week: Editing Mode for Office Files in Google Drive

Google is changing the default editing mode for Microsoft Office files in Google Drive on the web. When you double-click on an Office file, it will open directly in Office editing mode. In the next few weeks, you will see the new edit mode being rolled out. Here are the steps to add and edit Office files after the rollout: Add an Office File to Google Drive: 

1. On your computer, go to drive.google.com. 

2. At the top left, click New File upload.  

3. Choose the file you want to upload.  

Open an Office File in Google Docs, Sheets or Slides  

1. In Google Drive, double-click the Office file. This will open a preview of your file.  

2. At the top, click Open in Google Docs/Sheets/Slides. 

     If you don't see this option, click Open with Google Docs/Sheets/Slides. 

3. You can now edit, share, view version history, collaborate in real-time with others and more. Changes you make will be saved to the original Microsoft Office file.  

This change makes it quicker to open and start editing documents. You can directly edit, comment and collaborate on Office files using the familiar interface of Google Docs, Sheets and Slides, with changes automatically saved to the file in its existing Office format.  


If you have any questions regarding this change, contact Tim Weets.