Interested in Participating in a Professional Learning Conference? See Below for How to Make a Request

Heartland AEA has a strong commitment to professional learning focused on enhancing skills and knowledge to impact the delivery of equitable, high-quality services to our district and community partners. At times, professional learning conferences provide unique opportunities to support individual staff, job-alike, regional/departmental or agency priority services group learning to impact services. 

Heartland AEA’s process for receiving and reviewing professional learning conference requests is intended to increase clarity, equity and consistency of decision making across the Agency. We are continually working to improve efficiency and effectiveness with thoughtful alignment and integration of our learning opportunities across the Agency. Data will be collected to help guide our decision-making about professional learning in the future. 

Who? 

Any Certified staff member may submit a request. One person may submit a request on behalf of multiple requested participants. Prior to submitting a request, requestors need to first discuss their conference interest with their supervising director. 

How? 

The request form is completed for all conference requests, regardless of type of request: regional, job-alike or agency directed. The requestor will use the Common Conference Request Form found below to submit any type of request. 

When? 

Staff is encouraged to submit requests well in advance of a conference (~60 days). If air travel is required, the request must be submitted at least 90 days prior to the conference to ensure adequate time for the review process and for the Business Office to make travel arrangements. 

Request Form 

Complete the Heartland AEA Conference Request Form. Your request will be reviewed in 2-3 weeks following submission. 

What happens after a request is submitted? 

Notification of Decision

Requestors will be notified of the decision, typically via email. 

Approved Requests

Staff discusses the conference with their supervising director to confirm participation and plan for any impact on service. Staff will then need to complete estimated costs on the Travel/Professional Learning Request System on the Employee Dashboard indicating the type of request/ funding source. This request will include details such as registration fees, out-of-area mileage, meal, lodging and other associated fees. Each employee is responsible to follow our agency’s Out-of-Area Travel guidelines. 

If the conference has no associated costs (no registration fees and travel is within the Heartland AEA geographical area), no Out-of-Area request is required and mileage can be claimed on your typical expenses. 

After the Conference

Staff will apply and share their learning with others in the manners described in the conference request. Individual staff are responsible for completing and submitting actual expenses incurred on the Employee Dashboard. 

Denied Requests 

If a request is denied, no further action related to the request is required by the staff member. 

If you have any questions, contact Martha Condon, Director of Internal Professional Learning.