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 for the Week Ending Feb. 12, 2021

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.    

Heartland AEA COVID-19 Dashboard

Reminder: Cell Phone Reimbursements Related to the Use of Zoom Phone for Agency Business

The Agency encourages the use of agency-issued computers and iPads when using Zoom Phone. Although you may use the Zoom Phone app on your personal cell phone, the Agency will only reimburse you for minutes that use a traditional cell signal. The Agency will not reimburse minutes for calls from within the Zoom Phone app.    

The Agency does not reimburse for data usage. Zoom Phone uses whatever data source your phone is connected to, so we recommend using wifi whenever it is available. This includes tethering your device to the hotspot on your MiFi device or iPad. In the absence of wifi, the Zoom Phone app will use your cellular connection for data. 

If you have any questions about the Agency’s reimbursement policy, contact Kurt Subra, Chief Financial Officer, or Brian Whalen, Business Manager.

Reminder: Use Your New Direct Dial Phone Number with External Clients; Business Cards & Email Signatures Will Use Those New Lines

With the transition of the Agency’s phone system to Zoom Phone, you now have your own direct phone number in addition to retaining the extension number most of you have used for many years. (Most full- and part-time employees have their own phone numbers; subs, interns and temps do not.) Having two ways to contact you could potentially be confusing to external clients such as teachers and parents.  

We ask that going forward, you use your direct dial line instead of the (800) 255-0405 number with your extension in your email signature and on your business cards (when you need more). (The (800) 255-0405 number is also no longer a direct dial number -- it now rings to the agency switchboard.) 

This will make contacting you easier for those outside the Agency and will ease any confusion that may be caused by listing a direct phone number and an extension number. Extension numbers can still be used internally between staff, as they will continue to be an easy way to call between one another.  

Email Signature

See the Heartland AEA Email Signature Template for templates for each office location. Don't forget to add your pronouns to your signature as well. 

Business Cards

Since extension numbers still work, you don’t need to get new business cards until you are running low. Cards can be ordered through Creative Services Online.

Website

The Agency’s online staff directory and website pages will be updated accordingly as well.

Iowa PBS Celebrates Black History Month

Join Iowa PBS in celebrating Black History Month this February with timely, educational programs highlighting stories of courage, strength and perseverance. 

These programs will offer viewers opportunities to honor the contributions and achievements of Black Americans by learning more about their stories. The scheduled programming will appear on Iowa PBS.1.

Back in 2021! Online Wellness Apparel Store Open for All Staff for the Next Two Weeks; Still Time to Use Your Wellness Incentive for Apparel

The Heartland AEA online store where staff can redeem their Wellness incentive for agency logo apparel is open for ALL staff today through Feb. 28, 2021! Staff who have earned their $40 coupon towards logo apparel will receive a separate email with specific ordering information once Navigate Wellbeing Solutions has notified us.   




All employees can purchase any items in the store (and shipping) at their own cost during the two-week period when the online store is open monthly through June 2021. Important reminder: if you are not ordering apparel with your Wellness credit, you’ll need to pay for shipping using Spee-Dee Delivery or UPS.  
 

Still Time to Use Your Wellness Incentive  
 

If you missed your assigned month to use your coupon code for logo apparel for your Wellness incentive, and/or you haven’t yet ordered, please visit the online store and place you order this month using your previously emailed coupon code.  
   

P&M Apparel Heartland AEA Online Store      





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

Share with District Partners: Chapter 103 Resources Created by Iowa’s AEAs

In response to district needs surrounding Iowa Code Chapter 103, Iowa’s Area Education Agencies have developed Frequently Asked Questions along with supporting forms/templates. These resources are intended for district use and should be shared as needed. The templates below will force you to make a copy, and districts can format them with their district’s branding.  

• Guardian Debriefing Letter Template
 
• Incident Debriefing Meeting Template
 
• Use of Physical Restraint and/or Seclusion Documentation Form
 
• All Users
 
• PDF Version (Fillable PDF, but does not track data like the below options)
 
• Google Users
 
• Instructions (Download and link to autofilled Parent Report)
 
• Microsoft Users 
 
• Instructions (Download and make form your own)
   

If you have any questions about these materials, contact your regional director and/or Kristi Upah, Chief Student Services Officer.

All Staff Invited to Explore More About Equity in New Lunch & Learn Sessions

All staff is invited to participate in a series of "Educators Exploring Equity" Lunch & Learn opportunities this spring. Repeated sessions will be offered multiple times each month, with a focus on conversation, exploration and reflection among Heartland AEA staff members. You may participate in the full series (one session/month) or in any session of interest. Each session will be held via Zoom.

Purpose: Conversation, exploration and reflection among Heartland AEA educators regarding equity.   

Growing Pains 

A collaboration of three lifelong friends, they recount their very different experiences growing up in very similar situations. Nia, Lily and Nina express their unique and similar struggles, using their voice in this story-based speaking performance. Facing discrimination and disrespect, these three united to make a louder voice and encourage their peers to start making a change.

Feb. 22, 2021  12:00-12:30 p.m. 

Feb. 23, 2021  12:00-12:30 p.m. 

Feb. 24, 2021  12:30-1:00 p.m. 

Feb. 25, 2021  12:30-1:00 p.m. 

Zoom link   

Tough Conversations with a Black Man: Emmanual Acho

March 8, 2021    12:30-1:00 p.m. 

March 25, 2021  12:00-12:30 p.m. (CORRECTED TIME)

Zoom link  

Avoiding Racial Equity Detours: Paul Gorski 

April 5, 2021     12:00-12:45 p.m. 

April 27, 2021   12:00-12:45 p.m. 

Zoom link 

Cultural Theory: Brittney Cooper 

Cultural theorist Brittney Cooper examines racism through the lens of time, showing us how historically it has been stolen from people of color, resulting in lost moments of joy and connection, lost years of a healthy quality of life and the delay of progress. 

May 4, 2021     12:00-12:30 p.m. 

May 20, 2021   12:00-12:30 p.m. 

Zoom link 

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

Tech Tips of the Week: How to Turn on Zoom Phone Notifications and Find Your Direct Number

How to Turn on Zoom Phone Notifications

Zoom Phone - Find Your Direct Number