Glenwood Preschool Work Recognized at the State Level

Specially designed instruction in Glenwood Community School District's preschool is ensuring that Iowa's youngest learners have a great foundation for their school careers. The program drew attention from the Iowa Department of Education for its proven efficiency and remarkable results. Read More Here

Upcoming OpenSci Ed Training Opportunities

Trainings will take place at Heartland AEA - Johnston REC 

Thermal Energy 

Recommended for 6th grade

February 12 - Johnston REC + additional online work

March 23 - Johnston REC + additional online work

Course #182225 - click on link to register

Sound

Recommended for 8th grade

February 19 - Johnston REC + additional online work

March 25 - Johnston REC + additional online work

Course #182224 - click on link to register

Metabolic Reactions

Recommended for 7th grade

February 27 - Johnston REC + additional online work

March 30 - Johnston REC + additional online work

Course #182226 - click on link to register

Clarke Elementary Teacher Receives 2019 Iowa Excellence in Teaching about Agriculture Award

Clarke Elementary's third-grade teacher Tara Norman is the recipient of the 2019 Iowa Excellence in Teaching about Agriculture Award. She was presented with the award on December 12 at the Iowa Farm Bureau board of directors meeting in Des Moines. As the recipient of this award, Norman is automatically in the running for a national award at the National Agriculture in the Classroom Conference. Read More Here

Math Progress Monitoring Training

This training is for teachers of mathematics or special education in grades 6th- High school. Please take a look at the samples of each probe found below. These probes may be used as a screener for 7th+ as well.

Algebra Basics
Algebra Foundations
Algebra Content Analysis

See flyer here!

Green Hills Holiday Hours

It's the holiday season! We hope that you enjoy some time with family and friends over the holiday break.  At Green Hills, we value relationships, including our families and friends. We will be closed over the holidays to allow our staff time to foster these relationships, relax, refresh, and celebrate. Please see our holiday hours below:

December 23rd: Close at 2:30 p.m.
December 24th-January 1st: Closed
January 2nd: Return to regular hours

Please note that during our break, there will be no new At-A-Glance issues. The next At-A-Glance will be released on January 17th.

The Future is Bright for Clark CSD Students

Clarke High School's Industrial Technology program is opening doors for students. This opportunity allows for exploration within the fields of woodworking, welding and fabrication, digital design, and drafting. The program has been increasingly drawing interest with students, and it doesn't look as if it is going to slow down anytime soon. 

Read more HERE!

Upcoming Professional Learning Opportunities

CPI Refresher Training, Red Oak Office
January 10, morning and afternoon sessions
Course #180523 - click on link to register

ESSA SAMI Training (for newly identified schools)
January 13-14 - Red Oak Office
January 20-21 - Avoca Office
January 28-29 - Creston--SWCC Campus
Course #181950 - click on link to register

High Impact Instructional Strategies within the Gradual Release Framework
January 6-7 - Halverson
Course #180174 - click on link to register

LETRS Training:  Modules 4-6
January 8, January 9, February 11, February 12 - Creston Office
Course #GH-14706 - click on link to register

Youth Mental Health First Aid

Did you know that 20% of Iowa youth between the ages of 13-18 live with a mental illness? Iowa ranks 29th in the nation for the number of deaths by suicide.

So how can you help?

Learn the warning signs and risk factors. Practice assessing situations and using appropriate interventions so that you can help a child connect with professional care.

Parents, teachers, paras, administrators, custodians, community members.. it just takes one person to make a difference.

Join us on December 18th at the Avoca AEA Office for Youth Mental Health First Aid

Sanford Harmony SEL Workshop

This free workshop is designed to train Pre-K–6th grade school principals, administrators, counselors, teachers, social workers, and educational support staff in the successful incorporation and integration of social and emotional learning (SEL) in your classrooms.

Join us in Creston on January 14th

9 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. OR 1 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. (only need to attend one session, they are repeat sessions)

Family Educator Partnership Web Page

Take a moment and check out the new Family Educator Partnership web page. On this web page, you can find FEP resources and professional learning documents.

Green Hills AEA Holiday Break

The holiday season is just around the corner. To allow our staff time with family and friends, our offices will close for a short period of time. Please see our holiday hours of operation below:

December 23rd all offices will close at 2:30 p.m.
December 24th-January 1st all offices will remain closed
January 2nd all offices will return to normal hours

Welcome to Scout, the AEA's New Online Portal

I would like to take a minute to introduce you to a new online tool which will change the way students and educators find high-quality digital information…. AEA Scout!

AEA Scout is a new online portal that provides access to many of the quality digital resources currently provided by Iowa’s AEAs. Initially, 6th-12th grade students will benefit from a one-stop-shop for their research needs, and teachers can rest easy knowing their students are searching the quality content they’ve come to know and trust.

Upcoming Professional Learning

• December 6th at the Creston AEA Office 
• CPI Initial Training - training only, no credit 
• Course #180521- click on link to register 
• December 18th at the Avoca AEA Office
• Youth Mental Health First Aid
• Paraeducator Courses
• Substitute Authorization Courses

AEA's Website for Children's Mental Health Supports Survey

Iowa's AEAs are developing a website to support mental health for Iowa children. This will be a one-stop shop for students, educators, caregivers, families, and community partners to get in contact with mental health resources.

We need your help in identifying the needs of Iowans that can be addressed through this online website. Please take a moment to complete this survey by Tuesday, November 19th.

Suicide Risk Assessment

This workshop is designed for social workers, counselors, special education representatives, school-based interventionists, nurses, or anyone who would be involved in district-level suicide assessment. Participants will learn best practices in school suicide risk assessment procedures.

There is only one date left to attend, so grab your district team and register today!

Click here for more details and the link to register!

Veteran's Community Project Led by Stanton 4th Graders

Last year students in Stanton Elementary's 4th grade class watched a CNN10 episode about a community project to build tiny homes for homeless veterans in Kansas City. The students decided to make Veteran's Day cards to send.

This year, the 4th graders wanted to do more. After brainstorming ways they could help and decided to collect items to donate. They connected with the office manager to ask what items were needed most. She shared that most veterans that live in the homes take the bus to work, appointments, etc. and winter can be very tough for them. Things like chapstick, hand and feet warmers, hats, and gloves would go a long way.

The students got their community involved by creating and distributing posters, sending emails to parents, and talking with the elementary students about donating items.

Professional Learning Offerings

Phonological Awareness and Word Recognition

• November 4, November 18 - Red Oak AEA Office
• November 7, November 19 - Avoca AEA Office 
• November 13, November 25 - Creston AEA Office 
• Course #154192 

TIPS Training (Team Initiated Problem Solving)

• November 11 - Avoca AEA Office
• November 12 - Creston AEA Office 
• Course #160656

Social Studies Implementation Year 3- Secondary

• November 14 and 15 - Creston AEA Office 
• Course #181291

Reminder: Sale of Copy Center Equipment

Green Hills AEA is holding a sealed bid auction of printing equipment and surplus paper. The offering will be placed on our website beginning at 8 am on November 1, 2019, and will close at 8 pm on November 15, 2019. Items are located at Halverson Center, 24997 Hwy 92, in Council Bluffs and can be viewed by scheduling an appointment with Jamie Reid at 712-366-0503.

Literacy Presentation with David A. Kilpatrick

Dr. Kilpatrick is known worldwide for his contributions to helping professionals learn more about science-based reading interventions. His presentation, Recent Advances In Understanding Word-Level Reading Difficulties: Assessment & Highly Effective Intervention will be available on Monday, December 9th in Omaha for educators.

For more information, please see this flyer.

Iowa Teacher Librarians Again Have Opportunity to Collaborate During Monthly Online Sessions

Iowa’s AEAs are again offering Iowa school teacher-librarians the opportunity to network, share ideas and “talk shop.” The “Better Together: Collaborative Conversations” is a series in which an AEA teacher-librarian and a guest expert will facilitate a monthly online discussion about a predetermined topic with time built in for networking and Q & A. This year’s sessions will focus on the Iowa School Library Program Standards.

And the best part? No cost, no long agenda and no drive time!

Check out this online flyer for all the details.

SCERTS (Social Communication, Emotional Regulation, and Transactional Support) Training

Have you registered for the SCERTS training yet? See flyer for more details!

Questions? Contact Michelle Lidgett, Registrar, mlidgett@ghaea.org or 844-366-0503 ext. 7222

FREE Social Emotional Curriculum and Training with Sanford Harmony

What: Sanford Harmony SEL Workshop - all materials and training are paid for by philanthropist T. Denny Sanford and National University SystemWhen: Monday, November 18, 2019  9 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Where: Halverson Center, Blietz conference room

Registration: Course #181997 - click on link to register

Description: This free workshop is designed to train Pre-K–6th grade school principals, administrators, counselors, teachers, social workers, and educational support staff in the successful incorporation and integration of social and emotional learning (SEL) in your classrooms.

STEM Best Program Partnerships in Green Hills AEA

Congratulations to Clarinda, Griswold, Stanton, and Saint Albert on being selected at one of the governor's STEM Best Program partners.
The STEM Best Program supports school-business partnerships that allow teachers and industry professionals to work side-by-side on curriculum and projects that give students actual workplace experience and an understanding of the opportunities and required skills for careers in STEM fields. STEM BEST has also laid the groundwork for other successful statewide initiatives such as Future Ready Iowa’s Work-Based Learning Clearinghouse.
Read More

Access Your Transcript Electronically

Access Your Transcript Electronically
You can access your transcript electronically at any time!

  1.  Log in to your account in the AEA Professional Learning Registration System
  2.  Click on the Home button
  3.  Scroll to the bottom right-hand side of the page to the "My Courses" heading
  4.  Click on "My Transcript"
  5.  Click on the "Print Official Transcript" button (cumulative transcript)

Questions? Contact:
Michelle Lidgett mlidgett@ghaea.org

Sale of Copy Center Equipment Update

Green Hills AEA is holding a sealed bid auction of printing equipment and surplus paper. The offering will be placed on our website beginning at 8 am on November 1, 2019, and will close at 8 pm on November 15, 2019. Items are located at Halverson Center, 24997 Hwy 92, in Council Bluffs and can be viewed by scheduling an appointment with Jamie Reid at 712-366-0503.

All items are sold “AS IS”. Green Hills AEA makes no guarantee or warranty on the condition of any item.

There is no set “minimum bid”. However, Green Hills AEA has the right to reject bids.

Bid will be awarded to the highest bidder, provided the price is offered and acceptable. Bids will be submitted electronically via a Google Form and time-stamped. In the event identical bids are received, the winning bid will be the first bid that was submitted. We will contact the awarded bidder no later than 4 pm on November 16. Successful bidders must pay and remove all item(s) awarded within 5 days after the auction has closed.

Only our public schools can bid on these items.

You can retract a bid 1 hour before the bidding window closes

Schools can pay by purchase order and by check.

The successful bidder must assume all liability that may occur in connection with the removal of property from Green Hills AEA premises.

Guaranty Waiver:
All property is offered for sale AS IS, WHERE IS. Green Hills Area Education Agency makes no warranty, guaranty or representation of any kind, expressed or implied, as to the merchantability or fitness for any purpose of the property offered for sale. Please note that upon removal of the property, all sales are final.

Description Warranty:
Seller warrants to the Buyer that the property offered for sale will conform to its description. Any claim for misdescription must be made prior to the removal of the property. If Seller confirms that the property does not conform to the description, Seller will keep the property and refund any money paid. The liability of the seller shall not exceed the actual purchase price of the property.

School Improvement Tools

The School Improvement team at Green Hills offers several regional training opportunities around school improvement tools such as MTSS Data Systems, Intervention Systems, Universal Tier Tools (focused and traditional), SAMI, Data Review, and Action Planning.

Please see this document for all dates and locations.

 
Questions should be directed to Andrea Danker at adanker@ghaea.org

Basic FBA to BIP

Special educators, school counselors, school psychologists and administrators are among the positions most often involved in leading Tier 3 behavior support efforts in schools. Though general education teachers may not need to know FBA/BIP, they should have a strong understanding of behavior and intervention for students with recurring problem behavior.

The basic FBA to BIP training modules are specifically designed to be used by district-level behavior support professionals to train and support school-based personnel to develop relatively simple individualized supports for students with mild to moderate interfering behaviors. Students who exhibit consistent mild to moderate behavior problems may do fine with a relatively simple behavioral support plan developed by a team of typical behavior support professionals. (school counselors, interventionists etc.) This training series with certificate of completion is to increase professional capacity within schools to utilize effective efficient tools in which to support the “expert” behavior specialists with more intense interrupting behaviors.

Participants will learn and practice the following:
1. Develop a Hypothesis of the Function (Why)
2. Data based decisions for supporting hypothesized function
3. Intervention strategies based on function.
4. Monitoring intervention strategies and when to return to functional assessment

Participants will complete the Basic FBA to BIP Specialist Training e-learning modules designed by Chris Borgmeier,PhD, andSheldon Loman, PhD,from Portland State University, Oregon and Kathleen Strickland-Cohen, PhD of Texas Christian University in collaboration with Kansas Technical Assistance Systems Network Project Leads: Lee Stickle & Chris Perry; Lead Instructional Designers: Eddie Croissant & Tyler Collier.

Course #181807  click on the link to register

• November 14 - Halverson Center for Education
• December 17 - Halverson Center for Education

Questions? Contact Michelle Lidgett, Registrar, mlidgett@ghaea.org or 844-366-0503 ext. 7222

SCERTS Training

Have you registered for the SCERTS training yet? See flyer for more details!

Questions? Contact Michelle Lidgett, Registrar, mlidgett@ghaea.org or 844-366-0503 ext. 7222

ESSA Intervention System 4.1 (System Steps 1-2 and Learner Steps 1-4)

**Training Only, No Credit**

Participants will learn how to use the Intervention System tools, Systems Steps 1 and 2, and Learner Steps 1 through 4, including subgroup additions. Teams will spend time learning the logic and flow of the steps and actions buildings engage with do analyze and refine the way in which it designs and delivers intensified interventions. Attendees will be provided with a decision-making framework and tools to help accomplish the work around intervention delivery. Ample time will be provided on-site to engage with the guide and for local teams to make decisions.

Course #181354 - click on the link to register

• October 21 - Creston SWCC
• December 9 - Red Oak Office

Questions? Contact Michelle Lidgett, Registrar, mlidgett@ghaea.org or 844-366-0503 ext. 7222

Counselor Academy: Refining & Revising Your School Counseling Program 4.0

Two years ago, we offered the Counselor Academy to help districts write their articulated, sequential school counseling program. The ASCA Model is now on its fourth edition, there are new ASCA standards and education in Iowa has evolved. Using the ASCA Model, the Iowa Framework for School Counseling Programs, the Iowa definition of College and Career Readiness and the MTSS Framework, participants will write, update, refine and implement an ASCA Model for their district/building school counseling program. Because of the importance and interconnection of this work, an administrator is asked to accompany the counselors for, at a minimum, days 1 and 4. Of course, they are welcome to attend the entire academy.

Course #181293 - click on the link to register

• October 22 - Halverson Center for Education
• December 3 - Red Oak Office
• February 3 - Red Oak Office
• April 6 - Halverson Center for Education

Questions? Contact Michelle Lidgett, Registrar, mlidgett@ghaea.org or 844-366-0503 ext. 7222

Winner! Winner!

Congrats to Denise Ascherl (Clarinda CSD) and Lisa Merritt (Creston CSD) for winning the 2 FREE registrations to attend Brian Mendler's upcoming seminar:  "Discipline with Dignity:  Motivating and Managing Hard to Reach, Uninterested and Disruptive Students."  Great job of reading The At-A-Glance thoroughly!!!

Even if you didn't win, there is still plenty of time to register. Green Hills has secured a discount of $75 off the regular price for all educators in our AEA region!  See details here.

Sale of Copy Center Equipment

These are the items that Green Hills AEA will be offering for sale from the Copy Center. Watch for more information on the bidding process in the next At-A-Glance on October 18th.

Trauma Responsive Schools Training

This November the IaASCD fall conference is on Trauma Responsive Schools. This training combines two 3-hour workshops designed to give educators the tools needed to create effective learning environments that support the needs of traumatized students.

 Please see more information on this flyer

What is a GHAEA Literacy Consultant?

Green Hills AEA's Lynn Hockenberry speaks with KJAN radio in Atlantic about the role of a Literacy Consultant. She shares how they work with teachers to impact children using the science of reading and differentiated instruction for all students, general education and special education.

Listen HERE!

Suicide Pre/Postvention Online Module Follow Up

These follow-up sessions will provide discussion regarding how to connect with students, listen, and
refer for additional support if needed.
For more information, please see this flyer

Suicide Risk Assessment Training

Green Hills AEA is offering a Suicide Risk Assessment Training workshop on November 20th.  Details about the workshop including a registration link can be found in this flyer.

Last Chance: MTSS Data System Workshop

Our Collaborating for Iowa's Kids (C4K) Training Cadre/Statewide School Improvement Team and Panorama will co-lead in-depth 3 hour regional training sessions during the weeks of October 7th and 14th. We recommend that districts and schools send teams of 3-5 people to regional training. The teams should consist of school and district leadership as well as staff that will be responsible for taking the training content back to train others. This may include curriculum directors, teacher leaders, literacy specialists, data specialists, professional learning staff, etc.

Registration is required for the regional training sessions.
MTSS Data System Workshop Opportunities:

• Oct. 11th from 8:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Creston SWCC
• Oct. 14th from 12:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. Red Oak High School Activity Center

Description:
Participants (Administration and lead teachers) will understand how to use the new Iowa MTSS Data System, Student Success, for tracking interventions and progress monitoring, using screening data, and viewing Healthy Indicator reports. We encourage all districts to attend one session. If you have questions, you can contact Tina Wahlert (twahlert@ghaea.org).

Substitute Authorization- New Lower Price!

Green Hills AEA Substitute Authorization courses will pick back up in January. We are excited to announce that the cost has lowered from $250 to $100!

See flyer HERE!

Book Creator Projects to Support Social-Emotional Learning

Teachers, check out these 10 Book Creator Projects to Support Social-Emotional Learning 

Iowa Sets a Higher Bar for Student Success

The State Board of Education today approved performance levels that determine how many students met expectations on Iowa’s new state test, the Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress (ISASP).

4 Our Kids Workshop

This workshop provides information about how the court systems work, as well as information on many topics of interest ranging from foster care to sex trafficking to domestic violence and special programs to help drug-addicted parents.

This year the AEA has been asked to present information on what Early ACCESS is all about, how referrals can be made, how services are different now than they were in the past, how we process CAPTA referrals, and how we can work together to possibly improve this process and provide quicker service to families.

Scholarship Opportunity for HS Seniors

The Iowa Environmental Health Association (IEHA) is a Professional Association for Environmental Health specialist in Iowa. They are involved in environmental and public education, reviewing existing and pending environmental health legislation and community service.

In 2016, the IEHA started a scholarship program. This scholarship is open for applications now. The details are as follows:

• $500 for the school year, scholarship may be renewed one time if student is in good academic standing (2.0 GPA or above) with their respective college.
• Scholarship monies will be paid directly to the college or university. 
• The selection committee shall consist of five (5) IEHA members. The committee shall award the scholarship and the decision of the committee shall be final.
• IEHA reserves the right to verify any information on the application.
• Scholarship recipients will be notified in March 2020 and will be recognized at the IEHA business meeting during the Iowa Governor’s Conference on Public Health in April 2020.

To be eligible for this scholarship, recipients must be:

• A resident of the State of Iowa.
• A high school senior OR a non-traditional student returning to college in the State of Iowa.
• Currently a full-time student at any college, university, or community college in the State of Iowa.
• Recipient must be majoring in Environmental Health or a related field.

To apply for the scholarship, please follow this application process:

• Download the scholarship application, http://www.ieha.net/College-scholarship. Please complete the application and submit it with all required documents to the address on the bottom of the application. This application cannot be submitted on-line at this time.
• Include three (3) letters of recommendation from three (3) individuals that are not family members (i.e. teachers, high school guidance counselors, employers, minister, family friends, etc.)
• Enclose an official high school transcript.
• Enclose an essay – approximately 250 words (one typed page, font size 11 or 12) explaining your career plans and goals.
• Applications must be postmarked by February 1, 2020.

If you have any questions concerning the scholarship or IEHA in general, please contact Sandy Bubke. Thank you and I appreciate you sharing this information within your education system.

Upcoming Professional Learning Opportunities

• SCERTS- November 13-15 in Treynor
• Yoga for Teachers - October 4 and 5 in Red Oak
• Mindful Games - December 6th and 7th in Red Oak
• Think Tank/Leadership Camps - additional dates below:

Leadership Camps:

September 23-24, 2019 from 8:30-4:30 in Cedar Falls
October 1-2, 2019 from 8:30-4:30 in Creston
October 29-30, 2019 from 8:30-4:30 in Fairfield
November 7-8, 2019 from 8:30-4:30 in Red Oak
March 26-27, 2020 from 8:30-4:30 in Cedar Falls
April 2-3, 2020 from 8:30-4:30 in Pocahontas
April 21-22, 2020 from 8:30-4:30 in Fairfield
June 11-12, 2020 from 8:30-4:30 in Sioux City
June 15-16, 2020 from 8:30-4:30 in Cedar Rapids
June 18-19, 2020 from 8:30-4:30 in Johnston
July 21-22, 2020 from 8:30-4:30 in Johnston

Think Tanks:

September 26, 2019 from 10-1 in Amana

September 30, 2019 from 10-1 in Creston

October 17, 2019 from 10-1 in Cedar Falls

November 6, 2019 from 10-1 in Red Oak

November 19, 2019 from 10-1 in Fairfield

March 31, 2020 from 10-1 in Fairfield

Open Educational Resources - Call for Participants

On November 11th or March 31st, from 9:00 - 2:30, administrators, instructional coaches, and teachers are invited to learn (in person or virtually via Zoom) about using Open Education Resources (OER). These resources are free PLUS you have the right to retain, reuse, revise, remix, and redistribute them. The overview will answer questions like: what is OER, where do we find resources, what about copyright, will this save our district money?
Two additional days (for possible relicensure credit) will be available for coaches and/or teachers who want to collaboratively create lessons/units with others from the same grade level/content area. If you are interested, please complete this form. If you have any questions, email judy@ghaea.org.

Brian Mendler - Discipline with Dignity (GHAEA Discount!)

We are excited to announce that Brian Mendler, co-author of Discipline with Dignity 4th Edition, will be presenting his full-day seminar, Motivating and Managing Hard to Reach, Uninterested and Disruptive Students, on Nov. 14 in Omaha (Council Bluffs) and Nov. 15 in Des Moines. This training will focus on how to Build Responsibility, Relationships, and Respect in your schools. Here are some key training points:

• Relationship building bootcamp...discover how to build relationships with challenging youth
• Learn to defuse any student, at any time, in any situation
• Implement social emotional learning methods that model respect and promote responsible decision making
• Receive dozens of high impact instructional strategies to help motivate at-risk youth

The complete program agenda and specific location info can be found here.  

Furthermore, we have secured a special discounted rate of $170 (a $75 discount) for anyone attending from one of our districts! Please use the discount code GHAEA when registering.

To register for the Omaha seminar, simply click here.

To register for the Des Moines seminar, simply click here.

And - the best part - hope you're still reading....we have secured two FREE registrations!  If you are interested, email mcatterson@ghaea.org

Presidential Candidates Gather for Students

Des Moines Public Schools has partnering with the Des Moines Register to host presidential candidates for a student forum called Youth Voice: The Iowa Caucus at Roosevelt High School. they have opened up this forum statewide and would like to see a nice geographical representation of Iowa. If you have seniors who will be voting in 2020, they are welcome to register and attend. Find more information here, including a link for students to register for the event.

Algebra Progress Monitoring Probes (AAIMS)

This training is for teachers of mathematics or special education in grades 6th- High school. Please take a look at the samples of each probe found below. These probes may be used as a screener for 7th+ as well.

Algebra Basics
Algebra Foundations
Algebra Content Analysis

See flyer here!

Green Hills Area Education Agency Named One of Iowa’s Top Workplaces

The Des Moines Register named Green Hills AEA one of Iowa’s Top Workplaces of 2019 on Sunday. The Iowa Top Workplace Awards take place annually and serve to recognize workplaces where employees feel appreciated, inspired, and productive.  Any Iowa organization — business, nonprofit or government — with 35 or more employees is eligible to participate in the free program. Energage, the Register’s research partner for the awards, conducts Top Workplaces surveys for 50 major metro newspapers. It surveyed 3 million employees at more than 7,000 organizations in 2018.

This year was Green Hills AEA’s first year using the Energage employee survey to conduct their annual survey about employee engagement, work culture, and employee job satisfaction.

“We hoped that someday, in a future year, we would be so fortunate as to earn the Top Workplace Award. We were surprised and thrilled to learn that our employees helped us earn this award in our first year!” said Dr. Lolli Haws, the AEA’s Chief Administrator.

Green Hills AEA is one of nine Iowa AEAs that was established by the Iowa Legislature in 1974 to be an effective, efficient and economical means of identifying and serving children, birth to age 21.

For more information about Green Hills AEA, please call 712-366-0503 or visit www.ghaea.org.

At-A-Glance Moves to Twice a Month

Currently, the At-A-Glance blog is issued every Friday. We have decided to alter the timeline to the 1st and 3rd Fridays of the month. In changing the release date, we hope to save some you some time by ensuring each issue is packed with rich, information. Be on the lookout for the next issue to arrive in your inbox on September 20th!

What's Going on at Green Hills AEA

This past fall, Green Hills AEA began a strategic planning process. We looked specifically at our mission, vision, and core values. We made some revisions to ensure these statements were a true reflection of who we are, what we do, and where we are headed. Then we began to look at our organizational structure and made some revisions to better align our services and supports to accomplish our agency goal of helping all of our schools achieve a Universal ESSA designation by fall 2022.

In order to help us achieve our goal, we have adopted the 4 Disciplines of Execution strategies. One of these strategies is the creation of Wildly Important Goals (WIGs) and WIG teams. Every Green Hills AEA employee belongs to a WIG team and they meet once a week for about 15-20 minutes. IF you hear Green Hills AEA staff refer to a "WIG meeting," please know that they are using that time to work collaboratively with their colleagues to progress toward our agency goal.

We are excited and energized for this new opportunity and look forward to celebrating your universal scores with you in 2022!

Green Hills AEA Organizational Structure

 

Iowa Communications Network's Cybersecurity Session

ICN's Network Service Bureau Chief, Ryan Mulhall, provided security expertise in a recent KCCI Ransomware story.

FBI: 10 reports, data held for ransom in Iowa, number could be higher.

Hear more from ICN's security team when you register for an upcoming roadshow!

Session Topics:

• Security Programs
• Security Fallacies & How to Avoid
• Group Discussions:
• Endpoint Security
• Network Security
• Identify & Access Management
• Threat Intelligence
• Cloud Security
• Email Security

Register Today for a Roadshow!
An Informative & Open Security Discussion

Ottumwa
Oct 3, 1 - 4 PM

Des Moines
Oct 22, 1 - 4 PM

Council Bluffs
Oct 29, 1 - 4 PM

RESPECT Training

RESPECT is a free, four-day workshop focused on relationship building and conflict resolution.  Participants will learn skills and strategies that can be applied universally when addressing professional and personal conflict.

Where:
Country Inn and Suites, 17 Arena Way, Council Bluffs

When:
October 8, November 12, December 3, December 10
8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Learn more HERE
To register visit this link

Heart of Innovation Summit

Heartland AEA's instructional tech team has a lot going on this year, including their Heart of Innovation Summit. Pk-12 Educators and Teacher Leaders from across the state are welcome to attend. Learn more here!

NEW Iowa MTSS Data System Workshops

We want to make you aware of an upcoming “Train-the-Trainer” workshop recommended for building administrators and leadership teams. Iowa's New MTSS Data System, called “Student Success,” will be available to schools that serve any of grades K-6. We are sending this to you now as a “Save the Date.” Additional information and registration links will be available over the next few weeks, but we wanted you to know the dates, times, and locations of the training options ahead of time. These workshops will be co-led by Panorama staff and AEA School Improvement staff.


MTSS Data System Workshop Opportunities:

• Oct. 11th from 8:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Creston SWCC
• Oct. 14th from 12:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. AEA Red Oak Office

Description:
Participants (Administration and lead teachers) will understand how to use the new Iowa MTSS Data System, Student Success, for tracking interventions and progress monitoring, using screening data, and viewing Healthy Indicator reports. We encourage all districts to attend one session. If you have questions, you can contact Tina Wahlert (twahlert@ghaea.org).

Hats Off for Your Community

Here's how you can help raise $25,000 for our community!

Step 1 Take a photo or video of someone taking off a hat.  Get creative!

Step 2 Post it on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram  and use the hashtag #HatsOff4UnitedWay. (Tag United Way of the Midlands and your company or agency too!)

Step 3 Challenge others to do the same so we can raise $25,000 for our community!

When it comes to making our town a better place to live, we all wear many hats, and we all have a role to play. YOU can make a difference by simply sharing a photo of yourself taking off a hat and sponsors will donate $1 to local families in need. Get Started Today

Dr. David Kilpatrick is coming to Omaha on December 9th

Attached is a flyer for a presentation by Dr. David Kilpatrick. Dr. Kilpatrick is known worldwide for his contributions to helping professionals learn more about science-based reading interventions. Tickets are going fast! Grab yours today!

See flyer here

Building a Contagious Culture

• Are you having the impact you want?
• Do you feel the way you want?
• Do people follow you because you’re the “boss” or because they want to?  
• Do you have the culture you want? 

The key to a resounding “Yes” response to these questions is in how you show up. The way we lead ourselves and our energy—or don’t—has a tremendous effect on our ability to create impact. How we nurture our energy, from the inside out, influences how in tune we are to others, how well we can lead a room, and how well we can pick up on things that no one else can. (We have superpowers, and we don’t even know it.)

In today’s world, leadership actions and skills alone are not enough; we need intention, energy, and presence to back them up for best results. Through this workshop, gain strategies for creating influence and impact on purpose, while accelerating your results and well-being.

Facilitator: Dr. Dana Schon, SAI
• Thurs., Sept. 5, 2019 - Avoca

Register Here

Functional Behavior Assessment and Behavior Intervention Planning for Practitioners Course

#160659 GH - Functional Behavior Assessment and Behavior Intervention Planning for Practitioners

Participants will learn to operationally define target behaviors and conduct a technically sound functional behavior assessment designed to answer specific questions. Indirect and direct methods of assessing function will be taught and applied. Participants will learn how to analyze and then synthesize assessment data in order to write a descriptive summary leading to a hypothesis about the function of the targeted behavior(s).  Participants will learn how to link these results to appropriate, function-based interventions. Data collection resources will be modeled and practiced in class and within the natural environment.  Coaching opportunities will be provided by members of the Challenging Behavior Team.

8:30-3:30 at the Osceola AEA Regional Office
September 25th
November 13th
December 4th

Target audience is: AEA Special Education Reps, SPED teachers who support students with behavioral concerns and have/need an FBA/BIP as part of their supports in their IEP, SPED coordinators or other district staff who support sped teachers with collecting behavior data or writing FBA/BIPs

Register HERE

UNI Think Tank/Leadership Camp

Through a partnership with the University of Northern Iowa, Green Hills AEA is excited to offer a think tank and leadership camp opportunity.

See flyer for more details

Professional Learning this fall

Our Green Hills AEA Fall Catalog is available NOW!

Check out the new fall courses offered through Drake University here.

2nd Annual Learning Supports Symposium

THANK YOU for helping make the 2nd Annual Learning Supports Symposium so successful! Over 300 educators, parents and community members attended the Symposium at Riverside High School on August 5th and 6th. Keynote Speakers Jim Sporleder and Tasha Schuh shared inspiring messages with all of us and the 25+ breakout sessions were impactful, diverse and applicable.
SAVE THE DATE for next year's Symposium: August 3rd and 4th at Griswold Middle/High School.  You won't want to miss it!

Social Emotional Behavior Mental Health Leadership Series

Heartland AEA is offering a no-cost Social Emotional Behavior Mental Health SEBMH Leadership Series this fall for Superintendents and Education Leaders.

See flyer for details

RESPECT Training

RESPECT is a free, four-day workshop focused on relationship building and conflict resolution.  Participants will learn skills and strategies that can be applied universally when addressing professional and personal conflict.

Where:
Country Inn and Suites, 17 Arena Way, Council Bluffs

When:
September 10, October 8, November 12, December 3
8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Learn more HERE
To register go to askresource.org/events

FASTBridge Back to School Message

As you kick off your school year, the AEAs want to ensure that buildings and administrators that requested the expanded FAST assessment suite have access as expected and understand the billing structure for the suite. 

If your school requested the expanded FAST assessment suite, please click this link

2019-2020 Green Hills AEA Van Routes

Please see the links below for important information about van routes. Updated van routes for the 2019-20 school began earlier this week. Attached is a listing of all stops. Please note that some routes have changed.
Van Routes

Route Information

2019-2020 Norms and Benchmarks Update from FAST

What has changed?

The developer of the FAST assessment measures has updated their norms and benchmarks. These updates go into practice starting fall of 2019.


Why the update?
Norms and benchmarks were updated to more accurately represent national performance. This was done by using their available user data to more closely represent the national school population based on gender, race/ethnicity, and socio-economic status. More closely matching national demographics will increase assessment accuracy across the range of abilities (e.g., struggling students, high performing students). This update is also intended to increase norm and benchmark stability, leading to less frequent updates in the future.

Crayola ColorCycle

Not sure what to do with your old markers? Crayola is teaming up with schools in an effort to be more environmentally friendly and teach students about their role in protecting the environment. Collect markers throughout the year and send them to Crayola to recycle! Learn more about Crayola ColorCycle HERE

New Look and Feel of Green Hills AEA

Last spring, we updated our mission, vision, and core values at Green Hills AEA to ensure they still represented who we are, what we do, and where we are going. We wanted to reflect that change in our brand identity. This summer, we adopted a new logo and brand. You will begin to see our new logo on our website, social media accounts, and on our employee's ID badges as they enter your buildings.

Summer Learning Spotlight with Green Hills AEA

See all offerings in the Green Hills AEA Course Catalog!

Green Hills AEA on the Radio

This month, Green Hills AEA Chief Administrator, Dr. Lolli Haws, visited several local radio stations with members from our School Improvement Team. Together, they have been explaining ESSA, how the School Improvement Team can support schools, and what goes into a school improvement plan.
Missed the live airing? Don't worry! You can catch 3 of the 4 interviews below:

1. KSIB radio interview in Creston with Jessica Ferguson HERE
2. KJAN radio interview in Atlantic with Tina Wahalert HERE
3. KMA Radio interview in Shenandoah with Roxanne Wiles- HERE!
4. KNOD radio in Harlan also aired an interview with Andrea Danker, but there is no link available for replay

Summer Learning with Green Hills AEA!

Check out all summer course offerings here!

NSPI Iowa Workshop

AEA PREP is excited to host a 2-day workshop for district teams in partnership with the National Postsecondary Strategy Institute (NPSI) from Chicago, to be held at Des Moines Area Community College on September 23 & 24, 2019. The goal of this workshop is to help school districts develop their internal capacity to support every student toward attaining a successful postsecondary pathway. This will be done through a hands-on, action-oriented workshop focused on the integration of three critical components: a district postsecondary framework and strategy; a data strategy; and engagement of school counselors as leaders. Up to 27 district teams (3 per AEA) will be selected from across the state following the application period (May 3 - May 31).  NPSI is led by Greg Darneider, Dr. Joyce Brown, and Kelly Sparks. Mr. Darneider served as Senior Advisor to the U.S. Secretary of Education on the College Access Initiative, serving under President Obama's 2020 Goal and was the U.S. Department of Education representative on First Lady Michelle Obama's Reach Higher Initiative.  Dr. Brown is president of Joyce V. Brown Consulting, a group of expert practitioner counselor leaders who specialize in training and coaching counselors and non-profit organizations working on the front lines of schools. Dr. Brown also provided technical support and served as a consultant to Reach Higher. Ms. Sparks is CEO of Maple Grove Objective, which helps organizations strategically use data to improve outcomes for youth and communities. She has over 20 years of experience in education and is a national expert and innovator in data strategy. 

See the linked flyers and video for more information, along with the application instructions and registration link (bit.ly/IowaNPSI).

NPSI - Iowa Online application link
NSPI Iowa Overview and Application Instructions
NPSI Brochure

Iowa School Performance Profiles Updated and Released With New Features

The Iowa Department of Education announced new features have been added to a recently launched online school accountability reporting system. 

The Iowa School Performance Profiles website first launched in December to meet a federal education law called the Every Student Succeeds Act. ESSA, which replaced the No Child Left Behind Act, requires all states to publish report cards reflecting the performance of public schools.

The initial version of the website included each school’s scores on a set of accountability measures, such as graduation rates, and specified schools that were identified for additional support and improvement based on their performance.

The new features include additional data required by ESSA, such as student suspensions and expulsions and chronic absenteeism, and a feature to compare school and district performance.  The website also folds in data and ratings from the former Iowa School Report Card, developed to meet a 2013 state law.

“School report cards make it easier for education stakeholders to understand how their schools are serving students,” Director Ryan Wise said. “Our goal was to have one school performance reporting tool that fully meets both state and federal requirements.”

The new features did not change the school accountability scores calculated in December. Those scores will be updated later this year as part of an annual update to the website.

This fact sheet summarizes the new features that users will find on the updated Iowa School Performance Profiles.

For more information, visit iaschoolperformance.gov.

Green Hills AEA Summer Van Route

Now- June 14: Regular two-day per week van delivery
June 17-June 28: Vans will run to each building one time per week
*The route listing for June 17-28 here.
July 1- August 9: No van delivery
August 12-16: Van delivery as needed
Regular van delivery for the 2019-20 school year will begin Tuesday, August 20. 

If you have any needs during the summer or questions, please contact Julia Hood.  Have a great summer!

CPI Training Changes for 2019-2020

As the school year comes to a close we want to take this time to remind you of a few CPI training changes for the '19/'20 school year.

What you need to know:
1) Team Members: Jessica Williar, Rebecca Hamilton, and Nicole Owen make up our core team.
2) Class fee: We will be raising the price for trainings to $50.00 per person beginning August 1, 2019. This cost increase is to help cover the costs of the training itself and the increased price of books, which are required for staff to receive their blue card, evidencing certification.
3) Class Schedule: Please see our course catalog for a pre-set schedule of training dates. These will not be changed for any other reason than weather. We will not be able to accommodate "as needed" trainings, as we have done in the past.


Questions about CPI should be directed to Stephanie Dredge; sdredge@ghaea.org.

Learning Supports Symposium Spotlight

Data to Drive Decisions (for a Difference): 

Using data to drive or decisions (and track our efforts) makes a difference. Join us in this interactive session where we dive in to how we all can help to form healthy, independent, successful young people. How to make data-driven decisions to help move beyond talking about problems to taking action to solve those problems.

AEA Learning Online Suicide Prevention, Intervention and Postvention Training

In response to Iowa’s new requirement that school districts provide at least one hour of annual training on suicide prevention, intervention and postvention, the AEA Directors of Special Education and AEA Learning Online have developed training that meets the state’s training requirements. Information about AEA Learning Online’s Postvention Training and a link to additional training options can be found here.

2019 All Western Iowa Academic Awards

Below are the selections for the 2019 All Western Iowa All Academic Team:

• Council Bluffs Abraham Lincoln, Caleb Fitch
• Council Bluffs Lewis Central, Kate Doolittle
• Council Bluffs Lewis Central, Sean Etherington
• Glenwood, Abigail Schultz
• Harlan, Andrea Ferry
• Harlan, Jayden Rece Swanson
• Southwest Valley, Connor Shipley
• Treynor: Kyle Christensen
• Treynor, Brendan Mass
• 
  

See full article

UNI Summer Workshop: The New Labor Market

Millennials and Generation Z are different from the generations preceding them, thus they have different expectations from their employers. After this week-long summer course you will:

• Understand how Millennials and Generation Z behave differently in the labor market
• Understand how local business deal with new generations
• Develop materials that can be used to raise student understanding of the workplace
• Exchange information and network among educators and business leaders

See flyer here!

Public Input Sought for Career and Technical Education Standards

Iowa Department of Education Director, Ryan Wise, announced he is seeking the public’s input on proposed standards for career and technical education (CTE).

The standards were developed over the last year by program management teams consisting of secondary and postsecondary educators and administrators, business and industry partners, and staff from the Department and the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners. Public input is being sought specifically in the areas of agriculture, food and natural resources; business, finance, marketing, and management; health sciences; human services; and information solutions. Work will begin on standards for applied sciences, technology, engineering, and manufacturing later this year.

Feedback on the standards will come through area-specific online surveys, which will be open through June 13. Input from the surveys will be incorporated into the teams’ final recommendations.

“Our goal is to provide standards that ensure CTE programs are dynamic, rigorous and driven by labor market demands,” Wise said. “These standards will provide a framework for programs to keep current with industry changes, provide for ongoing learning for CTE faculty, and integrate core academic and employability skills to prepare students for college and careers.”

This work is in response to HF 2392, state legislation signed into law in 2016, which is helping shape the future of CTE in Iowa. The legislation provides the State Board of Education with authority to adopt standards for school districts to incorporate into their CTE programs. The new CTE standards and benchmarks will set clear and consistent foundational expectations for what students need to learn in high-quality CTE programs across the state.

The teams intend to get the proposed CTE standards to the State Board of Education this fall. If adopted, the CTE standards will be a mandatory requirement for school districts.

Green Hills AEA 2019 Teacher Appreciation Winner!

Deanna and her grandson, Beckett

Congratulations to our 2019 Teacher Appreciation drawing winner, Deanna Langel of IKM-Manning!

"Thank you so much for the teacher appreciation class credit payment. I will be using it for a phonological awareness class I am taking in June. I learned about this class from another AEA opportunity. The first grade teachers in our area all got together to discuss first grade and this class came up as a great one. I'm looking forward to the class.
I am about to wrap up my 32nd year of teaching for the Manning and IKM-Manning school districts. It's always great to continue learning. Next year will be new as I am making a change to 2nd grade. I loved and will miss my 1st grade partners but am excited for new challenges and am anxious to work with my new second grade partners."