Thank You For An Amazing Year!

As we bring an end to the 2019-2020 school year, we celebrate the teachers, administrators, staff, students, and families that Green Hills AEA serves. You have all done an amazing job of responding to the current COVID-19 pandemic and continuously demonstrated resiliency and commitment to learning. 

It has been a challenging end to the school year, but we hope you have found ways to embrace the change to our typical routines. No matter what, we have all learned to adapt and be nimble in our response.

We often have little control over what happens to us in life, but we have full control over how we choose to respond. Thank you, teachers, administrators, staff, students, and families for finding new ways to learn, teach, communicate, and grow.

As we close out another year and look ahead to the 2020-2021 school year, we know there are many questions and unknowns at this point and while we all share the same feeling of uncertainty, there is one thing we know: Green Hills AEA will be there to serve, support, and advocate for each and every student in our service area. 

By working collaboratively, we have embraced this opportunity to continue student learning and connect in different ways. We consider it a privilege to partner with families, school districts, and communities as we all work together through a unique time in our lives.

We look forward to seeing you face to face soon, but until then know that we are working hard to ensure world-class supports and services for our students and communities. 

There are no constraints on the human mind, no walls around the human spirit,

no barriers to our progress except those we ourselves erect!

— Ronald Reagan, State of the Union Address, 1985

Digitize Your Classroom Summer Opportunities

The Digital Learning Team at Green Hills AEA is continuing to offer a Digitize Your Classroom cohorts beginning on April 27 for LEA staff to learn best practices for delivering learning in an online platform. Digitize Your Classroom is a course that guides participants through the design process and how to use selected digital tools while creating online learning opportunities for students.

REGISTER HERE

A Note from the Digital Learning Team

Thank you to all who participated in our professional learning opportunities and joined our agency staff during virtual office hours. As always, we enjoyed connecting with fellow educators and being able to offer our support during this uncertain time. The past few months have been a change for us all in some capacity or another. Even in trying times, it is always good to stop, reflect, and find opportunities for celebration. 

As the school year comes to a close, we celebrate that since March, over 300 teachers joined us for Learning Live, over 230 completed the Google Certified Educator Trainings Level I or Level II, and by the end of July more than 400 educators will have completed our Digitize Your Classroom offering. 

As we roll into the summer months we hope you will take some time to disconnect before preparing for what lies ahead this fall. Our staff will be ready and eager to support you in the coming school year. As services resume in the next few months, we will share our virtual office hours along with any other opportunities being released to support your continuous learning environments for all learners.

Learning Supports Symposium Cancelled

Green Hills AEA is aware of the importance of safety for attendees and presenters at our events and also of the other issues that we all face due to COVID-19. In addition, we are unsure if the Iowa Department of Public Health would even allow us to hold this event in early August.

Therefore, Green Hills AEA has decided to cancel the Learning Supports Symposium that was to be held on August 3-4 in Atlantic, IA.

Thank you for your understanding.

Summer Professional Learning Opportunities

Green Hills AEA is excited to announce the following professional learning opportunities are now open for registration! Green Hills AEA continues to monitor the COVID-19 situation on a daily basis.  We will communicate any changes to these course offerings if it becomes necessary.

Green Hills AEA 2020 Summer Courses

Encourage Students to Apply for ICN's SYBAC

Iowa Communications Network (ICN) is accepting student applications for its Statewide Youth Broadband Advisory Council (SYBAC) for the 2020-2021 school year.

Students entering 10th - 12th grades during the 2020-2021 school year may apply for membership. Students research and discuss broadband and Internet topics, learn about Iowa technology companies and discover technology careers. Meetings take place monthly, beginning in September 2020 through April 2021 via video conference.

APPLY HERE

Iowa Reading Research Council Resources

Green Hills AEA and others across Iowa are promoting a quality literacy resource offered through the Iowa Reading Research Council. As you consider different online resources, check out the IRRC Literacy Modules site for some professional learning opportunities.

The e-learning modules are all free for K-12 Iowa educators and AEA consultants. Costs for others range from $10-30. 

*NOTE: Facilitation Guides are only available upon request when the modules are used in school-wide PD.

Professional Learning Opportunities

Green Hills AEA is excited to announce the following professional learning opportunities are now open for registration! Green Hills AEA continues to monitor the COVID-19 situation on a daily basis.  We will communicate any changes to these course offerings if it becomes necessary.

Green Hills AEA 2020 Summer Courses

In an effort to ensure that substitute teachers are still able to receive authorization, Iowa's AEAs are offering virtual courses in May and June. Follow the link below to view available courses.

Statewide Substitute Authorization Virtual Course Schedule

Iowa Board of Educational Examiners Update

As part of the Proclamation of Disaster Emergency in Iowa, Governor Reynolds has directed the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners to provide some professional licensing relief. If your license is set to expire in the near future during this disaster emergency and you are unable to apply to renew, you may contact any consultant in the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners office to request an extension. 

Contact the BOEE HERE

Iowa College & Career Academy June Course Registration Opens

Registration Is Open: Iowa College & Career Readiness AcademyJune 2020 Starting June 8 101: FOUNDATIONS OF COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS IN IOWA Register 201: CREATING IOWA’S COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS CULTURE Register 301: SYSTEMS AND OPTIMIZATION Register JUST ADDED! 501: INTRODUCTION TO PLANNING, ACCESSING, AND FINANCING POSTSECONDARY OPPORTUNITIES Register How to register Log into the AEA website through the links above. You will then be able to select and register for the session you want. Your login information is the same email/password you use when logging into the AEA Learning System (Mandatory Reporter, self-paced classes, etc.). Participants creating a new account will not be able to view courses until the next business day. If you experience issues with the login process, please contact bjones@heartlandaea.org or schristensen@heartlandaea.org. Course descriptions 101: FOUNDATIONS OF COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS IN IOWA Provides an overview of the current state of college and career readiness in Iowa for all participants; prerequisite for all other College & Career Readiness Academy courses. (2 credits) 201: CREATING IOWA’S COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS CULTURE Focuses on the distinct yet interrelated roles of teachers, school counselors and administrators in creating the systems that support a college and career readiness culture; includes emphases on equity and utilizing district plans. Prerequisite: 101. (3 credits) 301: SYSTEMS AND OPTIMIZATION Explores the necessary systems and structures for student college and career readiness, including Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS), Individual Career and Academic Planning (ICAP) requirements, advisories, financial aid, college admissions, equity, and transition. Prerequisites: 101 & 201. (3 credits) 501: INTRODUCTION TO PLANNING, ACCESSING AND FINANCING POSTSECONDARY OPPORTUNITIES Offers an introductory overview of the college application and financial aid processes in order to better prepare school counselors and other college access professionals to support students and families as they navigate the complexities of applying to postsecondary institutions and financing various options. Prerequisite: 101. (3 credits) Complete 101 through 401 and earn a College Access Professional Certificate. Complete 101 through 501 and earn a College Access Specialist Certificate. Complete 601 and earn an Equity Badge.

AEA Materials Pick Up Available

Districts, teachers, and/or buildings that wish to return resources checked out from the Green Hills AEA media center before the fall should email Julia Hood to arrange for materials to be picked up. Please include days buildings would be open for pick up. Checked out resources that are not accessible at this time will be collected at a later date.