Focusing In On Equity

During this year's Opening Day celebration, Green Hills AEA staff heard from Dr. PJ Caposey on the importance of equity in education. This message is especially important during the challenging times the global pandemic has brought about. Green Hills remains fully committed to providing equity and removing barriers in education. Stay tuned for more messages and resources regarding equity in education in future editions of the At-A-Glance!

 

Professional Learning Updates & Offerings

EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY:

In order to minimize community spread and to help instructors prepare more effectively, we will suspend all face-to-face professional learning opportunities planned in GHAEA offices and only offer virtual options through September 30th. Using the most recent COVID data, this decision will be reviewed, renewed, and communicated no later than the 20th of each month through December 2020. 

Note: This decision only affects outside visitors coming into offices and does not include internal team meetings, PLCs, and AEA staff-only training.

We Went Virtual…. and So Did You!

Green Hills was proud to host several virtual professional learning opportunities since March 2020 and the response has been overwhelming! We were excited to have so many of you join us on this journey and show your perseverance with doing everything possible to support students! Let’s keep it going! Check back in the next At-A-Glance for updates on enrollment for these courses!

Upcoming Professional Learning Opportunities

Virtual Paraeducator Courses: Training only, certification for certificate
Paraeducator Course #1 - Ethical & Professional Practices/Professional Relationships

Course #189672 - click on link to register

Paraeducator Course #2 - Environment/Content & Instruction/Ethical & Professional Practice

Course #189673 - click on link to register

Paraeducator Course #3 - Emotional & Behavioral Needs/Professional Responsibilities/Ethical & Professional Practice 

Course #189674 - click on link to register 

Virtual Substitute Authorization Courses:
Statewide Remote Substitute Authorization Course Schedule (includes GHAEA courses)

New Opportunities:

Social-Emotional Behavioral Health Fall Return to Learn Session Series Schedule
Special Education Fall Return to Learn Session Series Schedule

Digitizing Your Classroom & Building Back Better Courses

Green Hills' School Improvement Team, in collaboration with the Digital Learning Team, and our Social Emotional Behavior Health specialists, have designed courses intended to equip teachers with tools and practices enabling them to meet the challenges of our situation. These courses meet the requirements of Senate File 2310, which mandates teachers be trained in delivering online instruction. While online instruction is certainly addressed in these courses, we purposefully designed the content to be applicable in any learning environment, be it online or in person. The course development incorporated the principles for technology integration outlined in state guidance.

Digitize Your Classroom: Learn best practices for delivering learning in an online platform. Digitize Your Learning is a course that guides participants through the design process and how to use selected digital tools while creating online learning opportunities for students.

Course #189685 - click on link to register (1 credit course)

September 8-September 22

Building Back Better: Participants in this course explore evidence-based instructional practices and gain practical tools for delivering instruction in any setting. Building Back Better addresses considerations for Social Emotional Learning, teacher clarity, and instructional design. The course utilizes a recently released book, The Distance Learning Playbook, by Doug Fisher, Nancy Frey, and John Hattie.

Course #190189 - click on link to register (2 credit course)

September 14-October 12

If you are interested in having your entire building and/or district engage in either course, please contact Tina Wahlert to make arrangements.

AEA Statewide Online Professional Learning Resources

Please take a few moments to watch this introductory video on AEA statewide professional learning resources

Find professional learning supports for online learning HERE!

Supporting Online Learning: an AEA Webinar Series 

Technical Support for Online Learning: AEA Webinar IT Series

Cover Page for Iowa AEA System Deliverables for Online Learning Professional Development

Continuous Learning: Tech Integration MENU

GHAEA Media and Van Routes Updates

The school year has begun! Media scheduling is back up and running and resources are ready for teachers to check out. Staff has been working hard to ensure that we are using best practices and safety protocols on cleaning materials housed and circulated through the GHAEA Media Center. Quarantine and cleaning time has been built into our scheduling program to allow for increased cleaning protocols. Some resources are temporarily unavailable for circulation because of the inability to be properly disinfected. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause but the health and safety of teachers and students we serve is our top priority. Please call if you need assistance. Media staff are happy to assist you in any way they can!

In addition, GHAEA van routes for the 2020/2021 school year have been updated. For a complete list of van routes, please visit the Van Delivery page of our website. For your safety, AEA van drivers will be wearing face coverings and following all building safety protocols.

Van Route Memo - Important Dates

Detailed Van Route Listing

For questions regarding media, please contact Julia Hood 

Print Services Update

In order to be more efficient and to offer schools a wider range of print, design, and specialty products, Green Hills is partnering with Heartland AEA. All school orders for copy, design, or other products will go to Heartland AEA Creative Services via an online ordering system. Our Green Hills vans will continue to deliver completed orders to schools. Schools will have access to a more comprehensive set of print and design products.

Orders for lamination only will still be done at Green Hills AEA

Check out our digital storefront with Heartland AEA to browse products and place your order. Select "login" in the upper right corner. You will use the same username and password as you do for AEA Learning Online. Select the product that you want and it will guide you through the process. Click here for a link to FAQ. You will have the ability to pay with a credit card or purchase order.

Submit Print & Design Requests

Green Hills AEA Fall Blood Drive

Green Hills AEA is hosting a blood drive! Join us on September 14th at the Halverson Center for Education from 12-6 PM. There is an urgent need for donors to continue to give blood during this pandemic because the need for blood never stops. Donation is safe, and the Red Cross is offering free COVID-19 antibody tests with each donation. Sign up today to save lives! Visit RedCrossBlood.org and enter GHAEA to schedule an appointment.