Upcoming Professional Learning Opportunities

Search Inside Yourself Leadership Institute - Course #154185 (Virtual)

April 12, April 14, April 19, April 21, April 26, April 28, 4 p.m. - 6 p.m.

Click Here to Register
Born at Google and based on neuroscience, the SIY program teaches emotional intelligence skills that lead to sustained peak performance, strong collaboration and effective leadership. SIY increases self-awareness, empathy, communication and resilience. All of these help create positive emotional and mental states for a strong and inspiring leadership presence. The program includes sessions on mindfulness (the science of being present), self-awareness (understanding your thoughts, emotions and habits), self-management (skillfully managing your impulses and reactions), motivation (aligning your values and work), empathy (understanding others’ feelings and experiences) and leadership (influencing with compassion). The mindfulness and emotional intelligence skills you'll learn will help you:

• Experience greater well-being, resilience and stress management.
• Improve performance, collaboration and empathy.
• Increase effectiveness and decision-making capacity.
• Cultivate innovative, creative thinking.

For more details about the SIY program visit www.siyli.org/results. For more information about SIYLI the organization visit www.siyli.org.

Fierce Conversations 2 - Course #160607 (Avoca Office)

April 12, April 23, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. and May 6, 9 a.m. - Noon

Click Here to Register
** Prerequisite: Fierce Conversations** 

What gets talked about in an organization and how it gets talked about determines what will happen... or won’t happen. Consequently, Fierce 2 Conversations builds on the four foundation conversations taught in Fierce 1 by adding two new models: Generations and Feedback.

NOTE: Materials fee $130

2021 Lakin Outstanding Teacher Award Nominations

Nomination forms for the Charles E. Lakin Teacher Awards given annually to outstanding southwest Iowa public school teachers are available online at www.ghaea.org and are funded by the Charles E. Lakin Foundation. Nominations close on March 31st, so submit your nominations today!

Nominate Now!

Iowa Mobile Crisis Outreach Map

Educators, parents, healthcare workers, and citizens of Iowa who experience a mental health crisis are encouraged to contact their county’s mobile crisis provider for assistance within 60 minutes. Please see the map for more details. Download a copy of the map HERE.

Service Updates from the AEA Media Directors

The AEA Media Directors have shared several updates, including continued Pear Deck funding, a SeeSaw for Schools opportunity, ClassLink OneClick availability, and more!

 Read all the updates HERE!

Iowa Workforce Development Launches Podcast Series to Communicate with Iowans

DES MOINES - On March 16, Iowa Workforce Development launched a new podcast called “Mission: Employable”.  The podcast will include exciting interviews with thought leaders in business and industry, workforce stakeholders and economic developers among others.  The interviews will include discussions about key workforce programs, initiatives, innovations and resources available to Iowans as well as discussions about the impact of the pandemic on workforce and steps parties are taking to minimize the impact.  Leaders who are creative and innovative will talk about current events and how Iowa can use the pandemic as an opportunity to advance more Iowans into exciting new career pathways. 

“Connecting with Iowans is more important than ever and this podcast will help Iowa Workforce Development communicate with students, parents, employers, job seekers, community leaders, educators and other important workforce stakeholders,” said Director Beth Townsend, Iowa Workforce Development.  "Future Ready Iowa has demonstrated the success we have when we work together to solve workforce issues.  I believe the new podcast, Mission: Employable, will be a valuable new tool for us to promote more collaboration while also providing Iowans with the key information about new opportunities, resources and assistance as they return to the workforce."

The inaugural guest for the first podcast is Governor Reynolds and she will share her thoughts about our economic recovery, Future Ready Iowa and challenges and opportunities Iowa has as a result of the pandemic.  Other scheduled guests include Lt. Governor Adam Gregg, Iowa Economic Development Authority Director Debi Durham and the New Bohemian Innovation Collaborative (NEWBOCO) Executive Director Aaron Horn. 

A new episode will be released every Tuesday morning with plans to increase the release as our guest list grows.  Episodes can be downloaded from the Apple Podcast App, Spotify App or from the Iowa Workforce Development podcast page: www.iowaworkforcedevelopment.gov/podcast

2021 Iowa Authentic Learning Network Virtual Student Expo

You’re invited to the 2021 Iowa Authentic Learning Network Virtual Student Expo!

Are you looking for an engaging event to rejuvenate your learners? Curious about authentic learning but haven’t had a chance to dive in? Join us, April 27th, 2021 for a one-of-a-kind FREE virtual event designed to promote student projects with area business partnerships. This event is brought to you by students for students as a collaborative AEA partnership.

• Looking for ways to engage students? Don’t wait...Register now!
• New to the idea of embedding partnership projects? This event is for you!
• Have established partnerships already? Learn more and showcase your students!
• Are you a business or organization looking to engage with area youth? Experience first hand the kinds of projects already in progress.  

More details coming soon! So excited that you can’t wait? Register via this link.

Save the Date - 3rd Annual Social Emotional Learning Supports Symposium

 Save the date for our 3rd annual Social Emotional Learning Supports Symposium! Join us on August 2nd & 3rd at Riverside High School, more information to come!

Self Care, Sharing, and Support for Families Sessions

Join us for an opportunity to learn more about self-care, engage with other families, and gain support in our Self-Care, Sharing & Support for Families sessions! Attend any or all sessions. See dates, learn more, and register HERE!

National Rural Education Association Essay Contest

The National Rural Education Association (NREA) is now accepting entries for their essay contest! This annual essay contest allows participants in three divisions: grades 3–5, middle school, and high school. Grades 3–5 may participate in a written essay contest using the provided prompt and rubric. Grades 6–12 may participate in a video essay contest using the provided prompt and rubric. The deadline for this contest is April 15th, with winners being announced by May 21st. 

Find More Information HERE

2nd Annual Earth Day Digital Poster Contest Closes Monday

To celebrate Earth Day, Green Hills AEA's Green Team is proud to sponsor our second annual digital poster contest for elementary, middle, and high school students within its service area.

Requirements:

• Posters should be no larger than 24x36 inches (portrait or landscape)
• Posters must be digital, no physical posters will be accepted. If you aren't sure what program to use, we suggest www.canva.com. Scans of artwork are permitted for elementary-level students ONLY.
• Posters must be school appropriate
• Limit one entry per student
• Work must be submitted by midnight on March 22, 2021

Posters will be evaluated on:

• Clear Earth Day Theme
• Original Idea
• Captures Attention

One winner will be chosen from each category:

• Elementary
• Middle school
• High school

The winners will each receive a printed adhesive poster for display at their school provided by Green Hills AEA. The winning artwork will be featured on the Green Hills AEA website homepage for the month of April. It will also be featured during the Green Team's presentation to all Green Hills AEA staff in August.

PLEASE NOTE: Only PDF and image files will be accepted. Any submitted files that are unable to be opened will be disqualified.

To submit your poster, please fill out this Google Form!

Please feel free to share this opportunity with your students via this flyer.

Upcoming Professional Learning Opportunities

Substitute Authorization - Course #154170 (Virtual)

March 15, March 16, March 17, March 18, March 19, 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.
Click Here to Register
A substitute authorization allows an individual to substitute in grades PK-12 for no more than 5 consecutive days and no more than 10 days in a 30-day period in one job assignment for a regularly assigned teacher who is absent, except in the driver’s education classroom.

2021 Lakin Outstanding Teacher Award Nominations

Nomination forms for the Charles E. Lakin Teacher Awards given annually to outstanding southwest Iowa public school teachers are available online at www.ghaea.org and are funded by the Charles E. Lakin Foundation.

For the 13th year, anyone can nominate an instructor for a $10,000 award from non-urban schools within a 40-mile radius of the late philanthropist Charles Lakin's hometown of Emerson.

Nominate Now!

Seeds for Schools Opportunity

Here's a fun opportunity AEA Purchasing wanted to share as we get closer to spring. The 51st Anniversary of Earth Day will take place on April 21. The theme this year is "Restore Our Earth". To engage your staff and students, consider connecting with your local Iowa State University (ISU) Extension Office for ideas on how to celebrate. Many offices have been sharing a great opportunity where schools can apply to receive FREE SEEDS from Seed Savers Exchange (Decorah, IA) through the Herman's Garden Seed Donation Program!

2021 Iowa Authentic Learning Network Virtual Student Expo

You’re invited to the 2021 Iowa Authentic Learning Network Virtual Student Expo!

Are you looking for an engaging event to rejuvenate your learners? Curious about authentic learning but haven’t had a chance to dive in? Join us, April 27th, 2021 for a one-of-a-kind FREE virtual event designed to promote student projects with area business partnerships. This event is brought to you by students for students as a collaborative AEA partnership.

• Looking for ways to engage students? Don’t wait...Register now!
• New to the idea of embedding partnership projects? This event is for you!
• Have established partnerships already? Learn more and showcase your students!
• Are you a business or organization looking to engage with area youth? Experience first hand the kinds of projects already in progress.

More details coming soon! So excited that you can’t wait? Register via this link.

Save the Date - 3rd Annual Social Emotional Learning Supports Symposium

Save the date for our 3rd annual Social Emotional Learning Supports Symposium! Join us on August 2nd & 3rd at Riverside High School, more information to come!

Self Care, Sharing, and Support for Families Sessions

Join us for an opportunity to learn more about self-care, engage with other families, and gain support in our Self-Care, Sharing & Support for Families sessions! Attend any or all sessions. See dates, learn more, and register HERE!

Iowa Clearinghouse for Work-Based Learning Continues to Update & Expand

We have District Project Boards

We are excited to share a new function recently added to the Clearinghouse. Drum roll, please….say hello to District Project Boards!

Some schools/teachers are growing their authentic project work and want to have their own local project board but don't have an interactive place to store them. We've updated the Clearinghouse so that projects can be added and tagged to a particular district. These will then show up only on that particular District Board. The District Board can be selected in the dropdown and has its own URL, making for quick bookmarking, adding to Google Classroom or LMS, or pasting into an email or newsletter. This allows for easy communication with students, businesses, families, and the community to share what projects are available.

For more information, here is a short video. And check out North Fayette Valley's District page as our first pilot of this feature. Remember this is at no cost to you or the districts. All educators have free access to the Clearinghouse for WBL by using their single sign-on AEA credentials (use the email/password you have used for other AEA training, such as bloodborne pathogen training).

Here's a Strategic Marketing Challenge

Here’s a chance for your students to hear directly from business professionals, then take that information and engage in either (or both) marketing projects. Students can submit their finished products to be shared on the clearinghouse, reviewed by a panel of judges, oh - and there are standards connections already laid out, along with a possible assessment tool!

Check out the full information here to get registered for the free strategic marketing strategies event, “Game Plans that Matter: Strategic Marketing,” on March 22 (you can view the archived version if the day/time doesn't work for you). Afterward, check out these two projects, one on video creation and one on logo and branding, that will be part of a statewide challenge.

Note: This could be an exciting project opportunity that could also work for the teacher mini-grants that we’ve shared about previously and are ending at the end of March. Full details here.

For more information about the Iowa Clearinghouse for Work-Based Learning, CLICK HERE!

Mental Health Website Promotional Materials Available

Iowa's AEA Well-being Team has created calming coloring books for middle school-aged children. It's part of a campaign to promote a new well-being and mental health website for Iowans created by the AEAs at www.IowaAEAMentalHealth.org. If you would like to order some for your classroom, please fill this form out before March 12th. They will be van mailed to educators free-of-charge.

The website came from a request by the state legislature to help educators, parents, and students navigate resources related to mental health and well-being in Iowa. In addition to AEA mental health contacts for the schools, the site provides contacts for the home setting from Iowa’s Mental Health and Disability Services (MHDS).

The website features vetted sources to educate visitors about addiction and substance abuse; anxiety and stress disorders; attention deficit disorder; depression; eating disorders; and self-harm.

2nd Annual Earth Day Digital Poster Contest

 To celebrate Earth Day, Green Hills AEA's Green Team is proud to sponsor our second annual digital poster contest for elementary, middle, and high school students within its service area.

Requirements:

• Posters should be no larger than 24x36 inches (portrait or landscape)
• Posters must be digital, no physical posters will be accepted. If you aren't sure what program to use, we suggest www.canva.com. Scans of artwork are permitted for elementary-level students ONLY.
• Posters must be school appropriate
• Limit one entry per student
• Work must be submitted by midnight on March 22, 2021

Posters will be evaluated on:

• Clear Earth Day Theme
• Original Idea
• Captures Attention

One winner will be chosen from each category: 

• Elementary
• Middle school 
• High school

The winners will each receive a printed adhesive poster for display at their school provided by Green Hills AEA. The winning artwork will be featured on the Green Hills AEA website homepage for the month of April. It will also be featured during the Green Team's presentation to all Green Hills AEA staff in August.

PLEASE NOTE: Only PDF and image files will be accepted. Any submitted files that are unable to be opened will be disqualified.

To submit your poster, please fill out this Google Form! 

Please feel free to share this opportunity with your students via this flyer.