The Channel

Thank you all for your strong advocacy efforts, courage and tolerance over the last few months. While we accept the challenge before us and get about the business of planning for our new reality, we know there are more questions than answers at this time

A reminder about the mandatory all-staff meeting that will be held in person in Cedar Falls on Tuesday, April 16 to coincide with Regional/Discipline meetings. We are planning to meet with all staff from 9-11 am and then dismiss regional and discipline staff to their meetings for the remainder of the day. This will be an opportunity for us all to come together, begin to craft a vision for the future, and reaffirm our commitment to our team.

Please note that staff working at a detention center, youth shelter or River Hills school do not attend this meeting.

A variety of sandwiches, chips and cookies will be provided for lunch. If you have a dietary restriction, please contact Lori Thomas, by Monday, April 15 to ensure your lunch is set aside for you at the front desk.

Links to the latest updates and resources:

• CRAEA Staff Q & A document: A time of transition
• CRAEA Staff Update – April 3, 2024 (slides)
• Summary of FINAL House File 2612

Zoom recordings

• Central Support (HR, Business Office, Custodial) | Passcode: MWxo02Y^
• Ed Services/Media/IT/Creative Services | Passcode: #Fw3Ru14
• Special Education | Passcode: &Daf3g3D

In the meantime, don’t hesitate to reach out with any immediate questions or concerns. Be gentle with yourself and others in the days ahead.

The all-staff Coffee with The Chief Zoom for Friday, April 12 has been canceled due to the fact that we will be together on April 16 for the all-staff meeting.

The Open Enrollment period* for insurance begins Monday, April 29 and ends on Friday, May 24. *All benefit-eligible employees must enroll or waive coverage, even if you have no changes or are resigning/retiring!

Some important details to note:

• Beginning Monday, April 29, you will have access to EASE via the employee dashboard in ClassLink.  
• Updates to insurance will be shared during the benefits insurance presentation for all staff, held on Tuesday, April 30 at 4 pm.
• We will allow time for questions during the Zoom, or you can email your questions in advance to benefits@centralriversaea.org.
• The meeting will be recorded and posted on our benefits website for staff that cannot attend.
• Zoom Link: https://centralriversaea.zoom.us/j/82073489020

If you have questions regarding your insurance, please contact Kevin Klobassa, Benefits Specialist, at (319)-273-8202 or via email at benefits@centralriversaea.org.

While we say farewell to Executive Director of Educational Services, Jen Sigrist, and Executive Director of Special Education, Amy Knupp, we want to welcome Tesha Moser and Annette Hyde from Keystone AEA, who will be stepping in as interim directors in Jen and Amy’s roles, beginning July 1.

Tesha Moser has served as the Director of Educational Services at Keystone AEA since 2016 and also serves as Keystone’s Associate Administrator. In this role she provides leadership for the fiscal work of Iowa’s Association of AEAs. Prior to her work at Keystone, Tesha was an elementary principal between two buildings and served as the district EL Program Coordinator in the Western Dubuque CSD. She also served as a School Administrative Manager and teacher in the Linn-Mar Community Schools. Tesha started her educational career as a teacher at Edgewood-Colesburg Community Schools. She is a UNI Panther who earned her principalship and superintendency degrees. She is actively writing her dissertation to complete her doctorate. Tesha is also a Mount Mercy Mustang where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Education.

Annette Hyde has served as the Director of Special Education at Keystone AEA since 2016. She has worked for Keystone for 23 years and served in multiple roles including Early Childhood Special Education Teacher/Consultant, Special Education Consultant, and Regional Administrator. Annette started her career at AEA 7 as an ECSE teacher and also taught in Oelwein Community Schools. She is currently the President of Iowa’s Council for Administrators in Special Ed (I-CASE) and the chair of Iowa’s Early ACCESS Council. She is a UNI alumni and lives in Fairbank with her husband Tom and has three adult children attending college.  

Annette and Tesha have worked closely together the past eight years and look forward to working with colleagues at Central Rivers AEA to continue the great work!

May is Mental Health Awareness Month! The Iowa’s Healthiest State Initiative Mental Health Awareness Month Toolkit is now available for download.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month: Wear Green Day is May 16

Central Rivers AEA is a Make It OK organization. Custom shirts are available to order from our Central Rivers AEA Empowered students! Wear green on May 16 to show your support for Mental Health Awareness Month! 

Let’s Make It OK to have a mental illness

It’s OK to have a mental illness – many of us do. Nearly one in five Americans live with a mental illness. It’s more common than diabetes (1 in 10) or left-handed people. Mental illnesses can affect anyone, regardless of age, gender, race, religion or income. However, because of stigma, people may delay seeking treatment or support. The sooner people get treatment, the greater their chances of recovery.

We are part of a local effort to change hearts and minds about the negative attitudes and misconceptions about mental illnesses. This effort is part of a campaign called Make It OK, which encourages starting conversations and increasing understanding about mental illnesses to help reduce the stigma.

How can you Make It OK? Start talking.

Mental illnesses are treatable health conditions just like physical illnesses, such as diabetes. When we learn more and start talking openly about mental illnesses, we help to stop the stigma, change the culture and offer support for those living with a mental illness.

Many people often get tongue-tied or are just not sure how to respond when someone shares with them about their mental illness. Consider this, if you don’t know what to say – think about what you would say to someone who just told you they had cancer or diabetes, and say that.

• “Can I drive you to an appointment or make a meal?”
• “I’m sorry to hear that. It must be tough.”
• “I’m here for you when you need me.”
• “How are you feeling today?” 

Visit MakeItOk.org to learn more about the campaign and “What to Say.”

Take the Pledge!

The first step in helping to stop the silence is to take the pledge to Make It OK. By signing this pledge, you’re taking a stand against the mental illness stigma. Pass it on. Print it out. Tape it up. It can serve as a reminder to start more conversations and stop the stigma. Together, we can Make It OK. Take the pledge and Make It OK.

Interactive online learning experiences

Dive into the Make It OK interactive experiences at your own pace to learn more about how you can help Make It OK.

Registration for the full-day Disrupting Bias learning session, offered by Gina Weekley and MaKenzie Hakeman, is now open and will be offered at each Central Rivers AEA office location. Register online through the AEA Professional Learning system.

Course Description: Join us for a full-day learning session* that will provide a framework to disrupt bias behaviors. Bias limits our ability to make the best decisions for our teachers, our students, and our families. The awareness of our biases is foundational to becoming more diverse, equitable, and inclusive. Unconscious bias is something everyone has and that doesn’t make us bad; it makes us human. Through this session, you will be able to recognize bias, disrupt bias, learn how to choose courage and increase your connections! *This training is for Central Rivers AEA Staff only!

Course information to register:

• April 23 – Marshalltown CRAEA office (Section #318538)
• May 20 – Cedar Falls CRAEA office (Section #317833)

For more information see the attached flyer or reach out to MaKenzie Hakeman with questions!

Our 2024 retiree celebration will be held via Zoom on Wednesday, May 22, beginning at 9 am. (Regional meetings will not be held following the celebration this year.) HR will be creating, organizing and hosting the virtual retirement presentation. While the recognition program will be virtual, you are encouraged to join your colleagues if your schedule allows! Those retiring include:

• Bonnie Bartlett, SLP Assistant
• Kandice Bienfang-Lee, School Social Worker
• Jill Bird, Teacher of Deaf & Hard of Hearing
• Marcia Brolsma, Admin Asst/Executive Director of Sp Ed
• Gail Cavner, Early Access Educator
• Christy Diemer, COTA
• Tina Graven, Consultant for Literacy
• Susan Heath, Speech-Language Pathologist
• Joyce Hickman, Educational Assistant
• Robin Hopperstad, Speech-Language Pathologist
• Laurie Huftalin, School Social Worker
• Pam Kabela, Technology Specialist – Sp Ed
• Amy Knupp, Executive Director of Sp Ed
• Ann Lasher, Special Education Consultant
• Tammy McDermott, Special Education Consultant
• Kristi Meyers, Speech-Language Pathologist
• Julie Miller, Regional Administrator
• Theresa Relph, Speech-Language Pathologist
• Terri Riebkes, SLP Assistant
• Linda Rosenboom, Occupational Therapist
• Susan Schnekloth Longcor, Consultant for Literacy
• Brenda Thune, Special Education Consultant
• Becky Wedemeier, Educational Assistant
• Ginny Wurtzel, Educational Assistant

Congratulations and thank you for your years of service to our retirees!

Take time on April 24 to recognize our outstanding office support team during Administrative Professionals’ Day! This group of staff working in our offices are instrumental in keeping the agency running smoothly and ensuring all staff have what they need to do their jobs. We couldn’t do what we do without them!

Part II: Bringing Purpose Mindset Zoom, Friday April 19, 8 – 9 am

Are you interested in continued learning to enhance your mindset and improve your life satisfaction? If so, join Central Rivers AEA colleagues on Friday, April 19, from 8 – 9 am, to explore practices to support bringing purpose each day. Register for this session* by emailing Dr. Leslie Moore, Leadership Coach. *You do not need to have attended Part I to attend.

New Micro-credential available soon: 4 Key Mindsets

All Central Rivers AEA staff will soon have a personalized, self-paced opportunity to learn about and adopt practices to support the 4 Key Mindsets in order to enhance relationships and meet their personal and professional goals. Some important details:

• The 4 Key Mindsets Micro-credential will be available soon in the CRAEA On-Demand Library.
• Staff who demonstrate and submit evidence of meeting all success criteria will earn the Micro-credential.
• If earned before June 1, 2024, staff members may be eligible for $250.
• Read over the document for more information or log in now and register in the CRAEA On-Demand Library by selecting “Micro-credential” in the “Categories” dropdown.

If you have registration questions, please contact Angie Gansen, Professional Learning Registration System Coordinator.