The Channel

On Thursday, May 22, Central Rivers AEA staff will come together for our annual All-Staff Meeting and Retirement Celebration at the Cedar Falls office. This end-of-year gathering is a time to reflect, recognize colleagues and reconnect across teams. The day begins with coffee and social time, followed by a morning of celebration and updates:

• 9:30 am – Social time
• 10:00 am – Welcome by Dr. Debra Rich, Central Rivers AEA Board President and keynote from Stan Rheingans, Chief Administrator  (Zoom link for remote participants)
• 10:30 am – Retirement celebration: Karl Kurt, Assistant Chief Administrator/Director of HR and the HR team will lead a recognition of this year’s retirees and their many contributions.
• 11:00 am – Lunch (provided)

In the afternoon, teams* will shift into focused meetings:

• 12:00 pm – Special Education & Ed Services team meetings
• 12:45 pm – Break
• 1:00 – 3:00 pm – Discipline team meetings: staff will meet by discipline in assigned rooms or via Zoom.
• Afternoon team meetings schedule

*Please note: Traveling to Cedar Falls is optional for support staff – Administrative assistants, receptionists, van drivers, IT, Business Office, HR and Creative Services – who are not required to attend afternoon meetings.

We look forward to seeing many of you in person or online as we celebrate the year and look ahead together!

Want to share a memory, kind words or a thank-you with our 2025 retirees? We’ve set up a Padlet for each retiree where you can leave a message. Just click the link below for the person you’d like to recognize. There’s no deadline, so take your time – your message will mean a lot and help make their retirement even more meaningful. Thank you for helping us celebrate their years of service and the difference they’ve made! If you have any questions or need further assistance accessing the Padlets, reach out to Ashley Samek or call 319-273-8280.

• Carol Byrne, Speech-Language Pathologist
• Lynn DeBerg, Speech-Language Pathologist
• Jackie Fober, School Social Worker
• Michelle Haberman, School Social Worker
• Ann Hogan, Educational Assistant – Brookhaven
• Diane Knode, Educational Assistant – NIJDC
• Theresa McRae, Speech-Language Pathologist
• Dr. Leslie Moore, Leadership Coach
• Monte Phillips, School Social Worker
• Linda Schumaker, School Social Worker
• Rusti Sparks, Special Education Consultant
• Cam Treloar, Speech-Language Pathologist
• Kristine Williamson, Occupational Therapist

Congratulations to our River Hills staff who are also retiring!

(River Hills retirees have a separate celebration, so no Padlet is available, but we celebrate them just the same!)

• Linda Girsch, Educational Assistant
• Kathy Williams, Administrative Secretary
• Gary Whitmore, Educational Assistant

We’re excited to welcome two outstanding leaders to our team at Central Rivers AEA: Hannah Hanson, Regional Administrator for the South Sector, and Ryan Christoffer, Regional Administrator for the Northwest Sector.

Hannah brings more than a decade of experience in special education and leadership. Most recently, she served as the shared Special Education Director for Union and Charles City Community School Districts. She is passionate about building systems that support all learners, especially in the areas of social-emotional and behavioral development.

“Central Rivers AEA has always felt like home to me,” Hannah shared. “I’m excited for this opportunity to expand my role and look forward to supporting our dedicated staff and districts as we continue to make a positive impact on education in our community.” Hannah also contributes to the agency’s crisis response team and is a trained mediator, adding valuable depth to our leadership team.

Ryan joins us from Waterloo Schools, where he most recently served as Principal of Lincoln Elementary. With a strong background in school leadership, Ryan has also held roles as curriculum coordinator, assistant principal and classroom teacher. His strengths in instructional leadership, collaboration and systems thinking will be a great asset to our agency and the districts we serve.

Please join us in giving a warm welcome to both Hannah and Ryan! We are confident they will bring valuable insights and leadership to their new roles for 2025-26.

We would like to welcome nine incoming early ACCESS educator, school social worker, special education consultants and SLPs for the 2025-26 school year!

We’re always looking for ways to celebrate the impact of our work – and that starts with the students we serve.

Do you know a student who’s made big strides in their learning or reached a milestone thanks to the support you or your team provided? We’d love to share their story as a way to highlight Central Rivers AEA services and the powerful results they lead to.

If you have a story in mind, complete this quick Google Form to get started. Let’s keep shining a light on the difference we’re making together! For questions, please reach out to Contessa Van Buskirk, Communications Specialist.

Open enrollment for insurance benefits is open from April 28 to May 23. All eligible employees — including those retiring or resigning but keeping coverage through July or August — must complete the process, even if you’re not making changes or are declining coverage. This is your once-a-year opportunity to update your benefits without a qualifying life event. Any changes you make will take effect on July 1, 2025.

Please log into our benefit enrollment system (EASE), to complete your elections for 2025-26. This icon/link can be found within the HR/Business Folder on the employee dashboard. View the detailed instructions to log in. See the rate changes for 2025-26.

For questions, please look over the 2025 Insurance Benefits update presentation or contact Kevin Klobassa, Benefits Specialist, at benefits@centralriversaea.org.

Join us in thanking our amazing board members during School Board Recognition Month! Serving almost 62,000 students, 5,000 educators and over 500 staff members, these nine dedicated volunteers are the backbone of the agency, setting the course for all we do! Help us thank them for their dedication and commitment to Iowa’s students and our agency staff by sending them an email of appreciation.

• Nicole Lovik-Blaser, Director District 1
• Dr. Deb Rich, Director District 2 – President
• Kathryn Enslin, Director District 3
• Dr. Darshini Jaywardena, Director District 4
• Dr. Mary Stevens, Director District 5
• Maureen Hanson, Director District 6 – Vice President
• Dr. Tony Reid, Director District 7
• Bryan Burton, Director District 8
• Dennis Craun Jr., Director District 9

If you’re leaving the agency, please make sure to return all tech items issued to you during your employment. This includes:

• iPads
• Portable and stationary monitors
• Presentation clickers
• Extra laptop chargers
• Laptop bags
• Any other related equipment

Where to return items:

• Cedar Falls office: Help Desk
• Marshalltown office: Terry Davis
• Clear Lake office: Front desk – Patsy Luker or Laura Rinnels

Additional Notes:

• Hotspots: Return directly to Laura Rinnels at the Clear Lake office.
• Laptops & chargers:
  • Most staff: Include your laptop with your tech return.
  • River Hills & Youth Shelter/Detention Center staff: Return laptops directly to your supervisor.
• Other items (e.g., fobs, keys): Return to HR at the Cedar Falls Office or your closest AEA office.

Important:

Label each item with your name on a sticky note. If you have any questions, contact the Help Desk or call (319) 273-8231.

Interested in completing one micro-credential this year? If you finish it by May 30, 2025, you’ll receive $250! To qualify, your work must be submitted, reviewed and meet all the requirements by the May 30 deadline – so we encourage you to submit early to allow time for review. Have questions?

• For INspired Leadership micro-credentials, contact Dr. Leslie Moore.
• For help with logistics or other micro-credentials, reach out to Angie Gansen.

Support for your wellbeing

Would you like support in getting more of what you want and less of what you don’t in your personal or professional life? If so, Central Rivers AEA offers 1:1 core energy leadership coaching sessions* with certified well-being coach, Dr. Leslie Moore, via Zoom. All sessions are confidential and scheduled by you when you send Dr. Moore a Google Calendar invitation. Just select “private” on the calendar invite. Reach out to Dr. Leslie Moore with questions. *Sessions are available now through June 24!

All Central Rivers AEA offices will be closed on Monday, May 26 in observance of Memorial Day. Please update your voicemail and set an out-of-office email reply to let others know about the closure.

Voicemail example:

Hello, this is (your name). All Central Rivers AEA offices will be closed on Monday, May 26 in observance of Memorial Day. Please leave your name, number and a brief message and I will get back to you when offices reopen on Tuesday, May 27. Thank you.

Email “away” message example:

Thank you for your email. All Central Rivers AEA offices will be closed on Monday, May 26 in observance of Memorial Day. I will respond to your email upon my return when offices reopen on Tuesday, May 27. Thank you.

If you need assistance with either task, please contact the CRAEA Tech Help Desk at helpdesk@centralriversaea.org or 319-273-8231.

Assistive Technology (AT) in IEPs: why the details matter

When it comes to helping students with disabilities succeed, assistive technology (AT) can make a big difference – but only if it’s clearly written into their Individualized Education Program (IEP). Too often, AT is mentioned vaguely or left out entirely, which can delay support or limit a student’s access to learning.

Federal law (IDEA) requires IEP teams to consider whether a student needs assistive technology. This isn’t optional – it’s a key part of making sure every student has an equal opportunity to learn. To be effective, the IEP should clearly outline:

• What technology will be used – such as speech-to-text software or communication devices.
• Why it’s needed – including how the tools will help meet specific goals (this should connect to the student’s present levels of performance).
• How and when it will be used – in the classroom, at home, or both.
• Who is responsible for setting up the technology, training staff and students and providing ongoing support.
• How the student’s progress with the technology will be tracked and reviewed over time.

When these details are missing, students may not get the help they need, when they need it. Thoughtful, specific documentation ensures that support is in place and working – and that every student has what they need to thrive.

Tips for teams: 

• Simply naming a device isn’t enough. Teams should explain why the student needs the tool and how it will help them work toward their learning goals.
• It’s also important to try out different tools and include any evaluations as part of the planning process. Even basic tools can have a big impact when they’re chosen with care and used consistently with the right support.

UDL in action: using choice boards to boost student engagement

One simple but powerful way to bring Universal Design for Learning (UDL) to life in the classroom is by using choice boards. These tools give students different ways to show what they’ve learned, helping them stay motivated and involved.

A choice board looks like a grid or menu of activity options. All the choices connect to the same learning goal, but each one lets students use different skills – like writing, drawing, researching, building or moving around.

For example, during a history unit, students might choose to:

• Record a podcast episode where they “interview” a historical figure.
• Write a diary entry from the point of view of someone who lived through an event.
• Design a visual timeline or infographic.
• Build a model or act out a key moment.

Why it works:

• Students feel more ownership over their learning.
• It reduces stress by giving options that play to individual strengths.
• Teachers get a more complete picture of what students understand – often in creative and meaningful ways.

Choice boards make learning more engaging, and they’re easy to start using right away. For more information about choice boards, visit www.novakeducation.com  

Additional resources:

• Making Efficient Choice Boards
• Using AI to Support Choice Board Creation
• Taking Choice Boards to the Next Level

We are excited to share that Central Rivers AEA has officially “graduated” from the Law & Leadership Academy! This is a big step forward as we continue working toward maintaining our AEA accreditation.

Recently, Regional Administrators Ryan Andreassen and Rochelle Richards teamed up with Alicia Helle and Tasha Fritz from Keystone AEA to attend the Council of Administrators in Special Education (CASE) conference in St. Louis. The CASE Academy of Law and Leadership is designed for school leaders and attorneys who work closely with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

Thank you to Ryan and Rochelle for representing Central Rivers AEA and helping strengthen our leadership in special education services!

ACHIEVE data tech update: This May, Central Rivers AEA data technicians will be reaching out to local school district contacts to request updates on student rosters. They’ll be checking for students who have changed buildings or exited the district to ensure the ACHIEVE system is accurate. This clean-up will help special education teachers start the next school year with more accurate class lists and improve data ahead of October’s official count. AEA service providers will also receive their rosters this spring to support this process. If school staff have questions and you’re not sure how to help, please reach out to your Regional Administrator. This is a new process at Central Rivers AEA, and once it’s in place, it should be a helpful improvement for schools and staff.

Centers of Excellence (CoE): Central Rivers AEA is partnering with Keystone AEA to launch one of Iowa’s first Centers of Excellence starting in the 2025–26 school year. The initial focus will be on Early ACCESS services. To learn more, please watch [this short video] that explains the concept and what’s ahead for our teams. This is an exciting new opportunity for our agency and the families we serve.

Special Ed Services for 2025-26: Please review the May Superintendent Report for updates on the continued evolution of our special education services. The report includes reminders and new information about “program enhancement services,” which are additional supports available for a fee beginning next school year. More details will be shared at the May 22 meeting, with a deeper dive planned this fall. In the meantime, please continue promoting upcoming autism training opportunities to both teachers and administrators.

Student records guidance for end of year 2025 (summer scanning update): Central Rivers AEA is currently undertaking a major student records project that will continue through most of the upcoming school year. The goal is to phase out outdated and hard-to-access records while building a more secure and user-friendly records management system.

Staff are asked to review the updated records guidance and manage their working files accordingly over the summer. In most cases, office staff will not be scanning stacks of working files this summer. Instead, staff should store their files in Google Drive, following the updated guidance.

One exception is direct service log notes, which should still be handled separately from other working file materials. Once the new records system is in place, additional steps for managing digital files will be shared. Staff may also find that some items previously saved are no longer necessary under the new guidance. Thank you for your attention to this important update.

Live documents, helpful resources and guides can be found on our staff website.

• Special Education Updates
• Updates with CRAEA Special Education doc (this will include every update from editions of The Channel)

Accreditation update: Central Rivers AEA extends sincere thanks to all staff who contributed to the recent accreditation preparation and site visit. The visit was a great opportunity to showcase the high-quality work happening across the agency. One of the featured presentations focused on the Intensive Literacy course, which was well received and gave staff the chance to highlight meaningful work taking place in partnership with schools.

Professional Development update: The agency recently learned that a re-submission window will be available for some professional development offerings that were not approved in the second submission round. This window will open on May 15 and close on June 6. Central Rivers AEA will take advantage of this opportunity to expand the number of approved PD sessions to better meet district needs.

In addition, the statewide AEA system is creating a shared collection of training materials and promotional flyers. This will help AEAs across the state offer consistent, high-quality professional development and make it easier to share resources.

Live documents, helpful resources and guides can be found on our staff website.

• Ed Services/Media Updates
• Updates with CRAEA Ed Services & Media doc (this will include every update from editions of The Channel)

We want to take a moment to recognize our retiring superintendents! All were honored by their peers last week during the monthly superintendents’ meeting.

• Michael Crozier, Northwood-Kensett & St. Ansgar CSDs
• Doug Gee, Clear Lake CSD
• Robert Hughes, Grundy Center CSD
• Wayne Kroneman, West Hancock CSD

Thank you all for your years of services and dedication to children, families, educators, schools and communities. Happy retirement!