The Channel

On Thursday, May 21, Central Rivers AEA staff will come together for our annual All-Staff Meeting/Retirement Celebration at the Cedar Falls office. This end-of-year gathering is a time to reflect, recognize and reconnect across teams. The day begins with morning discipline meetings, followed by sector meetings and a lunch on your own, then an afternoon retirement celebration with updates:

• 9:00 –10:45 am: Discipline meetings
• 10:45 – 11:00 am: Break/transition
• 11:00 am – 12:15 pm: NE & NW Sectors meet until 12:00 pm, South & East Sectors eat lunch until 12:15 pm
• 12:15 – 1:15 pm: NE & NW Sectors eat lunch until 1:15 pm, South & East Sectors meet until 1:00 pm
• 1:15 – 1:30 pm: Break/transition
• 1:30 – 2:30 pm: Retirement celebration & all-staff updates
  • Zoom Link: https://centralriversaea.zoom.us/j/95953185606
• Seating & accessibility: For the best view of the closed captions, we invite you to sit in the front rows near the TV displays.

Final details for the morning meetings are coming soon. Please check back here for the official schedule link before the retirement celebration.

Want to share a memory, kind words or a thank-you with our 2026 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 assessing the Padlets, reach out to Ashley Samek or call 319-273-8280.

• Katie Anderson, Early ACCESS Educator
• Margy Averill, Special Education Secretary
• Bret Battles, Audiologist
• Diana Boeck, Early ACCESS Educator
• Corlene Collum, Prof. Learning Conf. Center Service Facilitator
• Rhonda Eilderts, Detention Center Teacher
• Joe Kremer, Assessment Coordinator
• Lorelei Lake, Special Education Consultant
• Patsy Luker, Receptionist/Secretary
• Michelle McFee, SLP
• Suzann Mulnix, SLP Assistant
• Lori Nurse, Early ACCESS Educator
• Greg Priske, Detention Center Teacher
• Laura Rinnels, Admin Assistant – Integrated Services
• Cheryl Rosenow, Acquisitions & Data Management Technician
• Melissa Sander, Early ACCESS Educator
• Elaine Schult, Early ACCESS Service Coordinator
• Jody Seemann, School Psychologist
• Lanette Sents, SLP Assistant
• Ann Tippett, Early ACCESS Educator
• Tina Westphal, Educational Assistant

Congratulations to our River Hills staff who are also retiring!

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

• Tammy Knox, Educational Assistant
• Diane Lavenz, Educational Assistant
• Jane Reynolds, Educational Assistant

Central Rivers AEA staff: open enrollment for insurance benefits ends on May 22, 2026. This will be your time to choose your benefits. The benefits you choose will then become effective on July 1, 2026. During the open enrollment period, think about any life changes from the past year that might affect your coverage, review your current elections, and gather dependent information you may need.

Reminder: Everyone must enroll!

All eligible employees are required to complete enrollment. Even if you don’t want to make changes, you must log in and confirm your elections. Review the Benefits At A Glance summary for additional information.

New this year

• No rate changes for medical, dental, or vision. Your premiums are staying the same.
• Virtual visits through Doctor on Demand are now covered at 100% under all three medical plans.
• Additional dental cleanings are now available for members with certain health conditions.
• This year only, all staff can elect up to $200,000 in Voluntary Life/AD&D coverage without completing a medical application (No Evidence of Insurability).

How to enroll

1. Log on to the Employee Dashboard at https://launchpad.classlink.com/centralriversaea. 
2. Select the “HR/Bus Office” folder (lime green).
3. Select the “CRAEA Benefits Enrollment” application.
4. Follow the prompts to enroll in your 2026-27 benefits.

Questions? Contact Kevin Klobassa, Benefits Specialist at (319)-273-8202 or benefits@centralriversaea.org. Stay tuned for more information about your benefit offerings and how to make the most of them this year.

Most of the key dates for the upcoming school year are now official! Please keep an eye on your inbox, as you’ll soon receive calendar invites for meetings specific to your role – such as discipline or region meetings, etc.

To help our team provide the best support possible, we kindly ask that you submit your mileage claims on a monthly basis. This regular schedule allows our staff the necessary time to review and approve claims efficiently. Looking ahead, please keep in mind that all mileage and expense reimbursements through June 30, 2026 must be submitted in Weblink by July 7.

As we continue to navigate changes across the AEA system, we know that travel and mileage are top-of-mind for many of you. While statewide leaders are still working toward a unified approach to travel compensation, a final decision hasn’t been reached for the upcoming school year. To support you in the meantime, our Central Rivers AEA Board of Directors has approved a renewed mileage addendum for the 2026-27 fiscal year.

What’s new for 2026–27?

Building on what we learned during the recent pilot program, this renewed version adds two important updates to make travel fairer for everyone:

• Established Commute Cap: For the 2026–27 school year, the maximum commute dedication will be capped at 25 miles one way (50 miles round trip). This provides a clear ceiling for non-reimbursable miles.
• Increased Flexibility: We have secured more flexibility to solve “one-off” situations. This allows leadership to address unique challenges that may arise specifically due to job assignments and placements that don’t fit a standard mold.

What remains the same?

To keep our daily operations stable, most parts of the current travel policy remain unchanged. This includes:

• Reimbursement rates and per diem limits.
• Lodging limits.
• How you document and submit your travel.
• Audit procedures and timelines.

Looking ahead

The 2026-27 addendum will be in effect from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027. It serves as a vital bridge while we continue to participate in broader, statewide conversations regarding a permanent mileage solution.

If you missed the all-staff update on Tuesday, April 14 via Zoom, the slide deck and recording information can be found below. The next meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 12, from 4:00-4:30 pm.

Resources from 4/14/26:

• Zoom recording
• Slides
• Zoom link for future meetings: https://centralriversaea.zoom.us/j/97464868978
• Meeting ID: 974 6486 8978
• One tap mobile
• +13092053325,,97464868978# US
• +13126266799,,97464868978# US (Chicago)

We are hosting a series of in-person training sessions focused on Artificial Intelligence (AI) this August at the Cedar Falls office. These sessions are designed to be a collaborative space where we can learn together how AI might serve our mission of empowering educational partners. We want to ensure everyone feels confident and prepared as these new tools continue to evolve.

Training schedule

We’ve set aside specific days to work with different teams from 9:00 am – 3:00 pm:

• August 12: Educational Services
• August 18: Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs)
• August 19: Team Representatives

To make things simple, we will meet at our Cedar Falls office for these sessions. We truly value your time and expertise, so you will be paid at your per diem rate for attending. While this is a required training, we want to be mindful of your summer plans; if you have a vacation already scheduled, just check with your supervisor to have the requirement waived. We will share specific training outcomes as we get closer to August. In the meantime, if you have questions or need clarification, please reach out to your supervisor.

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 – District 1
• Dr. Deb Rich – District 2, President
• Dr. Mary Stevens – District 3, Vice President
• Dr. Tony Reid – District 4
• Dennis Craun Jr. – District 5
• David Hill – At-Large
• Jenn Peter – At-Large
• Dr. Cynthia Phillips – At-Large
• Dr. Theron Schutte – At-Large

We would like to welcome incoming staff for the 2025-26 school year!

Creative Services welcomes Mark Sabotta, Web Developer/Programmer!

Please give a warm welcome to Central Rivers AEA Creative Services’ newest team member, Mark Sabotta! Mark joined our team on April 13 as a Web Developer/Programmer. He is based out of the Cedar Falls office.

Hi, everyone! I’m so excited to be working for Central Rivers! I can’t wait to leverage my diverse set of experiences to become an increasingly valuable member of the team. My experiences include eight years of Jr./Sr. High Math teaching for Wapsie Valley CSD, 1.5 years of data mapping for print with Professional Office Services and a couple of degrees in Mathematics from UNI.

I was born in Cedar Rapids and lived there with my two older brothers until we graduated high school and moved away. Since then, I have lived with my wife, Laura, here in Cedar Falls. We have two beautiful children; Margaret who is three, and Larry (Lawrence) who is eight months old.

My hobbies and interests include: talking about my kids (see me for pictures,) chess, video games and Magic the Gathering. Lately, I have been watching Invincible and The Boys, and I am excited to catch up on the last season of Stranger Things. 

I strive to bring energy, willingness to understand, problem-solving, laughter and a smile to everything I do. No matter who you are, I hope we can meet, get to know each other and work together on making the world a better place!

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

Additional notes:

• Hotspots: return directly to the Help Desk at the Cedar Falls 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.

The Phish Alert Button (PAB) is a powerful tool integrated into your Gmail account that empowers you to report suspicious emails directly to the security experts.

When to use the PAB

Use the PAB for suspicious emails or potential phishing attacks, but not for spam or marketing emails. There is a separate “report spam” button included in your Gmail.

How to use the PAB in three easy steps

The Phish Alert Button appears as a small orange fishhook icon on the right-hand side of your Gmail workspace.

1. Open the suspicious email

If you receive an email that feels “off” – perhaps it asks for a password, has an unusual sense of urgency, or comes from a misspelled domain – open the message but do not click any links or download attachments.

2. Click the PAB icon

Look at the side panel on the right side of your Gmail screen. Click the orange hook icon. Note: If you don’t see the side panel, click the small arrow in the bottom right corner of Gmail to expand it.

3. Confirm the report

A prompt will appear asking if you are sure you want to report the email as a phishing attempt. Click “Phish Alert” to finalize. You will receive a brief “Thank You” message, and the email will disappear from your inbox.

When should you use it?

You should use the PAB if you encounter:

• Request for Credentials: Any email asking for your login or Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) codes.
• Unexpected Attachments: Invoices or “scanned documents” you weren’t expecting.
• Urgent Threats: “Your account will be deleted in 2 hours if you don’t click here.”
• Strange “From” Addresses: Emails that look like they are from a colleague but have an external or weirdly spelled address.

Pro tip: If the email turns out to be a legitimate internal security test, using the PAB will earn you a “congratulations” notification!

Let’s be honest: technology moves fast, and it can be tough to keep up. That’s why Central Rivers AEA and Keystone AEA teamed up to create the Staff Tech Hub – your go-to cheat sheet for all things digital! Think of it as your monthly “tech upgrade.”

What’s the latest for this month’s tips?

Assistive Tech: Check out our latest guide on academic Chrome extensions and assistive technology, featuring tools like text-to-speech and math supports to help all students succeed. We encourage you to explore these resources to find the best fit for your students’ unique learning styles and needs.

Artificial Intelligence: Google has introduced two new desktop applications, Gemini for Mac and the Google App for Windows, which provide instant access to AI assistance directly from your computer screen. These tools allow you to brainstorm ideas, analyze your screen for contextual help and search for files across your device using simple keyboard shortcuts.

Practical tech tips: Tame your inbox by using Gmail’s Mute feature to move noisy email chains out of your main view so you can stay focused on high-priority tasks. Muted threads are instantly archived and will only resurface if you are specifically added to the “To” or “Cc” line; you can find them anytime by searching is:muted.

The goal isn’t just to give you more tools, it’s to make your daily work easier and more impactful. Ready for more? Head over to the Staff Tech Hub to see the full list of tips and tricks for February! Reach out to Tiffanie Zaugg, Assistive Technology/AI Specialist, with questions.

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

• Updates with CRAEA Special Education doc (this will include every update from editions of The Channel and important mid-month information)
• Special Education Updates

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 and important mid-month information)

Microcredential incentive deadline is this month

Central Rivers AEA is offering a $250 incentive to staff members who complete one leadership micro-credential focused on well-being by May 8, 2026. To learn more about microcredentials, review the Micro-credential Explanation document. To learn about and/or register for a microcredential you are interested in, choose and select: 1) Awareness of Internal Energy, 2) 4 Key Mindsets, and 3) Overcoming Internal Energy Blocks [requires both prerequisite microcredentials above]. Evidence submitted will be reviewed by Dr. Moore. If you need to create an account, have questions about microcredentials or aren’t sure how to sign up, contact Kay Schmalen at kschmalen@centralriversaea.org.

Coaching available through May 12

Central Rivers AEA offers free 1:1 coaching sessions with certified well-being coach Dr. Leslie Moore on Zoom. One-hour sessions are available on Tuesdays and Thursdays through May 12, 2026. There is no commitment to more than one session, so check it out if you are curious and want to see how it might benefit you. Schedule your session online today!

Please save the date on your calendar for our All-Staff Kick Off on August 26, 2026. While we are still finalizing the official location and details, we look forward to this time of connection and preparation. Keep an eye on your inbox for a full schedule and official details coming soon!

All Central Rivers AEA offices will be closed on Monday, May 25 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 25 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 26. Thank you.

Email “away” message example:

Thank you for your email. All Central Rivers AEA offices will be closed on Monday, May 25 in observance of Memorial Day. I will respond to your email upon my return when offices reopen on Tuesday, May 26. Thank you.

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