The Channel - a blog for Central Rivers AEA staff and board members Our Mission: To Deliver High-quality, evidence-based, and strategic services to our education partners that meet the diverse needs of iowa's learners (birth-21_), educators, and school Communities.

Month: November 2009

  • Osterbuhr nominated for Excellence in Education award

    OSTEJAMI
    Jamie Osterbuhr, AEA 267 Teacher of Multi Disab SCI

    AEA 267 Teacher of Multi Disab SCI, Jamie Osterbuhr, was among nearly 80 Iowa educators nominated for an Excellence in Education Award sponsored by the Iowa State Education Association, the Farm Bureau, WHO Radio, Staples, and KDSM Fox 17.

    According to the Allison Bristow CSD & Greene CSD newsletter, “The Bearcat Clause”, Osterbuhr was recognized as an educator who “goes above and beyond and touches her students lives in ways that she will probably never know.”

  • Personal cell phone discounts still available to AEA 267 employees

    AEA 267 employees are eligible to receive a personal cell phone discount as part of a State of Iowa contract with four wireless service providers: AT&T, Sprint-Nextel, U.S. Cellular, and Verizon. Eligibility, discounts, and identification requirements vary with each cellular provider. For details go to the Iowa Educators Consortium (IEC) website and select Teacher and Student Discounts and see which provider has the best discount for your cell phone needs.

    If you have already applied for a discount from U.S. Cellular and your e-mail address has come back as “invalid,” you can call (800) 819-9373 and reference the discount code you used when you applied for the discount (PED1008 or 4AB90). Contact Sue Hotzel at 319-268-7659 for further information.

  • AEA 267 employees honor slain educator with run

    Team Thomas2
    Sarah Knudsen, Dr. Mary Stevens, Justin Stockdale and Beth Strike at the IMT Des Moines Marathon on October 18.

    Four AEA 267 employees ran in the IMT Des Moines marathon last month as part of a team that raised over $25,000 for the Ed Thomas Foundation. Thomas, a teacher and coach with the Aplington-Parkerburg Community School District, was gunned down in June, allegedly by a former student. The team, known as Team Thomas, was coordinated by AEA 267 Bremwood principal, Justin Stockdale, and his brother, Matt. Over 30 runners took part including Dr. Mary Stevens, AEA 267 Area Director of Special Education; Sarah Knudsen, AEA 267 Special Education Coordinator; and Beth Strike, AEA 267 Communication Specialist. Stevens, Kundsen and Strike participated in the half-marathon while Stockdale ran the full marathon. (Amazingly, Matt Stockdale ran the marathon twice within a nine-hour period as part of a promise to the team to motivate fund raising efforts!)

  • AEA 267 Marshalltown office to hold dedication ceremony

    Deb McGowan benchColleagues and friends of the late Deb McGowan, former AEA 267 InfoTech employee, recently completed the installation of a memorial bench in her honor. The bench was purchased through private donations and was installed with help from employees’ family members.

    A dedication ceremony will be held on Friday, November 6 at 10:15 a.m. Former AEA 267 van driver and now Hospice chaplin, Greg Boyle, will conduct the ceremony.

  • AEA 267 Devonshire students benefit from Wise Guys program

    A partnership between AEA 267 Devonshire School and the Wise Guys program, a male responsibility program sponsored by the Family and Children’s Council Together for Youth, was recently featured in the Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier. The program features weekly sessions that focus on helping teen males develop healthy relationships, sound decision making skills and sexual responsibility. This is the second year it has been at Devonshire. The program is taught by Bob Tyson and Bob Wright, coordinators.

    “We really appreciate everything they have done for our students,” said Paula Goetz, AEA 267 Devonshire principal. “I’ve seen these guys learn skills that will help them for the rest of their lives.”

  • A reminder about inclement weather and emergency closing information

    Although we’ve already had a taste of it, the full brunt of winter is just around the corner. Take some time now to review the inclement weather and emergency closing information (username: aeastaff/password: aea267ia) implemented in October of 2008 and be sure you are familiar with how decisions and announcements are made.

  • United Way campaign kicks off

    The 2009-10 United Way campaign has begun. Pledge sheets were sent to each AEA 267 employee this week and will be accepted in the AEA 267 Business Office until December 4, 2009. Please send completed pledge sheets to Betty Beauregard, AEA 267 Benefits Specialist, in the AEA 267 Cedar Falls Administrative Services Building.

  • November board recap

    The AEA 267 Board of Directors met at 6 p.m. on November 4, 2009 in the AEA 267 Conference Center for their regular meeting.

    During their regular meeting, the board:

    • Heard a review from Early Childhood consultants about the support AEA 267 provides to preschool programs utilizing the Quality Preschool Program Standards.
    • Approved the E2T2 agreement with Grant Wood AEA.
    • Heard an update on the Clear Lake Remodeling Project.
    • Heard a First Reading of Board Policy No. 801.2: Use of Copyrighted Material Policy.
    • Heard a First Reading of Board Policy No. 704.1: Gifts to the Agency.
    • Approved the Orientation and Mobility Services and Itinerant Teacher Services agreements with Statewide System for Vision Services (SSVS).
    • Heard a variety of reports from directors and fellow board members.

    A Foundation Meeting was held immediately after the regular Board meeting. During their meeting the board:

    • Heard a report from the River Hills Committee on fund raising.
    • Heard an update on the River Hills Playground Project.
    • Reviewed and approved the Black Hawk County Gaming Commission Application.