Year: 2021

Updates relating to the agency insurance and wellness programs for the new year are listed below. Please contact Human Resources with any questions.  

• Medical Plan
  GymPass is the rebranding of the Healthways wellness benefit through Blue365 – no changes from the current program other than the name. 

• Delta Dental
  Teledentistry for emergency situations are now available. Please view this flyer and FAQs for more information. 

• Wellness
  The Wellness program is paused for this year, in an effort to decrease expenditures as we continue to manage insurance costs.  Stay tuned for 2022-23.

• Quantum Workplace
  The Quantum Workplace program was discontinued last year and is not being used by the agency.

The 2021-22 all-staff kickoff meeting will be held on Wednesday, August 18 in the Cedar Falls conference center, beginning at 9:00 am.  If you are not able to be in attendance for the meeting, please notify your supervisor/HR.  Be sure to submit the appropriate leave.

Social time begins at 8:30 am and Natural Grind coffee truck will be on site with delicious coffee drinks & assorted pastries available for purchase before the meeting.  

The morning will feature an inspiring and informative presentation by Kristen Anderson of the Brilliance Project.  Regional and discipline meetings will be held in the afternoon. 

Lunch is on your own with a wide variety of restaurants close by in both Cedar Falls and Waterloo.  La Calle food truck will also be on site for those who wish to grab some great Latin American food!  Treats provided by Farmers State Bank will be available through-out the day.

We look forward to seeing everyone face-to-face for the first time in well over a year and having the opportunity to reconnect, network, and prepare for another incredible new year of service!

The master calendar for key administrative meeting dates for 2021-22 has been updated. This calendar is where you will find the dates for regional meetings, all-staff meetings and other large agency meetings.

When you click the link, you will be asked if you want to “add” this calendar. Be sure to check back regularly for updates.

Summer office hours went into effect on Monday, June 7 and offices will be open 7:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.  Regular office hours of 8:00 a.m – 4:30 p.m. will resume Monday, August 9. Enjoy your summer!

Thank you to everyone who participated in this year’s retirement celebration!  What a fantastic way to send off our teammates who took a leap of faith and dove headfirst into the retirement pool!  Living in an almost post-COVID world, it was wonderful to see our teammates creatively interact and experiment with new technologies. 

If you were not able to attend the celebration or would like to watch it again, a recording is available below.  Please note, you will need the passcode in order to view the video.

• Recording – Passcode: X$=J4!qV

To our retirees, best of luck with your new adventures!

Turn off Chrome notifications

Do you have invasive or unwanted notifications appearing on your computer screen from random websites or various apps?  That can grow annoying fast, which is why many users want a way to get rid of them quickly and easily.  

1. On your computer, open Chrome
2. At the top right, select the three stacked dots and choose Settings
3. Under “Privacy and security,” select Site Settings
4. Under “Permissions,” select Notifications
5. Choose to block or allow notifications

Mute browser tabs

Have you ever been in a Zoom meeting and been interrupted by a sound notification or audio advertisement for a website or app?  Modern desktop web browsers—Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Apple Safari—all allow you to mute individual browser tabs in just a few clicks.  

1. On your browser, right-click the tab
2. Select Mute Site or Mute Tab
3. To unmute, right-click the tab and select Unmute Site or Unmute Tab

Join us in thanking our dedicated board members this month during School Board Recognition Month!   Serving over 62,000 students, 5,000 educators, and approximately 500 staff members, these nine committed volunteers are the backbone of the agency, setting the course for our work!

• Roberta Kraft-Abrahamson, Director District 1 – Districts represented: Central Springs, Clear Lake, Forest City, Garner-Hayfield-Ventura, Lake Mills, North Iowa, Northwood-Kensett, St. Ansgar, and West Hancock.
• Dr. Debra Rich, Board President, Director District 2 – Districts represented: Charles City, Dike-New Hartford, Dunkerton, Nashua-Plainfield, Sumner-Fredericksburg, Tripoli, Wapsie Valley, and Waverly-Shell Rock.
• Kathy Enslin, Director District 3 – Districts represented: AGWSR, Alden, Aplington-Parkersburg, CAL, Clarksville, Eldora-New Providence, Grundy Center, Hampton-Dumont, Hubbard-Radcliffe, Iowa Falls, and North Butler.
• Dr. Darshini Jayawardena, Director District 4 – Districts represented: Belmond-Klemme, Mason City, Osage, Rudd-Rockford-Marble Rock, and West Fork.
• Dr. Mary Stevens, Director District 5 – Districts represented: BCLUW, East Marshall, GMG, Marshalltown & West Marshall.
• Maureen Hanson, Board Vice-President, Director District 6 – Districts represented: BGM, Gladbrook-Reinbeck, Grinnell-Newburg, Hudson, Montezuma, North Tama County, South Tama County, and Union.
• Dr. Tony Reid, Director District 7 – Districts represented: Cedar Falls, Denver, and Janesville.
• Bryan Burton, Director District 8 – District represented: Waterloo.
• Dennis Craun Jr., Director District 9 – Districts represented: East Buchanan, Independence, Jesup, and Waterloo.

A virtual all-staff meeting and retirement celebration will be held on Thursday, May 13, from 9:00-10:30 a.m.  Regional Administrators will be sending more information closer to the date regarding specific regional and discipline meetings that will be held after the all-staff meeting.  

Please join us in congratulating this year’s retirees and recognizing them for their dedication and years of service to the agency.   Those retiring this year include:

• Kathi Abkes, Youth Shelter Teacher – 27 years
• Hedo Adelmund, Educational Assistant – 1 year
• Dr. Karen Aldrich, Regional Administrator – 26 years
• Adrienne Allen, School Psychologist – 27 years
• Dr. Julie Davies, Executive Director of Educational Services – 10 years
• Sue Eichmeier, Audiometrist – 34 years
• Terri Fecht,  MD Teacher – 16 years
• Joanne Griep-Adams, School Social Worker – 34 years
• Deb Hanson, Creative Assistant – 35 years
• Diane Highnam, Speech-Language Pathologist – 9 years
• Tami Huck, Consultant for Literacy – 4 years
• Julie Jenney, Audiometrist – 40 years
• Pam Lang, Early Access Educator – 29 years
• Harold Lucas, Educational Assistant – 29 years
• Kathy Martin, Educational Assistant – 31 years
• Kevin McRae, Special Education Consultant – 17 years
• Sherry Millang,  Special Education Consultant – 31 years
• Judy Moser, Regional Administrator – 46 years
• Donna Perry, Receptionist-Secretary – 31 years
• Paul Prescott, Media Van Driver – 24 years
• Cheryl Roberson, Supervisor of Media Services – 21 years
• Janece Shaffer, School Psychologist – 13 years
• Kathy Smith, Educational Assistant (retired 11-2020) – 23 years
• Pam Stephenson, School Social Worker – 26 years
• Joyce Tempus, School Social Worker – 34years
• Bev Trampel, Audiometrist – 10 years
• Janice Walker, Educational Assistant – 3 years
• Janelle Williams, Reading Recovery Teacher Leader/Cons for Literacy – 14 years

The following Zoom information can be used to join the all-staff meeting & celebration: 

• https://centralriversaea.zoom.us/j/84921447006
• Meeting ID: 849 2144 7006
• One tap mobile: +13126266799,,84921447006# US (Chicago)
• Need support? Contact the CRAEA Tech Help Desk at helpdesk@centralriversaea.org or 319-273-8231.

Kelsey Baker, currently a School Psychologist for Region 6, has been named half-time Assistant Principal for River Hills School. In her new role, Kelsey will serve as an assistant to longtime Principal Mike Lonning, while also serving as a Team Representative for the school.

Kelsey has served area students and families as a School Psychologist with the Area Education Agency system since 2007. She has also served as a clinician with the Malcolm Price Lab School as well as worked one-on-one with children through Exceptional Persons, Inc.

Kelsey holds a School Psychologist Specialist degree from the University of Northern Iowa, a Masters in Education degree through Dordt University, as well as a Bachelors of Education degree from Wartburg College. She was named Iowa School Psychologist of the Year in 2020 and authored the book, “Our Special Family” which highlights family diversity and uniqueness.

“Kelsey is a perfect fit for the amazing students, staff and families at River Hills School,” said Mike Lonning. “In addition to being extremely knowledgeable and experienced, she is a kind and caring individual with a heart for children. We are lucky to have her.”

 Kelsey will begin her new position on July 1, 2021.