Author: cvanbuskirk

At our recent All Staff Meeting, we shared a survey designed to help us better understand what’s working well across our agency and where we have opportunities to strengthen our collective impact. If you haven’t had a chance to complete the survey yet, we’d love to hear from you! Please take a few minutes to share your feedback. 

As an agency, we want to make sure we’re building on the things that are working, while also being honest and thoughtful about where we can improve. Hearing from staff across teams, roles and experiences will help us identify common themes, understand different perspectives and inform how we move forward together.

Thank you for taking the time to share your voice and for helping us strengthen our collective impact – together.

We’re always looking for ways to celebrate the impact of our work. This year, we will randomly award ten (10) $100 gift certificates from all entries/stories of success shared before Thanksgiving 2026.

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? How about a teacher, administrator, district or building team that’s moving forward due to your influence? Maybe you’ve made an impact with a family or in the community? We’d love to share their story as a way to highlight Central Rivers AEA services and the powerful results they lead to.

Let’s keep shining a light on the difference we’re making together! For questions, please reach out to Beth Strike, Director of Communications & Creative Services or Contessa Van Buskirk, Communications Specialist.

Please be sure that you are signed* up to receive Central Rivers AEA Alerts via text, call or email. Alerts are used to announce agency-related emergency updates, building closings or professional learning cancellations. *If you are already signed up, you do not have to do anything.

Sign up today at https://myalerts.centralriversaea.org/. If you have questions, please reach out to Beth Strike, Director of Communications & Creative Services.

We would like to welcome incoming staff for the 2026-27 school year. We are so excited you’re joining our Central Rivers AEA team!

Central Rivers AEA is asking all staff to turn off AI note-taking tools (like Otter.ai, Fireflies and Read.ai) during agency meetings and professional learning sessions.

Why We’re Making This Change

• Intellectual Property: Presenter materials and ideas shouldn’t be captured or re-used by outside AI tools without permission.
• Privacy: Discussions often involve sensitive details about students, families, and districts that shouldn’t be stored on third-party servers.
• Psychological Safety: We want everyone to speak candidly and ask questions without fear of being recorded.

A reminder statement has been added to agency Zoom invites.

How to Remove a Bot During a Meeting

If an AI bot joins your Zoom call, host controls allow you to remove it:

1. Click Participants on your Zoom toolbar.
2. Find the bot (e.g., “Otter.ai Notetaker”).
3. Hover over its name, click More, and select Remove.

Tip: Enabling the Waiting Room feature helps you spot and block bots before they enter.

If you are the meeting host, you may also want to enable Waiting Room or require host approval for participants joining by video/audio-only link, which gives you a chance to screen for note-taking bots before they enter. Questions? Contact the Central Rivers AEA Help Desk for support.

Note: These removal steps reflect Zoom’s current host controls. If your Zoom interface differs, look for “Remove” under the participant’s more-options menu, as Zoom periodically updates its User Interface.

All staff are invited to take advantage of 1:1 core energy leadership coaching sessions with Certified Professional Coach, Dr. Leslie Moore, via Zoom. Sessions are designed to enhance your well-being, life satisfaction and assist you in meeting your personal and professional goals. Just book one day in advance – slots are for 60 minutes and can occur anytime between 7:30 am and 4:30 pm on Tuesdays or Thursdays. Book your coaching time now at this link. Sessions are available starting September 8. If you have questions, contact Leslie at lmoore@centralriversaea.org.

All Central Rivers AEA offices will be closed on Monday, September 7 in observance of Labor Day. Please update your voicemail and set an out-of-office email reply to let others know about the closure. All offices will reopen on Tuesday, September 8.

Voicemail example:

Hello, this is (your name and title). All Central Rivers AEA offices are closed on Monday, September 7. Please leave your name, number and a brief message and I will get back to you when offices reopen on Tuesday, September 8. Thank you!

Email responder example:

Thank you for your email. All Central Rivers AEA offices are closed on Monday, September 7. I will respond to your email upon my return when offices reopen on Tuesday, September 8. Thank you.

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