The Channel

The Channel - a blog for Central Rivers AEA staff and board members blog site header

Author: cvanbuskirk

  • The new statewide AEA professional learning registration system has launched

    Iowa’s AEAs have launched a new, more user-friendly AEA Professional Learning Registration System! While the new system will have separate sites for each AEA and AEA Learning Online, you’ll still have access to courses from all AEAs and find the sites easier to navigate.

    As we continue to enhance the system and introduce new features, we’re confident you will benefit from being able to:

    • Browse course catalogs without having to be logged in.
    • Log in with identAEA, which uses Google or Microsoft credentials. 
    • Create a new account instantaneously, rather than waiting 24 hours for activation.
    New Iowa AEA PL system

    What about my course history & transcript?

    Each person’s course history is currently being imported into the new system. As the transcript feature in the new system is being finalized, you may want to download your transcript from the former registration system, as that system will not be available after Sept. 30, 2024. Instructions for how to download your transcript are available here. If you need assistance, reach out to the PL team.

    What about instructors?

    Instructors should have already entered their credentials (vita) in the new system. If you are an instructor, and you have not yet done this, refer to this communication for more information.

    If you are an instructor proposing a new course, make sure to enter the course in the registration system of the AEA you are teaching the course for. Example: If you are teaching a course for Central Rivers AEA, go to the Central Rivers AEA registration site to enter your course proposal.

    AEA Professional Learning Registration Websites:

  • AEA resource sharing message for all staff that deliver professional learning

    If you deliver professional learning and are asked to share resources you’ve developed, please use this system-wide response:

    “We currently don’t have open access to share our resources. The AEA system is seeking legal clarification and guidance on our proprietary rights. Once we receive guidance, we will update you.”

    Additionally, for your reference, a disclaimer and copyright policy are being developed for AEAs, but we need to wait for them to be finalized. It’s also okay to inform your audience that recording or photographing the presentation is not permitted at this time. If anyone pushes back, please refer them to a Regional Administrator.Please reach out to Annette Hyde and Tesha Moser-Zimmerman with questions. Keep an eye out for more updates in the coming weeks!

  • Monthly Zoom updates for CRAEA & Keystone AEA staff

    A monthly Zoom update for both Central Rivers AEA and Keystone AEA staff is planned for the second Thursday of each month, beginning August 29, 2024 through May 8, 2025, from 4:00-4:30 pm. The Zoom link for these meetings has been updated. You can find the new link below as well as in the CRAEA Master Calendar.

    These updates will be conducted by Chief Administrator Stan Rheingans, Executive Director of Ed Services Tesha Moser-Zimmerman and Executive Director of Special Education Annette Hyde. Please join each month as your schedule allows.

    If you missed the first meeting on August 29, the slidedeck and Zoom recording are now available.

    All future joint staff meeting slides and recordings can be found on the staff website. (Resources > Post-HF 2612 Resources & Guides)

  • 2024-25 Educator Quality (EQ) program updates

    At the Educator Quality (EQ) meeting on August 29, 2024, the EQ Committee – made up of both Certified Staff and Administrators – approved several important budget decisions.

    The committee:

    • Agreed on a $250 stipend for staff who complete a micro-credential.
    • Confirmed the continuation of the $1,000 stipend for Year 1 and Year 2 mentors.

    $50,000 was set aside for professional development opportunities for Certified Staff. If you’re interested in using these funds, please consult with your Sector Administrator about your learning goals. It was also noted that the EQ budget is being gradually spent down, with an expectation that it will be depleted during the 2025-2026 academic year, following the legislative decision to discontinue support for these funds a few years ago.

  • Happy retirement to Shirley Horak!

    Photos of Shirley Horak with her family and friends.
    Shirley & her family

    Farewell to HR Coordinator, Shirley Horak, who will be retiring at the end of September 2024.

    “Shirley’s 38 years of dedication leaves an imprint that can’t be erased. Her attention to detail, institutional wisdom, and gentle guidance have been invaluable to me personally and to the HR Department. We will miss her ability to catch those ‘errors’ before they happened, but most of all, we’ll miss her caring and supportive presence. Central Rivers AEA won’t be the same without her. Please join me in wishing Shirley a well-deserved ‘Happy Retirement!’” -Karl Kurt, Assistant Chief/HR Director

    Thank you for your years of service, Shirley! Central Rivers AEA wishes you best on your much deserved retirement! If you would like to send Shirley off with your own words of encouragement, submit your message on this Padlet.

  • Organizational Update: Shift in approach to Disrupting Bias Training

    As part of our ongoing commitment to fostering an inclusive and equitable work environment, we have previously mandated the completion of “Disrupting Bias Training” for all staff members. This training has been instrumental in helping us identify, understand, and address biases that can impact our interactions with colleagues, students, and the community.

    However, after careful consideration due to our awareness of the challenges posed by taking staff out of their daily roles, we have decided to shift our approach. Moving forward, participation in “Disrupting Bias Training” will be strongly encouraged, rather than required.

    Why the change?

    Our decision to make this shift stems from a desire to balance the importance of this learning with the practical realities faced by our staff. We recognize that the demands of your daily responsibilities are significant, and we want to ensure that our professional development opportunities enhance, rather than hinder, your ability to fulfill your core duties.

    Continued commitment to learning

    Though the training is no longer required, we remain fully committed to the principles of equity and inclusion that the original training promotes. We believe that this training is a valuable tool in our collective effort to create a more inclusive work environment. We encourage all staff to take advantage of the upcoming sessions as part of their professional growth and to continue developing the skills needed to address and mitigate bias.

    Upcoming Training Sessions

    For the 2024-2025 school year, “Disrupting Bias Training” will be offered on the following dates:

    • February 28, 2025 – Clear Lake
    • April 24, 2025 – Cedar Falls

    These sessions will be facilitated by Gina Weekley and MaKenzie Hakemen, both of whom bring a wealth of experience and insight into the complexities of bias and its impact on our work.

    How to participate

    Interested in participating? Please sign up using this form by January 28, 2025.

  • Change to coffee service policy

    To minimize waste and conserve resources, we’ve made the decision to discontinue providing coffee. The number of people who bring their own coffee or other drinks has increased, resulting in unused coffee being discarded. To ensure that everyone is informed, please communicate this change to participants if you are hosting a meeting, class or workshop.