Author: lthomas

Save the date for this year’s retirement celebration which is being held on Wednesday, May 23 from 9-10 am during the All-Regional meeting in Cedar Falls.

Rather than holding three separate celebrations, this year we are starting a new tradition of honoring our retirees as one group. This presents a wonderful opportunity to congratulate our retirees and recognize them for their dedication and years of service to the agency. Zoom will be available at all locations for employees that are not attending the regional meeting that morning.

Those being honored this year include:

• Cindy Baker, Technology Specialist for Special Education
• Alison Bell (Retired December 2017)
• Melissa Clarke, Special Education Consultant
• Joan Coffin, Administrative Secretary at River Hills School
• Judy Dale (Retired December 2017)
• Greg Ehrig (Retired January 2018)
• Sherri Gabbard, Teacher of Mental Disab/Severe & Profound
• Carol Hanson, Teacher of Mental Disab/Severe & Profound
• Rob Hirst, Special Education Consultant
• Lisa Jellum, Special Education Consultant
• Deb Johnson, Educational Assistant
• Marcia Knupp, Consultant for Educational Services
• Janna Lang, Early Childhood Special Educator
• Deb Molitor, School Psychologist/Cons for Early Childhood
• Judy Schuler (Retired August 2017)
• Darla Stack, School Psychologist
• Theresa Stensland, Special Education Consultant
• Jim Stoycheff, School Psychologist
• Deb Whitesell, Detention Center Teacher
• Gary Whitmore, Special Education Consultant

Amber Dietz has been chosen as Regional Administrator for Region 2, effective July 1.  Amber is originally from Nashua and earned her degrees from Iowa State University, Hamline University in St. Paul, and the University of Iowa.

For the past nine years, she has served as a building principal in the Waterloo Community Schools and prior to that, taught in Minneapolis and at the University of Iowa. Amber is looking forward to building strong relationships with staff in Region 2 in order to provide the best educational opportunities for all students. Please join us in welcoming Amber to the Central Rivers AEA team!

Congratulations to Melissa Hesner for winning the March Madness Bracket Challenge organized by our culture/climate committee. Melissa was tied with Sara Youngblut, but edged out Sara with the total points criteria in the championship game.

Thanks to everyone (59 participants) who filled out a bracket!

• On Thursday, April 26, the Climate & Culture Committee, along with Regions 4 and 7 are hosting a potluck for staff from 11:30-1:00 in the Cedar Falls Conference Center.

• The AEA is partnering with Habitat for Humanity to build a community home in the Cedar Valley this summer. Three dates have been reserved for AEA teams to volunteer their time and talents, June 12, 13, and 14. Shifts run from 8:30 am-3:30 pm and must be off-contract time (off contract day, vacation day, or work with your supervisor on making up your hours).  You will receive a confirmation by June 8 with tasks, location, and more details! Make a difference in others’ lives and sign up today

In an effort to share more information about the role that Iowa’s AEAs play in education, last week the AEA system communications directors launched a redesigned website and new video.

We encourage you to share this video, as well as future posts about our system with your friends on social media. Together we can share the important work and partnership that Iowa’s AEAs provide to children, families, and educators!

You can share on Facebook from https://www.facebook.com/iowaaea/
or copy/paste
Iowa’s AEAs… Did you know we did all that? Check out Iowa’s Area Education Agencies newest video at https://youtu.be/6_2Lmts7qhw

Feel free to add your own text and tell your friends why you love working for Iowa’s AEAs! Don’t forget to check out the website redesign at iowaaea.org.

The Central Rivers AEA Board of Directors met Wednesday, April 11 at 6:00 p.m. in the Cedar Falls Conference Center. Minutes of the meeting will be available after approval at the next month’s meeting. May’s board meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 2.

Stuck in a winter rut? Jump in and take part in any one of the following fun activities from our agency Culture/Climate committee!

• March Madness – Enter the Central Rivers March Madness Yahoo Tourney Pick’em pool by selecting the link above & creating an account (if you don’t already have one).  You can make and change your picks as often as you like, but your final bracket must be submitted anytime before or up until tipoff of the first game on Thursday, March 15th.  One entry per person. Grand prize is bragging rights and a secret prize!
• Join us on Thursday, March 29th in the Cedar Falls Office for an outdoor Easter egg hunt! Those wishing to participate should gather in Central Perk at 2:00 pm for instructions before kicking off the hunt. Collect as many plastic eggs as you can find for a chance to win prizes! In the event of bad weather or muddy conditions, the egg hunt will be relocated indoors.
• Financial Wellness Challenge. For the month of March, pick one day a week to be a “no spend day”.  A “no spend day” allows you to pay only for things that are necessities (rent, mortgage, utilities, etc.).  Wants (eating out, shopping, entertainment, etc.) are not approved in hopes that depriving yourself of the “wants”  in life will give you a better appreciation for your financial health.
• Health Challenge. The Committee is challenging everyone to personally initiate one change from the Blue Zone Power 9 list. Choose one thing to change and try to make it a habit before the end of March!

• Upcoming summer volunteer opportunity. Interested in helping build a Habitat for Humanity house in the Cedar Valley? Good news! We have reserved three dates for AEA teams to volunteer their time and talents to build a community home, June 12, 13, and 14. Shifts run from 8:30 am-3:30 pm. Sign up is available on a first come, first served basis and must be off-contract time (off contract day, vacation day, or work with your supervisor on making up your hours).  You will receive a confirmation by June 8 with tasks, location, and more details! Wear appropriate (casual) clothes and closed-toed shoes. Tools will be provided. Make a difference and sign up today!

The Central Rivers AEA board of directors approved three new policies, two of which are related to agency logo usage and employee social media use. Staff members are encouraged to review 703.3 Agency Name/Logo Use and 703.4 Employee Use of Social Media. Board policies can be found on the agency’s website under About > Board of Directors > Board Policies. Questions? Contact Beth Strike.

An insurance resources “repository” has been established on the staff website. The repository has a link to the presentation made the week of February 26 by Assistant Chief Administrator Karl Kurt and Chief Financial Officer David Nicholson regarding the rationale for the changes in insurance. In addition, a link to the insurance plan document is also available. Please note that additional resources will be made available as they are created including a list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) and answers. The Open enrollment period for insurance and benefits will be from May 1 – 20, 2018.  Even if you do not take the insurance, you must go through the open enrollment process. More information and tools such as ALEX, the interactive Jellyvision program, will be made available to employees in April.

To find the repository, visit the Central Rivers AEA staff website under Resources and click on Insurance Resources. (Remember that you will need to use your email username and password to access this site.)