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Zoom’s virtual background feature allows you to display an image as your background during a meeting and can make any Zoom meeting as professional or entertaining as you want. 

Letting others into your private space while working from home can be uncomfortable and with kids and pets, it can also be distracting for other meeting attendees. A Zoom virtual background allows users to easily hide what’s behind them. 

You will find a collection of Central Rivers branded backgrounds to use on the staff website under Communications > Guides & Templates > Zoom backgrounds. To easily help guide you through the process of setting up your own virtual background, view this document for instructions. 

If you need assistance, please reach out to the tech support team at helpdesk@centralriversaea.org. 

Dr. Julie Davies, Executive Director of Educational Services, announced her plan to retire from the agency on August 31, 2021. Dr. Davies has been with the agency since 2011 when she was hired to be the Site Superintendent of the Clear Lake Office. Through her tenure with the agency as Executive Director, she provided significant leadership in redesigning the Educational Services division and creating structures that support integration between special education and general education services to schools.

In addition, Julie has also been a leader in the state in the areas of curriculum, instruction, and assessment, having served on the Iowa Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development (IASCD) board for many years.

“The agency will greatly miss Julie’s leadership,” said Sam Miller, Chief Administrator. “She’s smart, innovative, and models courage and vulnerability in so many ways. She’s left an indelible mark on Central Rivers AEA and we wish her the best.”

Jen Sigrist, currently Executive Director of Media and Innovation with the agency, has been selected to succeed Dr. Davies. In her new position, Sigrist will oversee staff members who provide educational services support to over 65,000 students and 5,000 educators throughout 18-counties of north central and northeastern Iowa.

“Positioning Jen in this role will further advance our agency’s priority of ensuring that all schools have the support they need to prepare their students to be ready for the future,” said Sam Miller.  ”Jen’s leadership and experience in the areas of technology integration, personalized learning, and competency-based education are key. She has the skill set needed to pull our services closer together around a common vision.”

An announcement about direct oversight of Media services will be made in the next month. Please join us in welcoming Jen to her new role and thanking Julie for her service!

An all staff meeting will be held virtually on Tuesday, November 10, beginning at 3:00 p.m. The meeting is to share updates from agency leadership and will be recorded for those who are unable to attend. The recording will be available approximately 24 hours later on the staff website under Resources > Working during the Covid-19 pandemic. 

The Zoom information to join is as follows:

• https://centralriversaea.zoom.us/j/88540493741
• Meeting ID: 885 4049 3741
• One tap mobile +13126266799,,88540493741# US (Chicago)

Be sure your Zoom is updated to the current version and these instructions will help you check your version along with how to use closed captioning if you would like that option.  For technical assistance, contact the Help Desk at helpdesk@centralriversaea.org or 319-273-8231

With American Education Week just around the corner (November 16-20), the agency is celebrating YOU and all that you have accomplished this year – especially in light of the challenges of COVID 19. The agency is hosting a “selfie challenge” which invites you to share a photo of yourself at work sporting your face covering or other protective gear. Here’s how to enter:

1. Take a horizontal photo of yourself at work sporting your face covering or other protective gear. (If you are out in a local school district, be sure not to capture anyone in the background due to confidentiality concerns.)
2. Upload your photo to this Google folder by November 11. (Label the photo with your first and last name.)
3. Head over to Wellness Wave and claim your $10 incentive for participating in an “agency event” (under “Social Well-being”).
4. Wait to find out if you are selected as the grand prize winner of $50 to use toward CRAEA apparel from the apparel store!

The grand prize winner will be announced on November 16!

For more information, contact Beth Strike.

The holiday season is almost upon us and in the past Central Rivers AEA has participated in many in-person giving opportunities throughout the communities we serve.  Due to the continuing pandemic, our efforts will need to be done differently this year and many of the local relief organizations find themselves in greater need than ever before. 

Some of the organizations our staff has supported in the past include Food Bank of Iowa, Northeast Iowa Food Bank, Hawkeye Harvest Food Bank, Boys & Girls Club of the Cedar Valley, Habitat for Humanity, and several homeless shelters in our local communities. All accept mailed donations and online contributions. 

Please consider making a gift to one of the above organizations or to your favorite charity to help those in need and make the holidays a little brighter for children and families! While we won’t track our effort as an agency, those in need will greatly appreciate your help!

As the Covid-19 pandemic continues, the safety and well-being of our staff is a priority and as an agency, we will continue to follow the same guidelines that were put into place in August with the Return to Work plan. 

If practices need to be adjusted, you will be notified and if you find yourself in a situation where you do not feel safe, please let your supervisor or Human Resources know so that support can be provided. More on this topic will be shared at the November 10 all staff meeting.