Category Archives: Uncategorized

Summer office hours are now in effect

Summer office hours went into effect on Monday, June 5 and offices will be open 7:30 am – 4:00 pm. A reminder to all Central Rivers AEA staff that all CRAEA offices will be closed on Fridays in June and … Continue reading

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The All-Staff Kickoff meeting is set for August 18!

The 2023 All-Staff Kickoff meeting will be held on Friday, August 18. Please add this date to your calendar. The meeting will be held in the Cedar Falls Conference Center and attendance is mandatory for all Central Rivers AEA employees.

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Thank you to the Central Rivers AEA Board of Directors!

Join us in thanking our amazing board members during School Board Recognition Month! Serving almost 62,000 students, 5,000 educators and over 500 staff members, these nine dedicated volunteers are the backbone of the agency, setting the course for all we … Continue reading

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April Coffee with The Chief(s) recording is available for staff

If you missed the last Coffee with The Chief, the link to the recording and passcode to view can be found below. This month featured the new Chief Administrator, Joel Pedersen, who hosted a Q&A with staff. April Coffee with … Continue reading

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The 2022-23 Top Iowa Workplaces Survey results are in!

Thank you to the 472 employees who shared their opinions as part of the Des Moines Register Top Workplaces survey. That’s a nearly 87% response rate, which is incredible! In addition to the standardized response, we also received over 1,600 … Continue reading

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Attention Central Rivers AEA staff: keep an eye out for monthly phishing campaigns

Did you know… 20% of our Central Rivers AEA staff have failed the phishing campaign? Staff that are unsuccessful in monthly phishing campaigns will be required to complete an assigned training. What does it mean to “fail” an agency phishing … Continue reading

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Complete your benefits enrollment before Friday, May 19

As a reminder, insurance open enrollment closes on Friday, May 19. All benefit-eligible employees must enroll or waive coverage, regardless if you are making no changes, resigning or retiring! This is the only time per year you can make any … Continue reading

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Join us on May 26 to celebrate your retiring colleagues!

The virtual all-staff meeting to honor our retirees will take place on Friday, May 26. The celebration will begin via Zoom at 9 am. Please join us as we celebrate those retiring! The meeting details can be found below. Zoom … Continue reading

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Summer office hours begin Monday, June 5 and end Friday, August 4

Summer office hours of 7:30 am – 4:00 pm begin Monday, June 5 and run through Friday, August 4. As a reminder, the Central Rivers AEA Board of Directors approved a plan for agency offices to be closed on Fridays … Continue reading

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Dyslexia training is now required by Iowa Department of Education

As a part of Iowa’s Dyslexia Law, passed in July of 2020, certain educators must complete a Dyslexia Overview Module on the IRRC’s eLearning website by July 1, 2024. This requirement concerns, “any person employed by an AEA who holds … Continue reading

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May is Mental Health Awareness Month… Make It OK!

Thank you to those of you who ordered t-shirts from our incredible Empowered students! If you didn’t order a t-shirt, feel free to wear anything green on May 18 to join the fun and raise awareness. At our April regional … Continue reading

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Ann Lupkes receives Iowa’s Council for Administrators in Special Education (I-CASE) Service Award!

The Distinguished Service Award is presented to individuals making significant contributions to programs and services for students with disabilities. “I am so humbled and grateful to receive this award in recognition of my work,” said Ann. “I appreciate those who … Continue reading

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What’s new with INspired Leadership?

2023-24 INspired Leadership Two-day Workshop Dates If you have yet to experience a two-day INspired Leadership Workshop or haven’t attended in the past three years, you might wish to check out the fall workshop dates and locations. Registration is now … Continue reading

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Want to engage in Courageous Conversations?

Join us on Monday, May 15 for our next Courageous Conversations! Courageous Conversations are a space, either virtual or in person, for staff to gather for 30 minutes to have guided conversations, ask questions and learn about DEI topics. Meeting … Continue reading

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Join us on April 28 for Coffee with the Chief(s)!

Plan now to join Chief Administrator, Sam Miller, and incoming Chief Administrator, Joel Pedersen, on Friday, April 28, at 9 am for virtual updates on agency events and current trends in K-12 education. This is a great opportunity to get … Continue reading

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All-Staff insurance open-enrollment meeting to be held virtual on Thursday, April 27

The Open Enrollment period for insurance begins Monday, April 24 and ends on Friday, May 19. *ALL benefit-eligible employees must enroll or waive coverage, even if you have no changes or are resigning/retiring! New Benefits Enrollment System: EASE is our … Continue reading

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Join your colleagues for a retirement celebration “watch” party!

There will be an optional “watch” party opportunity at each of our three main locations (Clear Lake, Marshalltown and Cedar Falls) on May 26 at 9 am as part of the retirement recognition program. While the recognition program will be … Continue reading

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