Category: Uncategorized

Iowa’s Area Education Agencies (AEAs) are pleased to announce that for the 2017-18 school year, students and educators will continue to have access to many of the same digital resources they have come to depend on as high-quality, reliable instructional resources. In addition, two new resources will be available for upper elementary and middle school students.

Statewide resources continuing in the next school year:

• AEA Digital Library
• BookFLIX
• Britannica School
• CultureGrams
• Gale Resources
• iClipArt for Schools
• Learn360
• SIRS Issues Researcher
• Soundzabound
• TeachingBooks.net
• Teen Health & Wellness
• TrueFLIX
  

New resources coming for upper elementary and middle school students:

• FreedomFLIX
• ScienceFLIX

Two resources will be discontinued at the beginning of the 2017-18 school year:

• Atomic Learning
• AP Images

For more information or assistance with AEA Digital Resources, Cheryl Carruthers.

Selection Process Note: The statewide selection committee and RFP review process included AEA library professionals, Iowa Department of Education consultants, AEA content experts and teachers. Final selections were made after surveying teachers and students for their patterns of usage and preferences, examining past years of database usage and receiving and reviewing proposals from more than 30 vendors.

AEA PD Online is celebrating one million completed courses. This accomplishment represents millions of hours of professional learning and reflects Iowa educators’ dedication to ensuring all Iowa students experience high-quality learning opportunities and environments.

Agency staff may have seen news headlines related to the Department of Education’s use of FAST/TIER. We want to share this notice from Dave Tilly of the Iowa DE to ensure our staff has the latest information on this decision.

School administrators were notified last week of the Department’s decision to terminate the contract with TIES, the developer of the Iowa TIER data system. For the 2017-18 school year the Department will be working with FASTBridge, and districts and schools, to transfer all district and nonpublic school users directly into the FASTBridge data system. As our state transitions to the FASTBridge data system over the summer, the Department will be communicating important information with districts and schools in order to keep you updated on our progress and to make you aware of tasks for which you will be responsible.

District and School Summer Communication Contacts
The Department will include all superintendents and principals that we have on file when communicating about the transition to FASTBridge over the summer. If there are additional people from your district or school that you would like to receive communication updates, please forward this email to them and they can click here to subscribe to future emails. Please make sure that you have at least one contact at your district/school who will be checking email regularly over the summer and will be able to respond to requests from the Department during this transition.

Closing of the Iowa TIER Data System/Summer Interventions and Progress Monitoring
Our intent is that the Iowa TIER data system will not be available for screening, progress monitoring, or scheduling interventions after June 9, 2017, except for three extended school year elementary schools that will be finishing spring screening and literacy status certification activities through June 23rd. However, the system will remain open until June 30th for downloading information such as one-click reports, progress monitoring graphs, student profile page data, and summary reports.

Because of the closure of Iowa TIER, the Department will not be able to offer on-line assessment administration, scoring, and reports for summer school. Schools that will be having summer school are encouraged to track interventions and progress monitoring data locally and to administer progress monitoring assessments with paper and pencil. If interested in paper/pencil administration, see the Progress Monitoring Using FAST: Paper and Pencil Administration document for a brief explanation and key points and the Progress Monitoring Using FAST: Paper and Pencil Materials folder for the necessary administration, scoring, and recording forms. We are exploring options for entering or uploading summer data into the FASTBridge data system sometime during the 2017-18 school year.

Historical Data Housed in Iowa TIER
The Department and the State’s Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO) will be working with TIES to obtain all of the historical data that has been stored in Iowa TIER since the 2013-14 school year. We are unsure when the data will be available in a consumable format for districts and schools, but it is unlikely that historical data for students will be accessible right away in the fall. Before June 30th, we encourage (but do not require) schools to export information from Iowa TIER that may be useful for the beginning of next school year – this may include one-click reports, progress monitoring graphs, student profile page data, and summary reports. Please see the Iowa TIER Export Instructions for information on the most efficient way to export data.

Preschool Screening
The FASTBridge data system will not include on-line administration of the IGDIs assessments for preschool students. The Department encourages preschool classrooms that use IGDIs to administer it with paper and pencil during the 2017-18 school year, and track student data locally. We are exploring possibilities for accommodating data collection of the IGDIs data and will keep you informed with any updates we have.

Screening with Approved Measures Other than FAST
Districts and schools will still have the option to use other approved measures besides the FAST assessments. The Department is exploring how we will have these schools report required data. Again, we will keep you informed as we have updates available.

Thanks for your support during this transition. We know it will be a summer and fall of new learning but believe we are all headed in the right direction for learners in Iowa. We remain committed to our efforts in early literacy as a state and partnering with you as we continue on that journey together.

Throughout this transition, the Department will continue to be the first line of communication and support for districts. As you have questions related to the transition, please use the contacts below. We ask that you do not use the Iowa TIER knowledge base or ticket system for questions or comments related to this transition.

• Administrative issues:  Dave Tilly
• Differentiated Accountability issues:  Amy Williamson
• Technical issues:  Janell Brandhorst
• Media requests: Staci Hupp

The AEA 267 Board of Directors met Wednesday, June 7, 2017, in the Cedar Falls Conference Center. The board packet is available online and the minutes will be published online after approval at the next month’s board meeting.

Did you miss Chief Administrator Sam Miller’s update in April? Watch this six-minute video that hits the highlights of the presentation. Questions about any of the updates? Feel free to contact Sam Miller.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In response to an increasing need for Regional Administrator support for Waterloo Community Schools, Jody Albertson will become a halftime Regional Administrator in partnership with Melissa Hesner beginning next year. Congratulations, Jody!

Given the upcoming retirement of Jerry Schnabel, who currently serves as Site Superintendent (and Executive Director of Media Services), Carol Sensor will assume the role of Site Superintendent for the Clear Lake Office beginning July 1. Carol will take on the new role alongside her other responsibilities as Regional Administrator. Thanks for your service, Carol!

The Gmail Transition Team is excited to share that the transition date for Gmail / Google Calendar has been moved from May 15th to May 12th. This change is in response to requests to align the transition with the already scheduled regional meetings on May 12th.  Therefore, starting Friday May 12th, staff will no longer receive new emails through either Microsoft Outlook, or Outlook Web Access (OWA).  The old email system will remain online temporarily, providing staff the ability to verify that their emails, calendars, and contacts have been transferred to Gmail.

What does this mean for you?

Starting on May 12th, access your AEA 267 Gmail by going to www.google.com and signing in (if you are not already signed in).  In the upper right hand corner click on the text- Mail

 

 

 

Or alternatively, the Gmail icon may appear under the “cube” icon

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To access your AEA 267 Calendar, click on the “cube” icon and then click on the Calendar Icon.

In addition to the already scheduled trainings, the Technology Team & Early Adopters will be offering additional support during the regional meetings on the 12th. If you have already signed up for the trainings that were scheduled after May 15th, you can choose to attend as planned or withdraw and attend during one of the regional meetings.  

The trainings on the 12th will be required for staff that are already required to attend regional meetings. Staff that typically don’t attend regional meetings are invited to attend on the 12th.  View the schedule and locations via this document and complete the RSVP form if you plan on attending.

Thank you to everyone who has made this transition possible! The team is excited about the possibilities and looking forward to supporting staff.

Your Gmail Transition Team

Kay Schmalen, Cari Teske, Sarah Lalk, Bryan Knecht, Karl Langenwalter, Karl Kurt, and Beth Strike

Renovation work is occurring at a rapid pace at our new Cedar Falls-based Central Rivers AEA home at 1521 Technology Parkway. The estimated deadline for substantial completion of both the upstairs and downstairs is June 19. Based on this information, we are tentatively scheduling the move for the majority of Cedar Falls-based staff to begin on June 26. Creative Services and Professional Learning departments will move in August as the print room, garage and elevator areas will take longer to complete. Please note that professional learning classes will be held at our current location at 3712 Cedar Heights Drive through July.

For employees whose contract work will be completed prior to the start of the move-in timeline, please make the following preparations:

• Try and secure boxes to help facilitate the move.  If you need boxes please contact Gus Delamore as he may have a few available.
• Please determine what will be making the move with you. (A reminder for those without designated space, your personal items will need to be taken home.)
• Box up those items and label with your full name (last name, first name). Leave your boxes in your work area.
• Our custodial crew will move the boxes to an unfinished area at 1521 Technology Parkway and sort them so that when you return for the new school year, you can access your materials.
• For those employees who work year around, we will provide details and a schedule closer to the actual completion date, once the move can be officially scheduled.

Questions? Contact Gus Delamore or Karl Kurt.

The branding work team continues to work diligently on the list of tasks associated with rebranding our agency. We are excited to announce that our new email addresses (first initial last name@centralriversaea.org) and website (www.centralriversaea.org) will be rolled out between June 16-19. Signage will begin being installed at all three of our locations in mid to late June.

Several staff members have asked about gaining access to our new logos so that they can begin adding them to 2017-18 forms and documents. This Google folder contains several variations of the agency logo for staff member use. However, please do not begin using the new logo on documents to be distributed before July 1. Also, please reference the Central Rivers AEA Imaging Standards when using our new brand and leave the heavier design work to our graphic artists in Creative Services. Letterhead, envelopes, business cards, etc. are all being created and will be ready for use after July 1.

Questions? Contact Beth Strike.

Please plan to attend one or more of the upcoming retirement open houses honoring AEA 267’s 2017 retirees. The celebrations will be held on Tuesday, May 16 in the Cedar Falls Conference Center; Wednesday, May 17 in the Clear Lake Office; and Thursday, May 18 in the Marshalltown Office from 3:30-5 p.m. at all locations.

These celebrations present a wonderful opportunity to congratulate our honorees and recognize them for their dedication and years of service. Those being honored this year include:

Cedar Falls

• Judy Bodecker, Educational Assistant at River Hills School
• Ronald Danielson, Educational Assistant at Woodhaven Youth Shelter
• Donita Dust, Speech Language Pathologist
• Janice Dykstra, Consultant
• Carol Earles, Special Education Consultant
• Mary Hanneman, Special Education Consultant
• Kim King, School Psychologist
• Sandy Lichty, Sp Ed Consultant
• Chris Merkel, School Social Worker
• Cindy Millett, Early Childhood Special Educator
• Connie Olsson, Educational Assistant at River Hills School
• Brenda Reiher, Detention Center Teacher, N IA Juv Detention Center
• Dennis Sinclair, Area Director of Special Education
• Vicki Uhlenhopp, Special Education Nurse-Instruction, River Hills

Clear Lake

• Shirley Crippin, Speech Language Pathologist
• Dennis Molln, School Social Worker
• Mary Moritz, Itinerant Teacher of Vision Impaired
• Barb Oelberg, Print Technician
• Nancy Prins, Speech Language Pathologist
• Jill Schager, School Social Worker

Marshalltown

• Donita Anders, Early Childhood Educator
• Mary Jo Bailey, Audiologist
• Carol Bottom, School Psychologist
• Jane Boyle, Service Area Secretary
• Stan Ernster, Speech Language Pathologist
• Chris Hull, Audiologist
• Linda Langland, School Social Worker
• Mark Proescholdt, Van Driver
• Carol Sandholm, Special Education Consultant

 

Mark your calendars! Our first all-staff meeting as Central Rivers Area Education Agency will be held on August 14 at our new headquarters at 1521 Technology Parkway in Cedar Falls! We will start the day with social time and registration from 8:30-9 a.m. and are are planning a fun day complete with recognitions, inspiration and “edutainment” by Monte Selby. A detailed agenda will be sent out closer to the actual date. Plan to end the day by 3:30 pm or before depending on work group.

The AEA 267 Board of Directors met Wednesday, May 3, 2017 in the Cedar Falls Conference Center. The board packet is available online and the minutes will be published online after approval at the next month’s board meeting.

Congratulations to Kirsten Moore, who has achieved great success in her fitness efforts. After signing up for a fitness course in 2015, Kirsten began to modify her diet and then began using both a standing desk and the walking desk in the office. Over time she has lost a total of 15 pounds!

Are you curious about how the use of a standing or walking desk can improve your health? Contact Karl Kurt, Assistant Chief Administrator/ Director of Human Resources for more information.

After 10 weeks of dedication to a healthier lifestyle by 14 teams, the results are in. Team rankings are below, along with the average score of participants in each team out of a possible 50 points.

Team	Percentile Ranking	Avg. Score of Participants
CreACTIVE Services	88%	44
Fuchsia Fury (Region 11)	86%	43
Healthy Habits	83%	42
Southern Therapy Chicks (Region 9)	79%	40
Roundabouts (Region 6)	79%	39
Beverly’s Hillbillies (Region 1)	78%	39
Rock Stars (Region 10)	77%	38
Underground Roadies (Region 3)	76%	38
Sam’s Club	73%	36.5
EMS Wellness (Region 5)	73%	36.4
Hot Mess Success	67%	33
Willing, But Reluctant (Region 2)	63%	31
Crazy 8s (Region 8)	62%	31
The Polar Bears (Region 4)	50%	25

Congratulations to everyone who participated in this fun challenge to promote wellness! The fist place team takes home $200.40; the second place team wins $100.20, and the third place team receives $33.40. 

We would like to take this opportunity to announce a new leadership appointment to support the integrated services model in addition to some new Regional Administrator assignments. The AEA 267 Administrative Cabinet made a decision to identify a “Lead Regional Administrator” whose primary role will be to help ensure unified efforts across our regions, our disciplines, and to help support Amy Knupp in her new role as an Executive Director. The lead will also serve as a liaison to the Administrative Cabinet helping to ensure that goals and actions are implemented with fidelity in addition to monitoring results. Justin Stockdale has been tapped for this new role which will begin on July 1. Congratulations, Justin!

With Justin taking on additional responsibilities, the agency has asked Melissa Hesner to assume his role in Region 7 (Waterloo), reassigned Justin to Region 10, and hired a new Regional Administrator for Region 8.

The agency welcomes Melissa Tandy, currently a Facilitator of Special Education with Grant Wood AEA to the new Regional Administrator position for Region 8. Melissa holds Masters degrees in both Teaching (emphasis in Special Education/Multi-categorical Disabilities; Secondary Education) and Education (emphasis in Educational Leadership). In addition to her role as a Facilitator for Special Education, she has served as a Special Education Consultant, and secondary special education teacher. Welcome Melissa!

These reassignments will take place on July 1. Thank you in advance for your patience, open-mindedness and flexibility during the upcoming transition!