The Channel

As you probably recall, AEA 267 was designated as one of the “Top Workplaces” in Iowa following our participation in a workplace survey last year facilitated by WorkplaceDynamics LLC. We were honored to learn that so many of you find the agency a positive place to work. This year we will again participate in the survey to gather current information about how you feel about working at AEA 267.

You will receive an email with a link to an online survey within the next week.  Please take a few minutes to complete the survey and provide us with your feedback.

The survey is being conducted by WorkplaceDynamics LLC, an independent research company.  To protect your confidentiality, WorkplaceDynamics will not disclose your individual responses to AEA 267. Furthermore, your department or group scores will only be disclosed if there are at least 6 survey takers in your group.  However, please note that supervisors and administrators at AEA 267 may see the optional written comments on the final page of the survey.  If you wish to make a comment please do not write anything that will identify you as an individual.

Please note:

• If you do not receive the survey email within the next week, then please check your spam or junk email for a message from “Workplace Survey”. To open the survey invitation, you may first need to mark the email as not spam.
• If you accidentally delete the survey email, then you will receive a reminder email a few days later that will allow you to take the survey.
• Please do not forward the survey email to a colleague, as each email has a unique code to prevent multiple responses from a single person.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact WorkplaceDynamics directly at (800) 749-0187 or reply to your survey email.

Thank you for taking the time to complete the survey.

Chief Administrator Sam Miller will deliver a “spring update” presentation for staff on the following dates and times. If your schedule allows, please plan to join the conversation! The update will cover further detail around initiatives such as the Regional Administrator model, recent changes within the InfoTech service area, the agency facilities study, and budget. Bring your questions and ideas!

All meetings will begin at 3:30 p.m. and end by 4:30 p.m.

• March 21: Clear Lake Office (Room A)

• March 22: Cedar Falls Office (Room F)

• March 23: Marshalltown Office (Room G)

Melissa Hesner

Please join us in congratulating Melissa Hesner, AEA 267 Consultant for School Improvement, on being selected to fill the role of Regional Administrator for the East Sector in Region 8.

Melissa received her degrees from the University of Northern Iowa and prior to joining AEA 267 in 2011 as a science consultant, she served as a science teacher and coach for Postville and East Buchanan Community School Districts. Along with her current position as a consultant for school improvement, Melissa also serves as a lead coach for AIW.

As Regional Administrator, Melissa will oversee a team of staff members from all three service areas who are assigned to deliver service to the following school districts in Region 8; Dunkerton, East Buchanan, Independence, Jesup, and Wapsie Valley. She will assume her new duties on July 1, 2016.

March “Hall of Fame” winners pictured with Sam Miller (L to R) Chad Pinkston, Cindy Baker & Barb Schroeder

Congratulations to Barb Schroeder, Cindy Baker, and Chad Pinkston, our latest Hall of Fame Award Honorees!

Barb Schroeder, Administrative Assistant to Service Area Director Ed. Services is based out of the Cedar Falls office. Prior to joining AEA 267 in 1987, Barb attended Hawkeye Tech and worked as a circulation manager for a magazine publication in Grundy Center.

Barb’s days range from assisting the Educational Services staff with many day-to-day tasks to organizing and planning  a wide variety of meetings, trainings, and student events. She focuses on building relationships with staff members and letting them know she is here to support them in any way she can.

Finding humor and being thankful every day is Barb’s motto and her co-workers tell us it shows in every aspect of her work and is what makes her a “rock star.”

Cindy Baker, Special Education Technology Specialist began her career with the agency in 1979 as part of Northern Trails AEA, working in the Mason City satellite office as a special education secretary. She eventually became a systems manager before moving into her current position in 2014.  

Serving as the primary contact for the AEA web IEP and IMS systems for the Northeast and Northwest Sectors, Cindy’s day-to-day responsibilities involve working directly with AEA staff, LEA staff, and administrators in troubleshooting problems with the web IEP/IMS systems. Her biggest reward each day is the feeling that she is a part of the big picture in furthering the agency’s mission to improve student learning.

Cindy believes the key to working in education is to be patient and stay flexible, as she never knows what each day will bring. That belief has paid off for Cindy — after 37 years, she has kept her positive attitude and is greatly admired by both her co-workers and those she serves.

Chad Pinkston, Site Superintendent/School Psychologist received his degree from Louisiana State University in Shreveport and began his career with AEA 267 in 2004 as a psychology intern.

Chad wears many different hats at AEA 267, serving as a school psychologist, team representative for the south region, a member of the Crisis Response Team, and site superintendent for the Marshalltown office. His days are varied and consist of ensuring that operations run smoothly in the Marshalltown office, developing and supporting behavior intervention plans, assisting with secondary transition compliance, and being available to respond to crisis situations that might arise within the districts we serve.

Chad told us it is not hard to stay positive and dedicated to our mission each day because he is truly grateful to have the opportunity to serve kids, parents, and educators. Those who work with Chad describe him as a dedicated, effective leader who treats everyone with respect and appreciation.

Please join us in congratulating these three outstanding team members!

Do you work with someone you consider to be the best-of-the-best?  Submit your nominations for the the AEA 267 “Hall of Fame” recognition program. All nominations will remain on file for consideration during future months.

The current educational system in the U.S. was developed a century ago during the rise of the industrial age and was once the envy of the world. However, the world economy has since transformed profoundly, but the U.S. education system has not. Schools are attempting to teach and test skills, when mastered, that still leave graduates woefully unprepared for the 21st century.

Please join us for a screening and discussion of “Most Likely to Succeed”, a short documentary film about how and why our schools need to change to meet our needs today. The documentary tells the story of a school in San Diego that is completely rethinking what the experience of going to school looks like. As they follow its students, parents, and teachers through a truly unorthodox school experience, the audience is forced to consider what sort of educational environment is most likely to succeed in the 21st century.

Details:

• Tuesday, March 8, 2016 6:30-8:45 p.m.
• Auditorium, Lang Hall, UNI Campus
• This event is free and open to the public.

Need a parking pass? Email cet@uni.edu or call 319-273-3145

The Iowa legislature is stalled once again in setting funding for Iowa’s schools and many do not realize how important it is for districts to know the “state cost per pupil” amount in order to set their budgets for the upcoming fiscal year. This informative article will enlighten you as to what it actually takes in order to educate Iowa’s most precious resource-our students.

In the 2015 Iowa General Assembly a key democratic senator commented that he ‘wasn’t hearing from anyone’ with concerns about legislative funding. Legislators often report that their inaction on an issue is simply because not enough people contacted them about it.

Writing a letter or sending an email is a simple way to ensure that your legislators know how you want to be represented.

When writing a letter:

1. Keep your letter short, a single page is best.
2. Be concise and specific, but add a personal touch.
3. Rather than writing as a “concerned AEA employee”, write from the perspective of a parent, grandparent (whichever the case may be) or concerned taxpayer.
4. Don’t use your AEA 267 email address or letterhead.

The sample letters below have been created for you to use when writing letters to legislators to advocate for adequate school funding. In addition, a directory of legislators is included for you to use in accessing the contact information for the legislators in your area.

Finally, the advocacy toolkit below was created with general tips that can be useful in speaking up for education funding! We need your support.

Here are three sample letters that you can choose from in expressing your support. Be sure to ADD YOUR NAME vs. sending any one of these letters “as is.” (They may need some re-formatting when you cut and paste them into your email message.)

This directory of legislators has contact information for our area’s legislators.

This Advocacy Toolkit was created by Iowa’s AEAs and is full of tips and resources to help you and others advocate. Please review it!

While it may seem like a long way away, the all-staff meeting will soon be upon us! This year’s meeting will be held on August 11 at the Marshalltown High School Auditorium, located at 1602 South 2nd Avenue in Marshalltown, Iowa. Details will be provided soon!

If you are considering retirement at the end of the 2015-16 year, please let the Human Resources office know as soon as possible. This will help to ensure that plans can be made for future staffing and also to celebrate your years of service with the agency.

Please contact Shirley Horak for more information.