The Channel

Join us on February 6 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.

Want to submit questions or comments anonymously to discuss during the bi-monthly meetings? Do you have general thoughts or questions about DEI+belonging that you would like to submit anonymously? Fill out the “Courageous Conversations” Google survey. Meeting information can be found below:

*All meetings are from 11-11:30 am.

• February 6, February 20, March 6 and March 20
• Join the Zoom Meeting: https://centralriversaea.zoom.us/j/6050295031
• Zoom ID: 605 029 5031
• Padlet: https://padlet.com/cvanbuskirk4/9kmkgeeklejy5sdx

More information can be found on the “Courageous Conversations” page on our staff website. Please reach out to Gina Weekley, Coordinator of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, with any questions.

A new Central Rivers AEA clothing/merchandise storefront is coming soon! Keep an eye out for upcoming details such as the new storefront link on the staff website (coming soon) and the timeline to place orders.

Plan now to join Chief Administrator, Sam Miller, on Friday, February 24 and 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 any questions or concerns you have answered. So grab a cup of coffee or your favorite morning beverage and join us!

Join via Zoom:

• https://centralriversaea.zoom.us/j/87609674396
• Meeting ID: 876 0967 4396
• One tap mobile +16469313860,,87609674396# US

Need support? Contact the Central Rivers AEA Tech Help Desk at helpdesk@centralriversaea.org or 319-273-8231.

Dr. Beverly Plagge, Regional Administrator with Region 1, announced her retirement effective June 30, 2022. Prior to joining Central Rivers AEA, Bev served as a Special Education Teacher and Special Education Administrator at CAL and Clear Lake schools from 1974-2000. Bev joined Central Rivers AEA as a Special Education Coordinator and later filled the role of Regional Administrator.

Congratulations, Bev! We wish you well! The search for Bev’s replacement will begin in the coming weeks.

Many of you have probably noticed a new feature in Google Calendar which allows you to set your location. While it is an expectation of all agency employees that your calendar reflects your location at all times, you are not required to use the new feature. If you have some other way of identifying your location (via calendar event) that is working for you and your supervisor/colleagues, that is fine also. If you would like to learn more about how the new feature works, feel free to reach out to the Information Technology Help Desk for assistance!

Finally, please be conscientious about scheduling meetings with your colleagues when they may be driving or en route to another meeting. “Passing time” may be needed in between meetings.

For answers to additional questions, please reach out to your immediate supervisor.

Central Rivers AEA is pleased to announce that Joel Pedersen, currently superintendent at Cardinal Community School District, has been selected as the agency’s new chief administrator. Pedersen will succeed Sam Miller, who is retiring from the agency in August. Miller has led the agency since 2015.

“We could not be more thrilled to welcome Mr. Pedersen to his new role,” said Dr. Debra Rich, Central Rivers AEA board president. “He brings an incredible amount of experience, passion and skill that will continue to move our agency forward in service to children, families and educators in the 18 counties of Iowa that we serve.”

“I know the AEA’s power firsthand,” said Joel Pedersen. “I am excited and humbled to begin working at Central Rivers AEA, learning more about the agency and finding ways to contribute my skills to the team. I look forward to working alongside such a talented and committed staff.”

Prior to coming to Cardinal Community School District in 2010,  Pedersen previously held positions as principal and director of special education services at Davis County Community School District. He taught numerous elementary grades and coached various sports during his time as a teacher.

Pedersen earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education from Buena Vista University; a Master of Science degree in Education Administration and an Educational Specialist degree in Educational Leadership, both from Drake University.

Join us on January 9 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.

Want to submit questions or comments anonymously to discuss during the bi-monthly meetings? Do you have general thoughts or questions about DEI+belonging that you would like to submit anonymously? Fill out the “Courageous Conversations” Google survey. Meeting information can be found below:

*All meetings are from 11-11:30 am.

• January 9, January 23, February 6, February 20, March 6 and March 20
• Join the Zoom Meeting: https://centralriversaea.zoom.us/j/6050295031
• Zoom ID: 605 029 5031
• Padlet: https://padlet.com/cvanbuskirk4/9kmkgeeklejy5sdx

More information can be found on the “Courageous Conversations” page on our staff website. Please reach out to Gina Weekley, Coordinator of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, with any questions.

The Everyday Inclusion App delivers diversity, equity and inclusion solutions that support inclusive values, create daily behavior change and embed inclusion in culture in a digital and scalable format on your cell phone. The app is available for all Central Rivers AEA staff to download and use. View the app download instructions document on the staff website to download and create your account. Please reach out to Gina Weekley, Coordinator of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, with any questions.

The Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging page is available on the staff website and provides various resources for all staff to create awareness, educate and reinforce policies that support diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging.

As a reminder from what was released from the Equity Audit, the “APA Equity, Diversity and Inclusion: Inclusive Language Guide” is an optional tool available to all staff to enhance learning and awareness of DEI terms and concepts.

Did you know… African American and Black are not always interchangeable.

• “African American” should not be used as an umbrella term for people of African ancestry worldwide because it obscures other ethnicities or national origins, such as Nigerian, Kenyan, Jamaican, Bahamian, Puerto Rican, or Panamanian.
  • In these cases, use “Black.”
•  The terms “Negro,” “colored,” and “Afro-American” are outdated; therefore, their use is generally inappropriate.

Registration for the full-day Disrupting Bias learning session, offered by Gina Weekley, is now open and will be offered at each Central Rivers AEA office location. Register online through the AEA Professional Learning system.

*This training is for Central Rivers AEA Staff only, and each session is limited to 50 attendees max.!

• The Marshalltown Office session will be held on March 30. Section #314600.
• The Clear Lake Office session will be held on April 19. Section #314597.
• The second Cedar Falls session will be held on June 21. Section #314599.

Course #204700: Join us for a full-day learning session that will provide a framework to disrupt bias behaviors. Bias limits our ability to make the best decisions for our teachers, our students, and our families. The awareness of our biases is foundational to becoming more diverse, equitable, and inclusive. Unconscious bias is something everyone has and that doesn’t make us bad; it makes us human. Through this session, you will be able to recognize bias, disrupt bias, learn how to choose courage and increase your connections!

Please reach out to Gina Weekley, Coordinator of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, with any questions.

Find Balance in the New Year
If you would like to jump into the next section of Tina Boogren’s 180 Days of Self-care for Busy Educators, now is a great time to start! Chapter three (p.77) begins the next phase of the school year with nine weeks on Finding Balance. That balance is supported each week with strategies for creativity, altruism, indulgence, adventure, orderliness, obligations, play, email and replay. Consider spending five minutes on yourself by reading and reflecting on each week’s ideas or grab a co-worker to chat about the ideas together. Both will support you in living your best life!

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