The Channel

Empower yourself on December 13

Are you interested in learning a quick, practical way to release catabolic energy? Join us for the “Empower Half-Hour” with Dr. Leslie Moore, Certified Professional Coach at Central Rivers AEA! On December 13, from 8:30 to 9:00 am via Zoom, Dr. Moore will lead a session to help you access more positive, productive energy around specific situations. Sign up today to receive a calendar invite!

Personalized coaching is available for you

Would you like support in getting more of what you want and less of what you don’t in your personal or professional life? If so, Central Rivers AEA offers 1:1 core energy leadership coaching sessions with certified well-being coach, Dr. Leslie Moore, via Zoom. All sessions are confidential and scheduled by you when you send Leslie a Google Calendar invitation. Just select “private” on the calendar invite. Reach out to Leslie with questions.

Join the February INspired Leadership workshop in Clear Lake

If you have yet to experience a two-day INspired Leadership workshop or haven’t attended in the past three years, sign up now for our two-day workshop in Clear Lake on February 7 and 21. We’d love to see you there!

Central Rivers AEA has introduced new guidelines for using Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools to ensure they are used safely and ethically. AI has the potential to make our work more efficient and help us better serve schools, but it also comes with risks, especially around data privacy. Please read over the Guidelines for the Use of AI & Emerging Technologies document, but some key takeaways include:

• Security First: Before using any AI tool, staff should evaluate its security features. Always avoid entering personal information or confidential student data into AI tools.
• Transparency: Be open about using AI, especially in meetings or projects. For example, if an AI assistant is active during a Zoom meeting, let others know.
• Ethical Use: Ensure AI is used in a way that aligns with our values – avoiding bias, respecting privacy, and supporting our mission. If you have concerns about the use of AI, reach out to the tech team for guidance.

These guidelines are here to help us navigate the evolving tech landscape responsibly while making the most of AI’s benefits.

American Education Week is November 18-22! In the spirit of building a supportive and caring work environment, we’re excited to launch a week-long Random Acts of Kindness Challenge for our staff! This initiative encourages everyone to take a few moments each day to brighten a colleague’s day with small, thoughtful gestures.

Throughout the week, consider trying some of these ideas:

• Send a quick thank-you email to someone who helped you recently.
• Give a teammate a shout-out during a meeting.
• Leave a positive note on someone’s desk.
• Offer help on a project or task.

At the end of the week, we’ll celebrate those who took part and share some memorable acts of kindness that reflect our team spirit. Let’s make kindness a daily habit – one small act at a time!

To support a timely staff replacement selection process and assist in budget planning, the Central Rivers AEA Board of Directors approved an incentive be provided for Certified, NUSS, CWA, Administrative Staff and River Hills School staff who provide early notification of their intent to resign or retire at the end of the 2024-25 work year.

The proposed incentive would be administered as follows:

1. Commitments of separation by resignation or retirement at the end of the 2024-25 work year, and
2. Notification of resignation or retirement received in the Human Resources Office before January 2, 2025, and
3. Accepted by the Board no later than the regular meeting on January 8, 2025,
4. Will receive an early notification incentive payment of $2,000, payable June 20, 2025,
5. Subject to the employee fulfilling their individual employment contract obligations for the 2024-25 work year. Staff resigning or retiring who separate prior to the end of the 2024-25 work year are not eligible for the early notification incentive.
6. Staff must have worked for Central Rivers AEA for three full years to receive this incentive.
7. Staff may only receive the incentive once per their employment with Central Rivers AEA.

Please note, paraeducators at River Hills with three full years at CRAEA are eligible for early retirement. As long as you fulfill your 2024-2025 contract, you will qualify for the early retirement incentive. To qualify, notify Karl Kurt, Director of HR/Assistant Chief Administrator, by January 2, 2025, if you plan to retire or resign at the end of the 2024-2025 school year.

We need volunteers*! Mark your calendars for December 7, 9 am – 12 pm, at the W Fieldhouse, Wartburg College, for the first Go Baby Go Iowa event in Waverly! Central Rivers AEA is proud to partner with Go Baby Go Iowa to make this special day happen!

Go Baby Go is a special project where health professionals, engineers, students, and volunteers team up to modify ride-on toy cars for kids with mobility challenges, giving them a fun way to move and interact.

*Volunteer Build Day is November 23, 8:30 am – 12:30 pm, also at the W Fieldhouse. Join us in making a difference! Whether you want to apply for a car, sponsor a ride, volunteer, or help on Race Day, we’d love your support!

• Become a sponsor/volunteer today! Submit the registration form: https://bit.ly/3Ygfm6Q
• Drive registration form: https://forms.gle/H3KaQidxkgi61Nbh8
• Flyer for more information

For questions, contact Kimberly Sommermeyer at ksommermeyer@centralriversaea.org.

If you missed the all-staff update on October 10 via Zoom, the slide deck and recording information can be found below. The next meeting will be held on Thursday, November 14 from 4-4:30 pm. (We will plan to send a link to the recording shortly after the meeting so you won’t need to wait until the next edition of The Channel for details!)

• October 10 meeting slides
• October 10 Zoom recording
• Zoom link for future meetings: https://aea1.zoom.us/j/93464974419?pwd=Q2hl1s1RZIcSHzDYbdAl9ARPrXdLAY.1
• Meeting ID: 934 6497 4419
• Passcode: 002870

Don’t forget to update your voicemail greeting and set an “away” message for your email during the Thanksgiving and Christmas breaks to let callers and emailers know when to expect a response. All Central Rivers AEA offices will be closed on November 28-29 in observance of Thanksgiving.

Voicemail example

“Hello, this is (your name). Our offices are closed beginning Thursday, November 28 and will reopen on Monday, December 2nd. Please leave your name, number and a brief message and I will return your call on the 2nd. Thank you and happy Thanksgiving from all of us at Central Rivers AEA.”

Email “away” message example

Thank you for your email. I will be out of the office on Thursday and Friday, November 28-29. All Central Rivers AEA offices are closed in observance of Thanksgiving. I will respond to your email upon my return on Monday, December 2. Thank you and have a wonderful Thanksgiving! Please note the office closure dates for the Christmas holiday break are December 25, 2024 – January 1, 2025. Offices will reopen on Thursday, January 2.

If you need assistance with either task, please contact the Help Desk at helpdesk@centralriversaea.org or 319-273-8231.

With winter weather almost here, be sure you are signed up to receive Central Rivers AEA weather alerts* via text, call or email regarding closings or professional learning cancellations. *If you are already signed up, you do not have to do anything.

Staff members can contact Phil Hendricks, for assistance with signing up.