The Channel

Over the next few weeks, your email signature will be updated automatically*. The information in your signature comes from the staff directory, including your email, photo, title, phone number and office location. Please take a moment to check the staff directory to be sure everything is correct. If something is missing or incorrect, contact your region’s administrative assistant.

*You will receive an automated email when your signature is updated. Once you get it, refresh your web browser to see the new signature. Here is an example of what the new email signatures will look like:

If you need help (such as removing your photo or adding credentials or a phone number) please contact Contessa Van Buskirk or Phil Hendricks.

Don’t forget to change your voicemail greeting and schedule an “away” message to your email for Monday, January 19 so that callers and/or e-mailers know all Central Rivers AEA offices will be closed in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK) Day.

Voicemail example:

Hello, this is (your name). All Central Rivers AEA offices will be closed on Monday, January 19 in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Please leave your name, number and a brief message and I will get back to you when offices reopen tomorrow, Tuesday, January 20. Thank you.

Email “away” message example:

Thank you for your email. All Central Rivers AEA offices will be closed on Monday, January 19 in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. I will respond to your email upon my return when offices reopen on Tuesday, January 20. Thank you.

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

As part of Iowa HF 2612’s updated requirements for AEA governance and board representation, the most recent board election concluded with the addition of four new members to the CRAEA Board of Directors.

The following superintendents have been elected to serve on the CRAEA Board:

• David Hill, Superintendent, Waverly-Shell Rock Community School District
• Jenn Peter, Superintendent, Belmond-Klemme Community School District
• Dr. Cynthia Phillips, Superintendent, Independence Community School District
• Dr. Theron Schutte, Superintendent, Marshalltown Community School District

We appreciate their willingness to serve and look forward to their participation in the shared governance of the agency.

AEA board elections follow a structured process outlined in Iowa law. The CRAEA Board consists of nine members who serve staggered four-year terms to support continuity and orderly transitions. Under HF 2612, representation requirements shifted this year, resulting in multiple seats being filled simultaneously.

Because of the changes required by HF 2612, four long-serving CRAEA board members concluded their service at the end of the election cycle. We extend sincere appreciation for their dedication, leadership, and contributions to the agency!

• Kathy Enslin, Director District 3
• Dr. Darshini Jayawardena, Director District 4
• Maureen Hanson, Director District 6
• Bryan Burton, Director District 8

The four incoming members now join the five continuing board members to complete the nine-member governing body charged with providing oversight, ensuring compliance with state requirements, and supporting the agency’s long-term mission. The newly seated board convened for their first regularly scheduled meeting this week. As always, board meetings are open to the public, and staff are welcome to follow the work of the board as decisions and priorities for the coming year take shape.

Central Rivers AEA remains grateful for the partnership of all board members—past and present—and for the collaborative governance structure that supports our work with districts, educators, and students across the region.

If you missed the all-staff update on November 11 via Zoom, the slide deck and recording information can be found below. The next meeting (unless canceled if there are no new updates) will be held on Tuesday, December 9 from 4-4:30 pm.

• November 11 meeting slides
• November 11 Zoom recording
• Zoom link for future meetings: https://aea1.zoom.us/j/99941260595?pwd=1L7Lj66bUNsF6KqJ3t9TU3eTHuO3aB.1
• Meeting ID: 999 4126 0595
• Passcode: 713069

We would like to welcome incoming staff for the 2025-26 school year!

Information Technology (IT) welcomes Tiffanie Zaugg, Assistive Technology/AI Specialist

Please give a warm welcome to Dr. Tiffanie Zaugg, who joined Central Rivers AEA as our new Assistive Technology & AI Specialist! Tiffanie is an accomplished education leader, researcher and consultant with deep expertise in assistive technology and artificial intelligence in K-12 settings.

She brings a wide range of experience to CRAEA, including serving as the Assistive Technology State Lead for the Iowa Department of Education, AT Coordinator and Special Education Consultant for Prairie Lakes AEA, K-8 Special Education Teacher, AI Consultant for a charter school, and Postdoctoral Scholar at the University of Central Florida. Tiffanie has also designed several innovative AI tools that support learning, including the Education and Learning in an Inclusive Environment (EL) chatbot.

She is active on multiple national committees and advisory boards focused on inclusive technology, policy, and educator preparation. Her passion lies in advancing equitable access to learning through the thoughtful and responsible integration of AI and assistive technology.

Tiffanie is excited to connect with teams across the agency. Please take a moment to say hello to Tiffanie!

Creative Services welcomes Alex Richards, Web Developer/Programmer

We are delighted to welcome Central Rivers AEA Creative Services’ newest team member, Alex Richards! Alex joined our team on November 10 as a Web Developer/Programmer. He is based out of the Cedar Falls office.

Greetings! I’m thrilled to be part of such a dedicated and welcoming team. Most people would describe me as a natural problem solver with a strong ability to tackle challenges. As someone who believes in continuous learning, I’m always exploring new hobbies and developing new skills. I’m confident these qualities will help me make meaningful contributions to our agency and the communities we serve.

My background includes over a decade of experience in IT, where I supported small businesses and startups. I previously worked for a local assistive technologies company, Talk To Me Technologies, where I modernized their IT infrastructure, designed electronic interfaces for assistive devices, and provided technical guidance on integration challenges. I later left to pursue a degree in Software Engineering and recently completed my Bachelor of Science in Software Engineering. I look forward to applying the skills I’ve gained toward advancing the agency’s goals.

I’m originally from the area and graduated from Union High School. I also lived in Des Moines for a while, where I met my wife. We welcomed our daughter, Winifred, into the family this past March. When I’m not writing code, I enjoy playing video games, biking, gardening, cooking, and repairing electronics such as Game Boys and arcade machines.

Professional Learning welcomes Hope Moore, Professional Learning Support Assistant

Please welcome Hope Moore, our new Professional Learning Support Assistant! Hope is joining the PL team now as we prepare for Corlene’s upcoming retirement. You’ll find her at the Cedar Falls front desk (Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays) until she graduates on December 20 and starts full-time!

Hello! I am very excited to be joining the passionate team at Central Rivers AEA as the Professional Learning Support Assistant! I look forward to applying my recent academic knowledge, organizational skills, and dedication to support the agency’s mission. 

My background is shaped by my experiences as a student-athlete at Shelton State Community College and as a manager for the University of Northern Iowa Softball team. These experiences allowed me to gain first-hand involvement in administrative support, where I discovered I fell in love with the behind the scenes work of coordinating and organizing. Through my internships and job shadowing, I’ve had the opportunity to implement my coursework in real world scenarios, particularly with managing game day operations. This experience has equipped me with a flexible approach to problem solving and to ensure smooth day to day operations.

I am excited to share that I will be graduating from the University of Northern Iowa later this December with a Bachelor’s in Business Administration. I look forward to continuing to use the skills I have learned throughout my education going forward here at Central Rivers AEA! To get to know me better, I grew up in Van Horne, a small town outside of Cedar Rapids in Benton County. I am currently looking forward to remaining in the Cedar Falls area to apply myself fully at Central Rivers AEA. During my downtime, I enjoy spending time with family and friends and staying active!

Don’t forget to change your voicemail greeting and schedule an “away” message to your email during the Christmas holiday break so that callers and/or e-mailers will know when they can expect to hear from you. All Central Rivers AEA offices will be closed on December 24 – January 1 for the Christmas holiday break. All CRAEA offices will reopen on Friday, January 2.

Email “away” message example

Thank you for your email. I will be out of the office beginning Wednesday, December 24 through January 1 and will respond to your email upon my return on January 2. All Central Rivers AEA offices are closed for winter break. Thank you and have a wonderful holiday!

Voicemail example

Hello, this is (your name/title). All Central Rivers AEA offices will be closed for winter break beginning Wednesday, December 24 and will reopen on Friday, January 2. Please leave your name, number and a brief message and I will call you when I return. Thank you and have a wonderful holiday!

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

Central Rivers AEA, in partnership with Keystone AEA, has launched the Staff Tech Hub, a new resource to help you use technology effectively in your job!

This quick, living document is updated monthly and focuses on three key areas:

1. Assistive Technology
2. Artificial Intelligence (AI)
3. Practical Tech Tips

The goal is to keep you informed, build your confidence, and share tools and strategies to make your work easier and more impactful. Check it out and start growing your tech skills! Reach out to Tiffanie Zaugg, Assistive Technology/AI Specialist, with questions.

Live documents, helpful resources and guides can be found on our staff website.

• Updates with CRAEA Special Education doc (this will include every update from editions of The Channel and important mid-month information)
• Special Education Updates

Live documents, helpful resources and guides can be found on our staff website.

• Updates with CRAEA Ed Services & Media doc (this will include every update from editions of The Channel and important mid-month information)
• Ed Services/Media Updates

Reduce stress & increase peace

Want more peace and less stress in your work and/or personal life? Core Energy Coaching can help! Central Rivers AEA offers free 1:1 coaching sessions with certified well-being coach Dr. Leslie Moore on Zoom. Coaching creates the space for individuals to recognize and shift out of Level 1 and 2 energy – where fear, doubt and conflict often take the lead – and move toward more empowering states like Level 5 and 6, where collaboration, possibility and purpose begin to drive thought and action. By helping people identify limiting beliefs, release blame and reframe challenges, coaching fosters a mindset rooted in curiosity, compassion and shared success. The result is greater clarity, confidence and connection – both internally and across teams. Schedule your session online!

Enhance your well-being & earn $250

Central Rivers AEA continues to encourage our staff to enhance their well-being by offering a $250 incentive for submitting evidence of understanding and skills in one micro-credential related to INspired Leadership! To learn more about microcredentials, review the Micro-credential Explanation document. To learn about and/or register for a microcredential you are interested in, choose and select: 1) Awareness of Internal Energy, 2) 4 Key Mindsets, and 3) Overcoming Internal Energy Blocks [requires both prerequisite microcredentials above]. Evidence submitted will be reviewed by Dr. Moore. If you need to create an account, have questions about microcredentials or aren’t sure how to sign up, contact Kay Schmalen at kschmalen@centralriversaea.org.

Congratulations to our Central Rivers AEA staff with 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35 and 40 years of service!

We are pleased to announce that Karl Kurt, currently the Assistant Chief Administrator and Director of Human Resources for the agency, has been selected as the agency’s next chief administrator to begin July 1, 2026. Kurt will succeed Stan Rheingans, Interim Chief Administrator, who will continue to serve in a shared Chief Administrator role with Keystone AEA until June 30, 2026.

In his new position, Karl will continue to lead more than 500 full- and part-time staff members who provide special education and school improvement services along with technology and media support for over 62,000 students and 5,000 educators across an 18-county region in north central and northeastern Iowa.

“Karl brings deep knowledge of our agency, has established relationships with staff and partners, and possesses a commitment to doing what is best for students, families, and educators. His experience with the AEA system will serve our region well,” said Dr. Debra Rich, CRAEA board president.

Karl has been with CRAEA since 2016, where he has helped lead strategic initiatives, strengthen organizational culture, and build leadership capacity across the agency. Under his leadership, the agency launched an internal staff wellbeing program, earned Top Workplace honors, and navigated significant organizational changes through statewide educational shifts and the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I’m honored and humbled to continue serving our dedicated staff and the districts we support as the agency’s chief administrator,” said Karl. “Our team works tirelessly to provide outstanding services and support, and I’m passionate about building on that commitment to ensure our continued success together during this important time in our agency’s history.”

Prior to joining CRAEA, Kurt served as superintendent in North Linn and Central City Community School Districts and held administrative roles in Independence Community Schools and in Ohio. 

With a foundation in school psychology, he has championed student well-being, staff growth, and continuous improvement. Known for his transparent, compassionate, and steady leadership, Karl has earned recognition as a data driven leader who makes decisions based on what’s best for all learners.