The Channel

Our agency’s annual review of mandatory policies and procedural items are now available! For viewing, please visit the document as there are important updates to read. A few examples include:

• Agency Operations (such as our vision, values, equity updates, etc.)
• Navigating and understanding the important items in your Weblink portal
• Quick links available on our new staff intranet

There is plenty of information to go through, please contact Shirley Horak or Robin Billerbeck, in HR with any questions.

In Iowa, more than 300,000 Iowans experience food insecurity at any given time. Food insecurity happens in every town, every community and in every school! Low-income and fixed-income families do not have the money needed to spend on nutritious food and sadly, hunger impacts children the most. One-third of those considered food-insecure in Iowa are children. 

This holiday season, Central Rivers AEA is supporting the Food Bank of Iowa and the Northeast Iowa Food Bank in order to provide meals to families in need. Between them, the two food pantries cover our entire service area!

Between Thanksgiving and December 21, your donations will go directly to support needy area children and their families!  And, as a way of thanking you, every dollar you give gets you entered into a raffle for prizes, generously donated by the CRAEA administrative team. Prizes include gift cards to places such as Casey’s, HyVee, Target and Walmart, along with other great items!

To participate, send a check to Lori Thomas, Executive Assistant/Board Secretary in the Cedar Falls office, made out to the food bank of your choice (Food Bank of Iowa or Northeast Iowa Food Bank). Donations by credit card will need to be made directly to your chosen food bank and you can send a screenshot or actual copy of your receipt to Lori. If you prefer to give a cash donation, be sure to designate the food bank and Lori will send you a receipt.

Together we can help ensure that no child in Iowa experiences food insecurity!

Plan now to join the Chief Administrator, Sam Miller, on Friday, November 18, at 8 am for a virtual update 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
• One tap mobile +16469313860,,87609674396# US
• Meeting ID: 876 0967 4396

*Meeting link can also be found on the CRAEA Master Calendar.

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 DEI+Belonging Resources page on the staff website for download details and to view account creation instructions. Please reach out to Gina Weekley, Coordinator of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, with any questions.

Join us from 11-11:30 am on November 28 for the first Courageous Conversations meeting. Courageous Conversations will be 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:

• Join the Zoom Meeting: https://centralriversaea.zoom.us/j/86262411246
• Zoom ID: 86262411246

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 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… A minority group is a population subgroup (e.g., ethnic, racial, social, religious or other group) with differential power than those deemed to hold the majority power in the population.

• The relevance of this term is outdated and has changed as the demographics of the population change.
• You should avoid using the term “minority” and use the specific name of the group or groups to which you are referring.
  • E.g., say people of color or communities of color vs. ethnic and racial minorities

The Central Rivers AEA Board of Directors’ search for a new Chief Administrator continues with the recruitment effort led by the executive search firm GR Recruiting. The application period closes on November 7. Other important dates to note in the search process:

• Board meeting to review candidates November 21 (closed session)
• First round candidate interviews November 28 (closed session)
• Second round candidate interviews November 29 (closed session)
• Interview Finalist Candidates December 12 – 14 (closed session)

For more information about the Chief Administrator search process, please reach out to Lori Thomas.

What do you want to learn today? Check out the latest on-demand learning pieces by our Central Rivers AEA experts!

Four SEL Approaches – Rusti Sparks, Special Education Consultant
There are A LOT of SEL resources out there- just do a quick Google Search! This resource is organized for you into four areas to maximize your time.

SEBH & Well-Being Classroom Practices: Teaching Expectations – Jackie Fober, School Social Worker
How can you minimize problem behavior by creating a positive and predictable classroom environment for students? How can you teach all students these expectations?

Phonological Awareness Defined – Janelle Pirkl, Consultant for School Improvement
Part 1 of the Phonological Awareness Series. Did you know that a student’s phonological awareness skills are a key indicator for reading comprehension?

Do you have an idea for a topic you wish to share with others? This on-demand learning provides guidance on how to create and submit on-demand content. Check out all our learning opportunities by visiting Central Rivers AEA On-Demand Learning. You can also see all the current content pieces via this Google Sheet. Don’t see what you were looking for? Provide us with feedback on content you’d like to see in the on-demand system.

Our professional learning team is here to help! As you create your courses and sections, keep in mind we appreciate them being submitted at least three weeks in advance. Here are some tips:

• Course Hours: The course hours do not include lunch times. A full-day class session scheduled to run through a normal eating period must provide, at a minimum, a 30-minute duty-free break. A working lunch cannot replace this break.
• Snacks/Lunch: If you are planning on offering lunch/snacks, etc. please work with Corlene to plan a menu and ensure you have enough food for your participants as well ensure a fee is included that will cover costs.
• Registration: All participants are expected to register for professional learning opportunities. We are required to report to the BOEE the number of and variety of courses offered. We also use data such as participation numbers to help us make informed decisions regarding future offerings.

Use this template to create your course/workshop before putting it into the system. It is easier to communicate with Angie or Kay about updates and changes.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact Angie Gansen, Professional Learning Registration System Coordinator at (319)-273-8246 or agansen@centralriversaea.org or Kay Schmalen, Director of Professional Learning at (641)-329-4271 or kschmalen@centralriversaea.org.

We are delighted to announce Central Rivers AEA Business Office’s newest team member, Kevin Klobassa. Kevin joined our team on October 26 as our Benefits Specialist/Business Office Support, due to Betty Hesseling’s recent retirement. He will be based out of the Cedar Falls Office. Please take a moment to read through Kevin’s following bio and welcome him to the agency:

I grew up in the small town of Nashua, Iowa. After obtaining my business degree from Wartburg College, I started my career in the accounting field at a real estate company in the Des Moines area. I most recently worked in AP/Benefits at Waverly-Shell Rock CSD.

I currently live in Waverly, Iowa with my wife, Natalie, and my 19-month old son, Brooks. Other than hanging out with Brooks and playing with our two-year old yellow lab Molly, I love traveling, fishing, golfing and anything sports-related. I’m also a big Iowa Hawkeye fan – Go Hawks!

What are your top three?
In this month of November, it may be an opportune time to start a new habit of gratitude. One simple idea is to track the top three things you are grateful for each day.

• Starting in the morning – list three things you experienced and are grateful for from that short time awake.
• Throughout the day, as you notice something else you are grateful for, see where it falls in your list.
• If it makes your top three, swap it in.
• At the end of the day, review your top three.

This little prompt may help you look for good things in your life all day long. Enjoy!

Don’t forget to change your voicemail greeting and schedule an “away” message to your email during both the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday breaks 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 November 24-25 in observance of Thanksgiving.

Voicemail example:
“Hello, this is (your name). Our office will be closed beginning Thursday, November 24 and will reopen on Monday, November 28. Please leave your name, telephone number and a brief message and I will return your call on the 28. 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 beginning Thursday, November 24 and will respond to your email upon my return on Monday, November 28. Thank you and have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
*Please note the office closure dates for the Christmas holiday break are Monday, December 26 – January 2, 2023. Offices will reopen on Tuesday, January 3.

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