With winter almost here, be sure you are signed up to receive Central Rivers AEA weather alerts via text, call or email regarding office closings or professional learning cancellations. *If you are already signed up, you do not have to do anything.
Staff members can contact Shirley Horak, Human Resources Coordinator, for assistance with signing up.
Dental care is an important part of your overall health and wellness routine. A regular dental exam can identify early signs of diseases and chronic health conditions before they become more serious and harder to treat. Here are some reminders on why regular preventive dental care is so important:
Dentists see more than just your teeth
Routine checkups can uncover skin diseases, thyroid problems, cancer, etc. These issues are often revealed during regular exams because dentists and oral hygienists may be able to see symptoms in your mouth you may not even notice.
Stop “small” issues from turning into “major” problems
Over 20 million workdays are missed every year because of dental issues. Preventive care visits are one of the best ways to detect and stop nagging dental issues.
Daily brushing and flossing
Brushing with a fluoride toothpaste and flossing two times each day help prevent tooth decay because it removes plaque, prevents decay and gum disease.
To find a provider near you, visit https://www.deltadentalia.com/.
The Department of Education concluded its accreditation visit on Wednesday, October 5. The initial report shared during the exit interview was extremely positive. We appreciate everyone who helped prepare for the visit or who served on interview teams. The Department of Education will recommend our full accreditation for the next five years as part of the State Board meeting on October 15.
The biggest thank you goes to our entire staff, whose efforts on a day-to-day basis have earned us this glowing review. The accreditation visit and feedback received from the Department of Education is yet another data point that emphasizes the excellent services our staff provides to our LEA partners. You should take great pride in the fact that our partners (superintendents, principals, curriculum directors, teachers and parents) sang your praises, and are grateful for your guidance, support and skills. We know we have an amazing and dedicated team, and the results of the report confirmed just that!
Central Rivers AEA strives to cultivate a workplace in which everyone feels welcomed and empowered to bring their whole selves to work. Continuing work done by the Equity Committee, in partnership with the Leadership Academy, and through the guidance of Gina Weekley, Coordinator of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, we will implement DEI training and provide resources to create awareness, educate and reinforce policies that support diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging.
We collected staff feedback through a series of focus groups, as well as gathered the perspectives and input of all stakeholders through anonymous surveys. As a result of what was released from the Equity Audit, the “APA Equity, Diversity and Inclusion: Inclusive Language Guide” is an optional tool available to staff to enhance learning and awareness of DEI terms and concepts.
Did you know… terms such as “tribe” and “spirit animal” should be avoided in conversations? According to the “APA Equity, Diversity and Inclusion: Inclusive Language Guide”:
For more information and resources, please visit the DEI+Belonging page on the Central Rivers AEA staff website.
Central Rivers AEA is a Top Iowa Workplace! To showcase our exciting honor, staff now have access to a new email signature template. When creating your version of the template:
A reminder that all staff should be using an email signature. If you have any issues getting your image, contact HR for assistance. If you need help updating your email signature, please reach out to the Central Rivers AEA help desk for assistance.
The agency is once again partnering with the Hy-Vee Pharmacy to offer flu shot/Covid-19 booster clinics for employees and their families. The vaccination schedule is as follows:
Monday, October 24, 2022 from 7:30-8:30 am
October 25, 2022, from 8-10 am
Please complete the 2022 Flu Shot/Covid booster registration form by Friday, October 7 if you wish to participate. Please remember to bring:
Flu shots and the Covid-19 boosters are covered at no cost to employees and their family members with proof of insurance. The cost is $42.99 without insurance. The Covid-19 vaccination is free for everyone.
Please contact Michael Kalvig at mkalvig@centralriversaea.org or 319-273-8206, with any questions.
All agency documents and presentation materials that staff create to present to their school districts or in team meetings are expected to follow official Central Rivers AEA branding guidelines to maintain a consistent look. When writing for the website (including blogs), please use the online writing guide, which includes important accessibility information. If you have accessibility questions, please review the Accessibility Module.
The Communication Guides and Agency Templates page on the staff website offers many Central Rivers AEA branded resources. Some reminders to staff:
If you have questions regarding branding guidelines and requirements, please reach out to Beth Strike, Director of Communications & Creative Services or Contessa Van Buskirk, Communications Specialist, for assistance.
The agency will be hosting two contests with prizes. Like last year, the winners will be awarded a certificate, bragging rights and vouchers to purchase books for the school of their choice! Contest details are as follows:
Halloween costume contest #1 categories:
Halloween family photo or pumpkin contest #2 categories:
Now’s the time to imagine what/how you’ll dress up for this year’s Halloween contest. Inspiration from previous years can be found on the “Spooktacular Hall of Fame” page.
In a follow-up to the All Staff Kick-off meeting in August, “Drink the Stupid Water” stickers have been created and will be available for staff to pick up at the three main Central Rivers AEA locations if interested. Contact Robin Billerbeck with any questions.
Who are the faces of the professional learning team and what do they do? Our Central Rivers AEA professional learning team is working hard to provide high-quality service and one way that we can do this is by identifying and sharing our roles and responsibilities, see the list below. You can reach the team at ProfessionalLearning@centralriversaea.org or (319)-272-8200. View or save the Professional Learning Team Workflow chart for more information. Please don’t hesitate to contact our team if you have any questions or need assistance.
Professional learning team member, role and responsibilities:
Kay Schmalen, Director of Professional Learning
Angie Gansen, Professional Learning Coordinator
Julie Danker, Professional Learning Assistant
Corlene Collum, Professional Learning Assistant
While we are super excited to have people in our buildings again, making room reservations is even more important than ever! For some of you, it may have been a while since you made a reservation. Others may be new to our agency. Making a room reservation helps our staff prepare for you, helps visitors know where to go when they come to our offices and eliminates confusion and conflicts. If you are unfamiliar with the process, this article can help you with the process of how to make a room reservation. Three important things to keep in mind when making room reservations:
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact Corlene Collum at (319)-273-8246 or ccollum@centralriversaea.org.
