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.
We would like to welcome incoming staff for the 2025-26 school year!
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!
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.
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:
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.
Live documents, helpful resources and guides can be found on our staff website.
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!
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.
Our agency’s annual review of mandatory policies and procedural items are now available! For viewing, please visit the document as there are several important updates to read. A few examples include:
There is plenty of information to go through, please contact Karl Kurt, Assistant Chief Administrator/Director of HR, with any questions.
If you missed the all-staff update on October 14 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, November 11 from 4-4:30 pm.
Great news – AEA Contact Manager is officially back up and running! AEA Contact Manager is our internal tool designed to help staff send targeted email communications to specific groups of educators. Whether you’re reaching out to fifth grade math teachers, special education staff, teacher librarians, or other targeted audiences, this platform makes streamlined, accurate communication easier than ever. What you need to know:
Need help?
If you have questions or would like support using the system, please reach out to either Phil Hendricks or Beth Strike.
We would like to welcome incoming staff for the 2025-26 school year!
Please give a warm welcome to Jessica Dally, who starts at the agency on November 24! She’ll be joining the Professional Learning office in Cedar Falls and will also be helping out at the front desk. Jessica is eager to meet everyone and learn how she can connect with your work, so please stop by and say hello when you have a chance!
Hi! I’m very excited to be joining a passionate group of professionals in my new role! I consider myself a catalyst for organizational efficiency and thrive in supportive team environments. My diverse sales/support work background allows me to bring a unique blend of skills to the agency.
Since graduating high school, I’ve been fortunate enough to gain years of experience across diverse business sectors, including TV Media Marketing, Financial Office Managing, and Legal Assisting. These positions have equipped me with a flexible approach to problem-solving and a deep understanding of what it takes to support a successful team.
I grew up in the Cedar Falls area, spent six years in the suburbs of Chicago, and am now back here to spend time with my wonderful parents, my six crazy siblings (ranging from 34–14), my four incredible nieces, and two nephews who live down in Texas. When I’m not working, I balance life by exploring the local outdoors with my boyfriend Luke, binge-watching reality TV, and embracing the simple joys of life!
Thank you to our Central Rivers AEA team for helping get our new staff acclimated! It’s clear from recent check-ins that the start of the year has been overwhelmingly positive.
New staff feel incredibly supported by everyone around them – from their core team, to their mentor, to the discipline lead and the leadership teams.
New staff feel like they have what they need to be successful.
Overall, the first part of the year has been a success.
Live documents, helpful resources and guides can be found on our staff website.
The Universal Protocol for Accommodations in Reading (uPAR) is a powerful protocol that helps determine appropriate reading accommodations for all students. Districts in Iowa can gain free access to uPAR through Everway’s Iowa Access for All website, which explains the tool, outlines the sign-up process, and provides a link to the required uPAR District Deployment Form.
Additionally, schools using uPAR, can apply to receive Read&Write for Google at no cost; see the application for details. (Applying for Read&Write for Google does not guarantee free access, as the license number is limited.)
During the next PD window, the DE has pre-approved an Access for All Learning Package for districts on uPAR. More details will be provided as they become available.
Once a district has uPAR access, AEA staff may request administrator-level access to review data and help support district implementation. There are two ways to request access:
This updated process was introduced to ensure stronger compliance with FERPA, as well as to streamline automatic domain-based rostering, thereby reducing the need for manual district uploads.
Live documents, helpful resources and guides can be found on our staff website.
Want more of what works for you and less of what doesn’t? Central Rivers AEA offers free 1:1 coaching sessions with certified well-being coach Dr. Leslie Moore on Zoom. Sessions are available weekdays from 7:30 am–4:30 pm and can be booked up to 60 days in advance with just two days’ notice. Schedule your session online!
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.
To start a micro-credential, click its link and then select “Log in here” in the orange box beneath the title.
Leverage the new Zoom Scheduler “booking link” to save time and streamline appointment scheduling.
Zoom Scheduler is a new feature that helps you book meetings faster. It can link directly to your Google Calendar and lets you create specific time slots when you are free. You then share those slots with others, and they can pick a time that works for everyone, automatically adding it to both calendars. More details about this new feature include:
For more information, check out the tutorial and FAQs document.
