The Channel

Contact Manager is a tool created to allow staff to send email messages for targeted groups of educators. The system uses data collected and housed in the Central Rivers AEA Lending Library system (Medianet). This is a great tool for promoting your professional learning opportunities or meetings that are targeted toward specific audiences.

How do I use Contact Manager?

1. Go to: http://contactmanager.centralriversaea.org
2. If you are not signed in, click the “Sign in with Google” Button and follow the prompts to sign in through Google.
3. Click “Search Contacts” to begin.
4. Select the criteria from the options on the page to narrow your search from all the educators our agency serves to only those in your desired group.
5. Click the “search” button at the bottom of the page.
6. Select individuals or all the members of this group to email (create labels for and/or export into a spreadsheet) by using the check boxes next to each name.
7. Then, click your desired action at the bottom of the page (Email Selected Contacts, Export Selected Contacts, Generate Labels).
8. Follow the steps on screen to finish!

Who do I contact for help?

• Beth Strike, Director of Communications & Creative Services
• Deb Culp, Technical Support Manager for Media
• Kristine Kienzle, Technical Support Assistant for Media

Note: These directions are archived on the Staff Website>Communications>Contact Manager for future reference.

Starting July 1, 2019 Central Rivers AEA staff who hold a license, certificate, authorization, or statement of recognition issued by the Board of Educational Examiners (BOEE) and who have regular contact with students in kindergarten through grade 12 must complete Suicide Prevention and Postvention and ACES (Adverse Childhood Experiences) training annually. Further guidance can also be found on this document from the Iowa DE. 

These trainings can be accessed through the Iowa AEA PD online mandatory trainings. Detailed information can be found in the Portal > My Toolbox > Mandatory Trainings.  If you are a staff member required to take these trainings, please have the trainings completed by October 30th, 2019. Suicide Prevention and Postvention and ACES are separate trainings. When completed, please print the two certificates and submit them to the Human Resources office. 

 If you have questions, contact your regional administrator or program administrator if you are assigned to River Hills School or a Detention/Shelter program. 

Business cards are available through the Staff Website > Resources > Ordering Business Cards. Click on the business card order form and fill out all necessary information.  Contact Creative Services with any questions.

Thanks to those who responded to the evaluation of our all-staff meeting day held last month. Here are the results and some common themes:

• 80% of respondents viewed the meeting and activities as a good use of their time. We do understand that we have a wide variety of staff with different roles that we ask to attend. We don’t do it often, but getting everyone together, and celebrating the return of all the staff and the beginning of the school year is important. We will keep working to continue to improve the experience for all staff.
• Over 80% of our staff found Tamara Konrade’s keynote message relevant to either their personal or professional lives (and in many cases) both.
• Over 95% of staff indicate that they plan to participate in the new Navigate wellness program.

Over 200 team members shared a commitment for the 2019-20 year. It was exciting and inspiring to read them. Check them out for yourself!

Ideas shared for future consideration or common themes:

*Include a coffee truck

*Consider raising the temperature in the room

*Earmark more time to be in our disciplines

*Add more food trucks during lunch

*Project the speaker on all screens

*Consider a later start date 

Again, thanks for your feedback!  Although we can’t make it a perfect experience for everyone, we will use the feedback to make continual improvements.

If Tamara and Halee’s keynote inspired you last month, stay INspired by signing up to “Get INspired Weekly,” a short provocative email to keep the ABC’s of a healthy life and culture in front of you. Yes, I want to Get INspired Weekly!

A new expense reimbursement form is available on the portal under My Toolbox > Expense Reimbursement > Reimbursement Req Spreadsheet. You may have to click on “Enable Editing” at the top of the spreadsheet when opening. You will submit both Educator Quality (EQ) and regular travel expenses on this form and enter them as one expense reimbursement request. Expense reimbursement requests should be submitted monthly. View the new “how-to” video for more detailed instructions. For more information, contact the Business Office.

Internal job openings will be posted on the main announcement page of the iVisions Portal as jobs become available for transfer within the agency. External job postings will be available on both the website under Careers and through the TeachIowa system. The Human Resources department will no longer be sending emails regarding open positions to help cut down on the amount of email staff receive.  

For those coming back on contract from summer break, as well as our year-round staff, welcome back! The August 13 all-staff meeting is quickly approaching and there are several important details you need to know.

Social time and registration will begin at 8:30 am with the meeting set to begin at 9 am. Please review the agenda for the day, which includes details on the featured speaker and the afternoon Regional and Department team meeting locations. 

Other pertinent information is detailed below:

Carpooling

As in past years, we ask that you please carpool with other employees to defray mileage expense and help to ease parking concerns. If you are in the Clear Lake or Marshalltown Office, please reach out to either Dr. Carol Sensor, Clear Lake Site Superintendent or Kim Swartz, Marshalltown Site Superintendent to sign-up for ride sharing if you have not already received information. See your supervisor if you have extenuating circumstances that prevent you from carpooling as reimbursement for travel will be limited.

Dress for the day

Dress for the day is casual (shorts, flip flops, polos, etc. are all acceptable). If you would like, bring a pair of walking shoes to enjoy the trail.

Lunch/time clock

Lunch will be “on your own” this year with plenty of time provided for you to get to/from downtown locations.  Carpooling is highly encouraged. We have also secured Chick-fil-A’s mobile food truck which will be on site and available for quick and easy walk-up service. Credit, debit cards and cash are all accepted. Hourly staff do not have to punch in/out for lunch. (Please adjust your schedule for the day or week to stay within scheduled weekly hours. Clear Lake or Marshalltown staff members can be given extra time beyond their normal work day hours for travel time.) Questions should be directed to your supervisor.

Afternoon Regional/Department meetings

Regional and department meetings will be held from 1:15-3 pm in various locations throughout the building. Please refer to the agenda for details and locations. Please bring your computer or device. 

Get ready for a great day!

We are excited to announce that we have contracted with a company called Navigate for our agency health and wellness program for this year. A committee of staff vetted various vendors and selected Navigate as the best third-party provider to help us achieve our health/wellness goals. Representative staff then worked with Navigate to develop the web and mobile-based platform of activities.

Navigate plays off the popularity of challenges (we had a great response to “wellness bingo” last year) but through a more tailored and efficient format. It also gives staff greater control over customizing the types of challenges that help them meet their own personal goals. 

More information about Navigate and related initiatives will be shared during our All-Staff meeting next week. Get ready to “navigate” your way to greater wellness!

A new expense reimbursement form is available on the portal under My Toolbox > Expense Reimbursement > Reimbursement Req Spreadsheet.  You may have to click on “Enable Editing” at the top of the spreadsheet when opening. You will submit both Educator Quality (EQ) and regular travel expenses on this form and enter them as one expense reimbursement request. Expense reimbursement requests should be submitted monthly.  View the new  “How-To” Video for more detailed instructions.

Central Rivers AEA will be deploying a Single Sign On (SSO) system called ClassLink this Fall.  ClassLink gives you instant access to all your Web applications from anywhere on the Internet using any type of browser or device.  It also allows you to manage all your Web applications (e.g. Gmail, Zoom, Quantum Workplace) using one login. You can also access agency resources such as file servers and applications not normally accessible outside of the agency network.

AEA Learning Online resources such as the professional learning site and Scout will also be integrated with ClassLink as the year progresses.  This new SSO system basically acts as a “one-stop shop” for all your Web resources. As we get closer to rolling out the system you will have access to training videos and other resources to help you use it effectively.

The agency Culture and Climate Committee is excited to kick off the 2019-20 year! In order to ensure that we have the greatest positive impact, we want to gather fresh ideas and feedback from you! Please fill out this brief survey. Completion will automatically enter you in a drawing for a Carlos O’Kelly’s gift basket.

The following changes went into effect on July 1:  The Child Abuse and Dependent Adult Abuse trainings are now separated and updated information from the BoEE clarified that educators will need to take BOTH the Child Abuse and Dependent Adult Abuse trainings beginning July 1, 2019.

Each of those trainings will move to a three-year expiration. Currently, it is five years; however, current valid certificates are not affected. If a person took a training before July 1, his/her certificate is still valid for five years from completion. At that point when he/she renews, this next certificate would be valid for three years.

Please contact Shirley Horak in Human Resources if you have questions.

The employee cell phone reimbursement is for the necessary use of a personal cell phone in order to perform the responsibilities of the employee’s position, per Central Rivers AEA Board Policies 401.27R1 and 401.27R2. 

Staff understands that their personal cell phone number will be listed in the Central Rivers AEA cell phone directory, which is published on the internal staff website. 

• The reimbursable amount is based on the number of contracted months up to $120 annually.
• All requests are subject to the approval of the AEA Regional Administrator and Executive Director.
• New employees hired after the start of the year have 30 days from the date of hire to submit a request for reimbursement at a prorated amount.

To apply for the 2019-20 reimbursement, submit the request form before September 1, 2019. Payment will be made on September 20, 2019.

Any changes to a staff member’s number must be promptly reported for adjustment to Laura Rinnels at 641-355-4244.

Just a friendly reminder that representatives from the Iowa Public Employee Retirement System (IPERS) will be stationed at the Cedar Falls office, 1521 Technology Pkwy, Central Perk area, on Monday, August 26 through Thursday, August 29 for individual IPERS counseling sessions.

All time slots for appointments have been filled; however, you can always schedule an appointment in Des Moines by calling 1-800-622-3849 or visit the IPERS website for additional information.

Central Rivers AEA office locations return to regular office hours of 8:00-4:30 on Monday, August 12.