The Channel

Sam Miller, AEA 267 Chief Administrator

Hopefully you are just as energized as I am following our all-staff meeting earlier this week! Seeing our entire AEA 267 team in one location together provided me with a unique opportunity to understand just how incredible an impact we can make as a service agency. Thank you for your attendance, your attentiveness and the warm welcome I received!

Toward the end of my presentation I shared a video with you featuring our staff in action. The video is set to the song “Hall of Fame” by The Script which has an inspiring message about championing a cause and finding yourself in the “hall of fame” of life. While copyright law doesn’t allow me to post the video here for another view (we had permission under a site license to show it at UNI), it has sparked an idea. What if during the 2015-16 school year, we honored one or more staff members per month who have been identified by their peers as going above and beyond to live out the agency’s Core Operating Principles? Those staff members identified could become part of our “hall of fame” at AEA 267 and recognized for their contributions. It would be great to recognize as many people as possible who are making a difference for others. Let me know what you think of this idea! Drop me an email, call or stop by the office as your schedule permits.

In the coming weeks I plan to be actively visiting with more of you and observing the incredible work you do on behalf of children, families and educators. Have a great start to the year!

Nearly 55 new AEA 267 staff members took part in this year’s New Employee Orientation which was held on August 10 at the AEA 267 Cedar Falls Conference Center. Sam Miller and Kathy Enslin, along with other central office support representatives, helped welcome new team members and orient them to the agency and our work.

All of us remember what it was like to be “new” to the organization. As you go about your daily work, please reach out to any of the following new staff members you may come in contact with and help them to become better acquainted with the agency:

• Briana Backer, SLP-Northeast Sector
• Kathy Barfels, Admin Secy-HR/Receptionist-Cedar Falls
• Taylor Baumgartner, Assessment Intern-Cedar Falls
• Melissa Blohm, Consultant for Reading/Lang Arts-Cedar Falls
• Jay Boens, Ed Asst-Pinecrest
• Allison Burchland, Sp Ed Consultant-South Sector
• Marie Butenhoff, Sp Ed Secretary-Marshalltown
• Megan Cole, Teacher of Behavior Disorders-Pinecrest
• Angie Condon, Early Childhood Sp Educator-Marshalltown
• Holli Counsell, Early Childhood Sp Educator-East Sector
• Anna Crenshaw, Teacher of Hearing Imp-Cedar Falls
• Sydney DeMaris, SLP-Northwest Sector
• Carrie Downs, Sp Ed Consultant-South Sector
• Jamie Granzow, Ed Asst-Central IA Juvenile Detention Center
• Courtney Gross, Ed Asst-River Hills
• Leigh Ann Hansen, SLP
• Patricia Heisterkamp, School Social Worker-East Sector
• Phil Hendricks, Web Developer/Designer I-Cedar Falls
• Krysta Hofler, Ed Asst-Pinecrest
• Rebecca Jenkins, SLP-NE Sector
• Kristy Johnson, Ed Asst-River Hills
• Lora Kester, Cons for Reading/Language Arts-Marshalltown
• Heidi Knoblock, Sp Ed Secretary-Grinnell
• Kristi Krmpotich, Sp Ed Consultant-Northwest Sector
• Kristin Langman, Clerk-Tech Library-Marshalltown
• Lisa Litterer, OT-Northwest Sector
• Kelcy Madison, Audiometrist-Marshalltown
• Alison March, PT-Northwest Sector
• Paul McNamara, Ed Asst/Intervention Spec-Bremwood
• Julie Miller, Sp Ed Consultant-East Sector
• Christina Smock, Assessment Intern-Cedar Falls
• Katherine Owen, Teacher of Deaf & Hard of Hearing-Cedar Falls
• Anna Phalen, Early Childhood Sp Educator-East Sector
• Sara Phillips, Ed Asst-River Hills
• Amber Post, OT-Northeast Sector
• Jennifer Poulter, Ed Asst-Pinecrest
• Katie Reed, Early Childhood Sp Educator-East Sector
• Dustin Reese, School Psychologist-Northwest Sector
• Rebecca Rother, Teacher of Behavior Disorders-Pinecrest
• Amanda Sanderman, Science Consultant-Cedar Falls
• Jennifer Schmitt, Sp Ed Consultant-Northwest Sector
• Ellen Schulz, SLP, South Sector
• Amy Sehi, SLP-Northwest Sector
• Angela Sorensen, Admin Asst for Assess/Comp Imprv-Cedar Falls
• Karen Springer, Early Childhood Sp Educator-Northwest Sector
• Brenda Streets, Clerk-Tech Library-Marshalltown
• Nicole Stucker, SLP-South Sector
• Dawn Swehla, Sp Ed Consultant-Northeast & East Sectors
• Cari Teske, Integrated Learning Specialist-Cedar Falls
• Larissa Treloar, SLP-Northeast Sector
• Andrew Voss, Teacher of Mental Disabilities S&P-River Hills
• Sarah Wessels, Sp Ed Consultant-Northwest Sector
• Sara Youngblut, COTA-NE Sector
• Tiffany Zilka, School Psychologist-Northeast Sector
• Jennifer Zitelman, COTA-East Sector

Melissa Clark

Rob Hirst

Nearly 100 staff members were recognized during the all-staff meeting for their years of service to children, families and educators served by the agency. Staff members receiving recognition included those staff members who had reached five, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, and 35-year milestones.

While these important staff members should be recognized, special thanks to Melissa Clark and Robert Hirst for achieving 40-year milestones with the agency!

A complete list of employees who were recognized, along with all the materials from August 12, is available on the staff website under Sector Resources and 2015 Kick-Off Meeting. (Remember to use your email login and password to access the staff website.)

Congratulations to all!

Please help us welcome these new superintendents to districts served by AEA 267. For a current directory of all school administrators in both public and non-public schools served by the agency, check out out the “schools” directory on our website.

The AEA 267 Board of Directors met Wednesday, July 1, 2015 and again on Wednesday, August 12 at 6 pm in the Cedar Falls AEA 267 Conference Center. Both the official minutes of the July meeting and the agenda for the August meeting can be found on the agency website under About Us>Board of Directors>Board Meetings & Agendas.

Thank you to everyone for participating in the all-staff meeting held on August 12! It was great to reconnect, learn together and prepare for the school year ahead. Photos from the week will be available to view on the AEA 267 Facebook page later this week.

Celebrate American Education Week and Iowa’s Area Education Agencies’ 40th anniversary with discounted Iowa football tickets to the Iowa vs. Minnesota night game in Iowa City on Saturday, November 14. Tickets are available to employees in any AEA and this was offered at NO cost to the AEA system.  To order your tickets and for more information follow this link:  https://bravosportsmarketing.com/product/iowa-aea-iowa-football-tickets/

We’d welcome this opportunity from other colleges and universities. At this time, the University of Iowa is the only one who has reached out.

Please take note of the following reminders from the Human Resources (HR) office:

• September 15 is the deadline for notifying HR of intentions to change lanes on the salary schedule (certified staff).
• All professional licenses must be kept current. Professional licenses renew on the last day of the month of the individual’s birthday. To check the status of your license, please go to:  https://www.iowaonline.state.ia.us/boee/.  Please remember to send a copy of your license to the HR office.
• Unpaid days will not be granted except under unique circumstances at the discretion of Human Resources.

Dr. Roark Horn

It is with a great amount of mixed feeling that I sign off on our times together working for this great organization. On the one hand, and selfishly, I am sad to be leaving AEA 267 as I have very much enjoyed working with you on behalf of the wonderful children we serve, and I admire so much all that you do to help them, their families, and the districts that serve them. On the other hand, I feel like I am leaving an agency that has overcome many major obstacles and, through your tremendous effort, has come out the other side somehow even better than before. I am also very excited about your new chief administrator! As I have gotten to know Sam through various orientation activities over the last several months I have become even more impressed with the talents, skills, abilities, and leadership that he brings to you. And that is saying a lot, because I was already an admirer and a huge fan of his work prior to his getting this job. He rose to the top of what may be inarguably one of the most competitive processes in the history of Iowa educational leadership (and I am depending on our years together for you to know that I am not given to over-exaggeration), and you will see why as soon as you get a chance to meet him and work with him. All that we have done together over the last five years will continue to move forward on a great trajectory, because that is who you are, and that is who he is – the perfect union at the perfect place at the perfect time. Oh, and it should not surprise you that the process was so competitive, as your reputation across the state is what attracted that great field of applicants! I will look forward to continue to serving you and the whole AEA system from my new role – I think having a strong advocate for the AEAs at SAI can and will continue to enhance the opportunities we get to have to help children. So … you may have noticed that I never say goodbye in our conversations. It is always “see you later” or “see you soon,” because this is not really goodbye – it truly is ‘until we meet again.”

See you later,

Always,

r.

Dr. Roark Horn and Dr. Mary Stevens were the featured guests on the May 31 edition of KWWL’s “The Steele Report” hosted by anchor Ron Steele. The 30-minute show provided an excellent opportunity to educate the public about the historical impact of Iowa’s AEA on children, families and educators as well as examine current trends.

The Steele Report: 40 Years of Iowa’s AEAs (videos)

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

In case you missed it, the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier and the Mason City Globe Gazette both published an exceptional feature story about the work of AEA 267 and our impact over the past 40 years that will make you proud to work for the AEA system.

How can you help spread the word about this mission of AEAs? Share the story from our agency Facebook or Twitter account with your friends and followers! It takes all of us to help inform the public about what we do! We need your help!

If you haven’t already done so, please mark your calendar to attend the 2015 all-staff kick off meeting on August 12, 2015 at the Gallagher-Bluedorn Performing Arts Center on the University of Northern Iowa (UNI) campus. This exciting day will mark only the second time that all agency staff has come together in one location for learning and team-building. The meeting will serve as a great opportunity to recognize your colleagues for their years of service, get to know our new Chief Administrator, Sam Miller, learn more about the changing demographics of Iowa and those we serve, and jump start the new school year.

The day will begin with registration at 8:30 a.m. followed by an official welcome at 9 a.m. Keynote presentations, along with service area team time (for Special Education and Ed Services staff members), will follow. Lunch will be provided. (If you have special dietary needs that should be considered in the planning of lunch, please contact Kerri Wilson directly at 319-273-8201 by July 31). You will not need to bring a laptop for this meeting. You may want to bring a sweater or jacket in case the auditorium is cool.

For staff member convenience, as well as to conserve funds, the agency will provide transportation via rented cars and vans starting from the Marshalltown and Clear Lake AEA 267 offices. While riding agency provided transportation is not mandatory, if you choose to drive yourself to the meeting, please be aware that mileage will not be reimbursed. (Please note that you will be paid mileage for any mileage to pick-up sites less your usual round trip mileage to work.) If you plan to participate in agency-sponsored transportation, please respond via this link by August 3.

Parking: The GBPAC has requested that we park in the B Lot (across the street from the Center) https://shar.es/1rZoxn. There will be no need for a parking pass or money if you park there. Please note there is metered parking behind the GBPAC, and if you park there you will be required to feed the parking meter. If you park in the A lots you will be ticketed or towed, as a special parking permit is required for those areas.

Prepare for an incredible day! Enjoy your summer break and we look forward to seeing you in August!

Kelsey Baker

Kelsey Baker, AEA 267 School Psychologist, is the author of the newly published, “Our Special Family,” a book written to help and encourage families who have a child with special needs. Kelsey’s oldest son, Brody, was diagnosed with biotin (vitamin B7) deficiency after a newborn screening at one week old. The book is told from Brody’s younger brother, Eli’s perspective.

In her position at AEA 267, Kelsey sees many families facing similar circumstances. “…one of the children has a disability or deficiency, and the other sibling does not, which creates unique family dynamics. Children may not understand why a sibling may require more time, treatment and attention. This can be troublesome for children. Therefore, I was inspired to use literacy addressing family issues from a child’s perspective.”

Kelsey also hopes to make parents aware of the importance of newborn screening. More than 50 conditions can be detected by using only a few drops of blood collected from the newborn. Early detection and intervention can prevent problems before they can cause a child serious and permanent harm.

“Our Special Family” will be available for area educators and parents through the AEA 267 Lending Library and Family Educator Connection resource library in the near future.

Beginning Monday, June 8, AEA 267 office hours will be 7:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. Regular office hours will resume on Monday, August 10.

The AEA 267 Board of Directors met Wednesday, June 5, 2015 at 5 pm in the Cedar Falls AEA 267 Conference Center. During the meeting, the board:

• Approved the E-rate management agreement with Let Me Help You With That, LLC (Mike Kiely) for the 2015-16 school year.
• Approved the Flexible Benefits Plan and the Flexible Benefits Plan Summary Plan Description beginning July 1, 2015.
• Approved a renewal agreement with Jester Insurance for Agent of Record services for the AEA 267 Workers Compensation Insurance Program and authorized participation in the Retro Program for 2015-16.
• Approved the EMC Insurance Program for 2015-16.
• Heard a variety of reports from directors and fellow board members.

The AEA 267 Foundation Meeting was held immediately following the board meeting.

Although this video may seem familiar, it’s been refined to include a very special success story. Robbie Beard, a former student with special needs from the Marshalltown area, is now a successful, contributing citizen who attributes much of his success to the support of organizations like AEA 267. Robbie’s story will inspire you and affirm your commitment during these busy weeks of May! Many thanks to Linda Vann for her contributions and willingness to be interviewed for this story!

Annually, AEA Board members from across Iowa gather in West Des Moines for the AEA Boards of Directors Conference. This year’s Conference was held on April 16 & 17 and AEA 267 board members (Bryan Burton, David Giese, Darshini Jayawardena, Roberta Kraft-Abrahamson, Dr. Debra Rich and Richard Vande Kieft) represented our agency. Attendees had the opportunity to hear from Dr. Brad Buck, Director of the Iowa Department of Education, AEA Executive Director Brent Siegrist and our AEA Lobbyists and Lieutenant Governor Kim Reynolds. Special sessions were presented by the AEA Chief Administrators and Executive Directors– “AEA System Update,” Lisa Wilson, Grant Wood AEA – “Generations in the Workplace,” and Grant Lichtman, Author and Educational Consultant – “The Future of Learning”. A special treat this year was an Innovation Showcase held on the first evening, where students from across Iowa showcased some great programs and initiatives in which they are involved.

Please plan to attend one or more of the upcoming retirement open houses honoring AEA 267’s 2015 retirees. The celebrations will be held on Tuesday, May 12 (Cedar Falls Conference Center); Wednesday, May 13 (Clear Lake Office); and Thursday, May 14 (Marshalltown Office) from 3:30-5 p.m. at all locations. These celebrations present a wonderful opportunity to congratulate our honorees and recognize them for their dedication and years of service.Those being honored this year include:

Cedar Falls

• Rick Bagnall, School Psychologist-NE Sector, retiring end of 2014-15
• Elwood Bernard, Lead Custodian/Maint-Cedar Falls, retired 4/30/15
• Cheryl Breitbach, Educational Assistant-River Hills, retiring end of 2014-15
• Loretta Brimmer, Educational Assistant-River Hills, retiring end of 2014-15
• Cathy Edwards, School Psychologist-East Sector, retiring end of 2014-15
• Sandi Embrey, Educational Assistant-River Hills, retiring end of 2014-15
• Dr. Roark Horn, Chief Administrator, retiring end of 2014-15
• Sue Hotzel, Admin Assistant for Assessment/Comp Improvement, retired 2/27/15
• Dianne Hyde, Bus Driver- River Hills, retiring end of 2014-15
• Dyan Johnson, Professional Learning Secretary/Receptionist, retiring end of 2014-15
• Clair Judas, Special Ed Technology Specialist-Cedar Falls, retiring end of 2014-15
• Sandy Lawry, Admin Secretary-SpEd Technology, retired 11/30/2014
• Karen Marrah, Educational Assistant-River Hills, retired 9/16/14
• Brad Mattocks, Teacher of Mental Disabilities-River Hills, retiring end of 2014-15
• Kate McElligatt, School Social Worker-Cedar Falls, retiring end of 2014-15
• Kim Merner, Early Childhood Special Educator-Cedar Falls, retiring end of 2014-15
• Katy Rohle, Itinerant Teacher of Hearing Impaired-Cedar Falls, retiring end of 2014-15
• Shirley Sinnott, Special Education Consultant-NE Sector, retiring end of 2014-15
• Drinda Williams, Consultant for Reading/Lang Arts-Cedar Falls, retiring end of 2014-15

Clear Lake

• Harold Jay Colsch, Special Education Coordinator-NE Sector, retiring end of 2014-15
• Barbara Johnson, Speech-Language Pathologist-NW Sector, retiring end of 2014-15
• Leah Marth, School Social Worker-Osage, retiring end of 2014-15
• Mary Jane Michaels, Occupational Therapist-St. Ansgar, retiring end of 2014-15
• Linda Shepp, Special Education Consultant-NW Sector, retiring end of 2014-15
• Mark Shepp, School Psychologist-NW Sector, retiring end of 2014-15
• Karen Trettin, Occupational Therapist-Charles City, retiring end of 2014-15
• Tracy Voss, Graphic Design Specialist-Clear Lake, retired 12/31/2014

Marshalltown Office

• Belinda Blackburn, School Social Worker-South Sector, retiring end of 2014-15
• Kay Feltz, Speech-Language Pathologist-South Sector, retired 12/31/2014
• Mindy Kunkel, Clerk Technician (Library)-Marshalltown, retired 3/31/15
• Loretta Kvapil, Speech-Language Assistant-South Sector, retired 9/2/14
• JoEllen Lee, Clerk Technician (Library)-Marshalltown, retiring end of 2014-15
• Karen Madison, Early Childhood Sp Educator-Marshalltown, retiring end of 2014-15
• Sharon Niewahner, Special Ed Consultant-South Sector, retiring end of 2014-15
• Linda Vann, Professional Development Trainer-Cedar Falls, retiring end of 2014-15
• Karen Visser, Early Childhood Special Educator-Marshalltown, retiring end of 2014-15