The Channel

Please join us in congratulating our retirees and recognizing them for their dedication and years of service to the agency.  Those retiring this year include:

• Nancy Conner, Special Education Consultant – 19 years
• Cindy Fry, Accounts Payable Specialist – 11 years
• Peggy Gannon, Speech-Language Pathologist – 22 years 
• Gina Greene, Early Access Regional Coordinator – 7 years
• Dr. Jon McKenzie, Director of Assessment and Comprehensive Improvement – 15 years
• Dixie Opperman, Special Education Consultant – 12 years
• Elizabeth Przybylski, Special Education Consultant – 40 years
• Sandy Raney, Speech-Language Pathologist – 19 years
• Pat Rzepny, Work Experience Coordinator – 13 years
• Dr. Carol Sensor, Regional Administrator/Site Superintendent – 33 years
• Miriam Simpson, Occupational Therapist – 33 years
• Cindy Skopec, Early Childhood Special Educator – 42 years
• Kim Swartz, Director of Instruction/Site Superintendent – 20 years

This year’s retirement celebration will look a little different due to the pandemic crisis and we will be holding a virtual celebration May 15, beginning at 9:00 am. The following Zoom information can be used to join the celebration: 

Join Zoom Celebration
https://centralriversaea.zoom.us/j/97343593270
Meeting ID: 973 4359 3270
One tap mobile
+13126266799,,97343593270#

While our Navigate wellness portal is still open and you can still earn points for your efforts, our Human Resources department is also rolling out  Wellness Wednesdays to help us navigate our “new normal” during the pandemic. This new initiative is designed to help keep us connected as an agency and is filled with tips, resources, and fun activities to support your health and well-being.  Check in each Wednesday or any day of the week that you need a little mental break.  

Tired of seeing your living room or kitchen behind you during your multiple Zoom meetings each week? Worried you forgot to pick up the kids’ toys before you clicked ‘join’? We’ve got the solution – use one of the new agency branded backgrounds!

• From this Google folder, download the background you’d like to try on your computer desktop. 
• Open the Zoom application.
• Click on zoom.us in the upper left-hand corner of the computer. 
• Go to Preferences and then Virtual Backgrounds.
• Click on the + sign and upload the background of your choice.
  

If you need assistance, reach out to the Tech Help Desk at helpdesk@centralriversaea.org or call 319-273-8231.

Zoom released an update on April 8 that will make Zoom meetings more private and secure. To benefit from these features, you will need to update your Zoom account. Please follow these directions to take action.  

The dates for the 2020-21 regional meetings have been set and are as follows:

• August 18, 2020 – All-Staff meeting
• September 18, 2020
• October 14, 2020
• November 11, 2020
• December 15, 2020
• January 11, 2021
• February 11, 2021
• April 12, 2021
• May 13, 2021 – All-Staff meeting

Do you ever wonder how your other Central Rivers AEA co-workers spend their work life? (Okay, we mean when we aren’t safe at home during a pandemic!) On the Job @Central Rivers AEA is a monthly series we’ve just launched to give you a peek into the work of others in the agency. Each month, Chief Administrator Sam Miller spent time with a Central Rivers AEA employee and learn more about the work involved in their position. These highlight videos will also be shared on our website and social media sites to help educate the public about the work of an AEA.

Up this month? Katie Devereaux, Early Childhood Special Educator.

The all-region meeting will be held on May 15 in Cedar Falls. Registration and social time begin at 8:30 with the meeting to begin at 9 am. An agency-wide retirement celebration honoring all of our retirees will be held from 9-10 am. A Zoom link for the retirement ceremony will be made available for those who are not required to attend the meeting.

From 10-10:45 am, time will be spent exploring the agency’s strategic plan. After that, regions will meet from 11 am-12 pm with disciplines meeting in the afternoon. Room assignments will be on the monitors the day of the meeting. Watch for more details next month!

This month, we continue our agency updates highlighting the three main focus areas of the agency strategic plan by focusing on Future Ready. Jen Sigrist, Executive Director of Media and Innovation, and lead for Future Ready, describes the work and what it means for you.

CRAEA has been following the global outbreak of COVID-19, a respiratory illness caused by a new coronavirus. This topic has captured the media’s attention, and much of the reporting may generate fear and uncertainty.

We wanted to share information specific to our CRAEA team along with some simple, easy steps that you can take to help prevent the spread of any contagious virus, including COVID-19.

Similar to the flu virus, those at greatest risk of complications from COVID-19 are the very old, very young, and those with other chronic or underlying medical conditions. As of this weekend, there were three presumptive positive cases in Iowa although the vast majority of Americans have a low risk of exposure. 

The agency actively prepares for a variety of scenarios that could impact our staff. Tactics such as the use of disinfectant wipes and hand sanitizer stations are in place to respond to public health concerns. (More of these will be added in the coming days and supplies will be available for your use out in the field. Check with the receptionist at each of our three locations next week.)

This is not the first health situation to potentially impact our CRAEA community. When the United States experienced an outbreak of the H1N1 virus a decade ago, we were prepared. Not only are we following many of the guidelines from that situation, but we added new systems to help disinfect our buildings.

Staff members can help by following these simple, easy steps that help prevent the spread of ALL contagious viruses, including COVID-19. 

Practice the same routine hygiene used to help prevent the cold and flu.

• Wash your hands
• Stay home when sick
• Avoid contact with the sick
• Clean and disinfect 

Where you get your information about this virus is important. Look for information from reliable and trusted experts. Social media posts often report partial or inaccurate information.

• World Health Organization
• World Health Organization: Coronavirus FAQs
• U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Iowa Department of Public Health