The Channel

The results of the annual AEA/DE Customer Satisfaction Survey are in. While we saw some decreases in favorable responses in a handful of categories, we also saw some increases. Agency Leadership Teams will be studying the data (along with the comments provided by respondents) and forming action plans as needed. Stay tuned for more information!

Dr. Roark Horn

Dr. Roark Horn will visit the Clear Lake, Cedar Falls and Marshalltown offices this month to facilitate a conversation regarding the status of the agency’s budget including future projections. All interested staff are welcome to attend. This meeting will run before the retirement celebrations beginning at 2:30 p.m. and ending by 3:15 p.m.

• Cedar Falls: Tuesday, May 14 (Rooms A, B & C)

• Clear Lake: Wednesday, May 15 (Rooms A, B & C)

• Marshalltown: Thursday, May 16 (Rooms A, B & C)

   

Please plan to attend the open house retirement celebrations honoring our AEA 267 colleagues.  This is a wonderful opportunity to congratulate our retiring honorees and recognize them for their dedication and years of service.

Those being honored at each of our office locations include:

Cedar Falls: Tuesday, May 14

• Linda Allen

• Catherine Buehner

• James Fisher

• Linda Gleissner

• Sue Halvorson

• Linda Martin (Retired 1/1/13)

• Marjorie Maurer

• Linda McDonald

• Tom Salkeld (Retired 12/31/12)

• Dennis Scudder (Retired 2/28/13)

• Charlene Varney

• Debra Warrens (Retired 12/21/12)

• Elizabeth Wehrmacher

• Marjean Wyatt

Clear Lake: Wednesday, May 15

• Sandy Bruesewitz

• Janet Folkerts

• Marian Grooters (Retired 11/30/12)

• Margaret Jensen

• Mary Jean Olson

• Kevin Scharper

• Connie Stille (Retired 1/31/13)

Marshalltown: Thursday, May 16

• Kathy McCune

• Diane Pascuzzi

All three celebrations will be held 3:30-5:00 p.m.

Sandy Lawry

Congratulations to Sandy Lawry who was recently named “Volunteer of the Year” for the Waterloo International Quota Club. Sandy received the award, along with another member of the club, for her contributions and leadership within the organization. Quota International, founded in 1919, is an international service organization that links members of all ages, occupations, and nationalities in a worldwide network of service and friendship.  ”Quotarians” are especially known for their service to deaf, hard-of-hearing, and speech-impaired individuals and disadvantaged women and children.

Sandy was also featured in a segment on KWWL-TV in recognition of her award. Congratulations!

Mother Nature has proven to us once again who is really in charge of the weather! So far this month we have had a mixture of both winter and spring reminding us that we need to be prepared for anything. Please be aware that at some point later this month, the agency will conduct both tornado and fire drills. Drills will run in all three main offices and be similar to those that took place last fall.

The AEA 267 Board of Directors met May 1 at 6 p.m. in the AEA 267 Conference Center for their regular meeting. During the meeting, the board:

• Heard a program review regarding the Special Education Compliance process presented by Justin Stockdale, Dennis Sinclair and Greg Koppes.

• Approved a resolution to participate in the Iowa School Cash Anticipation Program (ISCAP).

• Approved an agreement between River Hills School and the Iowa Association for Educational Purchasing (IAEP) for meal arrangements.

• Approved a cooperative agreement for pre-service clinical placement with the University of Northern Iowa (UNI).

• Approved membership with the Iowa Association of School Boards (IASB) for 2013-14.

• Heard a variety of reports from directors and fellow board members.

United Way’s focus is on education, income and health—the building blocks for a good quality of life. We recruit people and organizations who bring the passion, expertise and resources needed to get things done in our community. It takes a village to strengthen a community—to make sure everyone receives a quality education, can meet their basic needs and has the tools needed to build a financially stable future. One person or agency can’t do it alone.

Your gifts, along with your friends and neighbors’ gifts, are making a real impact. In the last six months, you helped a child with previously undiagnosed heart problems get care. You provided a pregnant teenager counseling and support as she placed her newborn baby up for adoption. You helped first grade students read better. You provided nutritious meals for thousands in the Cedar Valley. You helped a young man stay clean and sober, get a part-time job and enroll in college. You helped a family overcome the loss of their home by fire. You helped moms and dads become better, more engaged parents. You provided transportation to doctors’ appointments. You gave a second grade girl the strength to speak up and tell someone she and her sister were sexually abused. You fixed a senior citizen’s wheelchair. These are just a few of the people YOU helped in the last six months.

Please help by giving to United Way. You can do so online with your local United Way. There you will also be able to find information on your local United Way and its funded partners and programs, as well as other ways you can be involved in making your community stronger.

Cedar Valley United Way: www.cedarvalleyunitedway.org
Marshalltown United Way: www.unitedwaymarshalltown.org
United Way of North Central Iowa (Mason City): www.unitedwaynci.org
Waverly-Shell Rock Area United Way: www.wsrunitedway.org

As you learned in an article in last month’s Intersections, the agency Continuous Improvement Team (CIT) has been voluntarily working through the phases of the Schools in Need of Assistance (SINA) process. The result of this work has been the development of action plans to address each of three priority areas identified. Action plans have been completed and recently peer reviewed by the Continuous Improvement Team.

Please take some time to watch each of the screencasts below to learn more about the three action plans developed. Share your comments or ideas directly in the “Leave a Comment” section of this post.

Early Literacy and Numeracy: (presented by Barb Shafer)

Learning Supports: (presented by Jay Colsch)

Implementation: (presented by Jackie Gray)

Further details regarding the Continuous Improvement Team SINA process are available on our website.

For more information, contact Dr. Jon McKenzie.

Please take time to review the AEA 267 Culture/Climate action plan. Share your thoughts and ideas via the “Leave a Reply” section of this post!

Please be sure that in setting your summer calendar, you are making plans now to attend your sector’s August meeting. As a reminder, these meetings will be devoted both to sector-related business as well as agency updates. All meetings will be held from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m.

Dr. Anne Sullivan

Governor Terry Branstad has appointed Dr. Anne Sullivan, Area Education Agency 267 Assistant Chief Administrator/Director of Human Resources and Andy Pattee, Superintendent of Charles City Community School District, to the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners. The Iowa Board of Educational Examiners (BOEE) works to establish and enforce rigorous standards for Iowa educational practitioners  to effectively address the needs of students. The Board develops rules for educator licensure that maintain high standards, are research-based and provide flexibility in attainment.

Congratulations to both Dr. Sullivan and Mr. Pattee for this prestigious honor!

The AEA 267 Board of Directors met April 3 at 6 p.m. in the AEA 267 Conference Center for their regular meeting. During the meeting, the board:

• Heard a program review regarding the Schools in Need of Assistance (SINA) process at AEA 267.
• Approved and authorized AEA 267 Administration to purchase computers for the 2013-14 school year.
• Accepted the quote and approved the purchase of a phone system for AEA 267 Cedar Falls campus.
• Heard a variety of reports from directors and fellow board members.

Iowa’s Area Education Agencies have pooled resources to create an app that includes directory information for all of Iowa’s schools and AEAs. (Think of this as our Educational Directory in app form.) This free download is available in the iTunes Store or the App Store by searching for Iowa AEA. The search will also locate the AEA Legislative Guide, which is free and can be downloaded for personal use and shared with those who may wish to advocate on our behalf.

Please be aware that we are still working out some bugs and cleaning up data in the program. However, the app is operational, functional and ready for you to take for a test drive. Your feedback about either app is appreciated and can be shared with Beth Strike.

The annual AEA/DE Customer Feedback Survey, which provides educators we serve with an opportunity to share feedback about our services, launched on Monday, March 4. Traditionally, our agency has enjoyed an enviable return rate on the survey (typically around 40%), which makes the data very useful.

Please encourage teachers and school administrators you work with to respond to the survey, which will close on Friday, April 5. (As a reminder, AEA staff members are not eligible to take the survey.)