It is with great sadness that we inform you of the passing of Richard Dickerson. Richard passed away on Friday, February 23. He was a valued member of the Central Rivers AEA team and will be greatly missed.
Richard first came to us as a special education teacher and then worked as a transition specialist. Following retirement, Richard worked part-time as a van driver for the Media department.
Please keep Richard’s family and friends in your thoughts as they go through this difficult time.
Sam Miller, Central Rivers AEA Chief Administrator
Earlier this month, the Governor’s Education Policy Advisor (Linda Fandel) and Senate and House Education Committee leadership directed Iowa’s AEAs to look for increased efficiencies through the AEA system. Last week, the AEA chief administrators met again with Senate and House Education Committee leadership to ensure a common vision and timetable for this task and had a very healthy discussion around the development of a five-year plan designed to maximize efficiencies in Iowa’s AEAs while creating greater equity of services for all Iowa students.
Dr. Tom Lane, Iowa’s AEA Executive Director, has been following up these conversations, and we have collaborated on an agreement. Senators Sinclair and Kraayenbrink (Chair of Education Appropriations Committee) have agreed to language that calls for a reduction of AEAs from nine to seven and a reduction of AEA chief administrators from nine to seven. The timeline for accomplishing this will be five years. We anticipate that this language will be added in a late standings or appropriations bill before the session ends in April. The agreement provides the AEAs with a reasonable timeframe, while also providing a firm commitment to legislators. A five-year restructuring plan will help ensure a re-aligned AEA system that further enhances equity, innovates new statewide systems and helps us better articulate these efficiencies to all stakeholder groups.
We understand that this is an important announcement, and it may leave you with many questions. As an AEA system, our leadership team is committed to providing you with regular, timely updates as more details of this long-term process unfolds. I also want to mention that the early messages I’m receiving are that staff out in the field will likely feel much less of an impact of any future changes than those of us in administrative positions. I believe firmly that working for the AEA system is and will continue to be a secure and rewarding career choice. Although it may feel otherwise, the legislature deeply appreciates the value of our services. What you do matters to each and every child, educator and family you come in contact with.
Onward and upward.
Sam
The Board of Directors met on Wednesday, February 7th at 6 pm in Cedar Falls.
The agenda can be viewed online.
Chief Administrator Sam Miller, Assistant Chief/HR Director Karl Kurt, and Chief Financial Officer David Nicholson will make the rounds to all three offices and River Hills School later this month to meet with staff. The meeting will serve as a good opportunity to discuss the news regarding the AEA System Five-Year Plan, and to hear more about the insurance committee recommendations for 2018-2019.
Please plan to join the meeting in person at one of the following sites if possible. The meetings are scheduled from 3-4 pm (3:30-4:30 at River Hills) on all three days. Zoom is being provided for those not able to travel. This one Zoom link can be used for all four dates: https://zoom.us/j/384261259
Late May through September are some of the busiest months for the print shop-especially August and September. The Creative Services department is seeking part-time assistance this summer to help ensure that we stay caught up and are ready for the rush of business that comes when teachers come back to school.
If you know of someone who has an interest in picking up some extra money over the summer months (perhaps a UNI or Hawkeye Community College student) by working in the print shop, please reach out to Beth Strike at 319-273-8222 by February 28. Staff who are not on contract are also encouraged to inquire if interested.
In December, Brent Siegrist retired from his former role as AEA Executive Director but will continue to support the AEA system by focusing on legislative advocacy. This change offers the AEA system the benefit of Brent’s considerable background, knowledge, and expertise in the legislative process, and enhances relationships with policymakers. We are grateful for the leadership that Brent has provided for over 15 years.
Dr. Tom Lane, who has served as a legislative liaison for Iowa’s AEAs the past four years, has been named Executive Director and will now focus the majority of his time on coordination of our statewide work. His priority is to enhance and promote the work of the AEA system, and he will work closely with chief administrators, strengthen relationships with the director groups, and continue to maintain legislative advocacy efforts. Tom’s experience as a teacher, counselor, principal and superintendent will strengthen the community building, both within the AEA system and with other entities.
Brent and Tom have already begun to transition to these new responsibilities. We are fortunate to have the ability to capitalize on the strengths and interests of each of these professionals and to have two staff members who have the ability to complement each other and the work of the AEA system.
The Center for Applied Research conducted a study on behalf of Iowa’s Area Education Agencies to analyze the efficiency of the services Iowa’s Area Education Agencies (AEAs) provide districts. Additionally, the value of services provided by AEAs was explored. The information presented in this report is intended to help support AEA’s decision making regarding continued efforts to be effective and collaborative partners with Iowa school districts. The study will also be used in conversations with legislators and other state officials and recommendations from the report will help chart the future direction for Iowa’s AEAs.
The Governor’s 2018 Future Ready Iowa Summit will be held on Tuesday, April 3, from 8 am to 3 pm at the Iowa Events Center in Des Moines. The purpose of this all-day event is to amplify public conversation about transforming education and the workforce, including expanding work-based learning and computer science instruction.
The Governor’s STEM Advisory Council, which is hosting the summit, hopes to attract an audience of 1,000 leaders from business and industry, PreK-12 and postsecondary education, nonprofits, parents, students, elected officials, and others, who will take information from the summit back to their communities to build upon existing initiatives.
Along, with presentations from experts in the fields of education and business, the day will include work-based learning exhibits and breakout sessions. Registration for the summit is now open with a $50 fee for adults and no charge for students.
Iowa’s AEAs and AEA Learning Online have been collaborating to move our individual professional development and licensure registration systems to a statewide professional learning registration system. Having one registration system will provide participants with a much larger offering of professional learning activities through a statewide catalog. It also creates greater equity and consistency in programming and resources to help support quality professional development and licensure programming.
System benefits
View all offerings that are available statewide
Individuals who use the system will be able to see all courses and activities that are available across the state. Users may search by specific courses, topics, location and more.
Instructors will find a user-friendly system
There are system enhancements for instructors! Once an instructor enters a course in the system, they don’t have to repeat that process again. They simply enter a new section for that activity. That includes the syllabus. Once a syllabus is approved, it’s valid across all AEAs!
All completed courses will be in one transcript
In the new system, there will be one common transcript that shows all courses taken by an individual, including courses from AEA Learning Online. Anything that the individual has taken from an Iowa AEA will show up in one document. Users will be able to print their own transcripts and receipts for tax purposes.
Split the payments!
Split payment options for credit cards and/or purchase orders will be available in the new system.
Login is easy and familiar
Users of the new system will log in using their existing email and password that they use to login to take AEA Learning Online courses as well as Mandatory Reporter and Bloodborne Pathogens trainings.
In the coming weeks, expect to see more information and updates through various AEA communication channels. If you have any immediate questions, contact Amy Moine.
