to a PDF copy - Great Prairie Area Education Agency

Great Prairie AEA Regions & School Districts
Mission
North Mahaska
Great Prairie Area Education
Agency improves teaching and
learning by developing leaders,
discovering solutions and delivering services through collaboration
with students, families, schools,
and communities.
GPAEA Regions
West
Central
Pekin
EddyvilleBlakesburgFremont
WACO
Fairfield
Albia
Chariton
Keota
Sigourney
Oskaloosa
East
Ottumwa Cardinal
Seymour
Centerville
MoultonUdell
GPAEA 5/12/14
Wapello
Morning
Winfield Sun
Mt. Union
Mount
Pleasant
Moravia
Wayne
AN EDUCATOR’S
GUIDE TO
GREAT PRAIRIE AEA
Tri-County
w on
Ne ond
L Danville
Mediapolis
Davis County
Van Buren
gton
rlin
t Bu
Wes
Burlington
Fort Madison
Harmony
Central
Lee
AEA Offices
Keokuk
Vision
Great Prairie AEA will be the
recognized leader in services that
improve student performance.
Goals
students will improve
1 All
their performance.
All agency services will
2 improve their quality.
Quick Facts
Impacting Lives
Building Futures
Office Locations
Burlington Office
3601 West Avenue
Burlington, IA 52601-9456
1-319-753-6561
1-800-382-8970
FAX: 319-753-1527
Ottumwa Office
2814 N. Court Street
Ottumwa, IA 52501-1163
641-682-8591
1-800-622-0027
1-800-286-8591
FAX: 641-682-9083
Harold L. Mick (Albia) Office
103 South A Street, PO Box 217
Albia, IA 52531
641-932-5003
FAX: 641-932-5017
Mount Pleasant Office
309 East Monroe
Mount Pleasant, IA 52641
319-385-9005
FAX: 319-385-9006
Fairfield Office
2000 West Jackson
Fairfield, IA 52556
641-472-3414, 888-734-3367
FAX: 641-472-6118
Founded 1975
Students 35,000+
Public School Districts 33
Accredited Non-Public Schools 6
Teachers & Administrators 3,600
Counties
14
Total Staff 270
Square Miles
6,360
GPAEA.ORG • 800-622-0027
Welcome to Great Prairie AEA!
As an educator in this area, we want you to know about the many resources available to you from Great
Prairie Area Education Agency (AEA). Please keep this document handy for quick links and/or as a
reference about the AEA.
GPAEA.ORG
Students, parents, employees and others doing business with or performing services for the Great Prairie Area Education Agency are hereby notified that this agency does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, national origin, sex, religion, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability
in admission or access to, or treatment in, its programs and activities. The agency does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, national origin, sex, religion, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability in admission or access to, or treatment in, its hiring and employment practices.
Any person having inquiries concerning the agency’s compliance with the regulations implementing Title VI, Title VII, Title IX, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), § 504 or IOWA CODE § 280.3 is directed to contact: EducationalEquity/Section 504/Special Education Programming, Dr. Deb Cook, Regional
Director, Great Prairie Area Education Agency, 103 South A Street, Albia, IA 52531, 641-932-5003 x5801or 800-622-0027 x5801; Educational Equity/MCGF/Title IX Gender Equity/Title VI Race and National Origin Equity/Title III ELL, Doreen Underwood, Diverse Learners Consultant, 3601 West Avenue,
Burlington, IA 52601, 319-753-6561 x4108 or 800-382-8970 x4108; or Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Hiring and Employment Practices, Greg Manske, Human Resources Director, Great Prairie Area Education Agency, 3601 West Avenue, Burlington, IA 52601, 319-753-6561 x1217 or 800382-8970 x1217, who have been designated by the agency to coordinate the agency’s efforts to comply with the regulations implementing Title VI, Title VII, Title IX, the ADA, § 504 and IOWA CODE 280.3 (2007).
WHAT THE AEA
PROVIDES YOU
State law mandates the AEA provide services
to schools in nine areas:
› Diverse Learners
› Curriculum Instruction and Assessment
› Professional Development
› Instructional Media
› School Technology
›Leadership
› Multicultural, Gender-Fair
› School-Community Planning
› School Management
This brochure touches on some (but not all) of
the services available to you.
WHY WE HAVE AN AEA
The Iowa legislature created the AEAs to
fulfill three important roles in the schools:
› Equity
› Efficiency
› Excellence
Many of the roles that AEA staff perform,
especially in the many rural school districts
across Iowa, require less than full-time work
by individuals. The AEAs can hire many of
these professionals as full-time employees and
provide critical services to multiple schools.
Iowa currently has nine area education
agencies, covering every school district in
Iowa. The AEAs are also required to provide
services to parents home-schooling their
children and to accredited, nonpublic schools.
PROGRAMS & SERVICES
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Great Prairie Area Education Agency (AEA) is a regional
organization that provides school improvement services
for students, teachers and administrators. The agency is an
educational partner with 33 public school districts and 6
accredited, private schools in a 14-county area of southeast
Iowa. Great Prairie AEA staff, schools and families work
together to help all children reach their potential.
As educators, we are constantly striving to learn new skills
and strategies that will improve student learning. Great Prairie
AEA programs are coordinated to enhance the professional,
personal, and organizational staff development needs of
LEA and AEA staff. These include credit courses, leadership
development programs, support staff workshops, school
improvement institutes, paraeducator certification and internal
staff development.
Great Prairie AEA offers equitable and efficient services
within individual districts or on a regional basis. Great
Prairie AEA’s programs and services are agency-wide
focusing on improving student performance.
Our Programs & Services include:
• 21st Century Learning (Room 21C)
• Assessment
• Assistive Technology
• Challenging Behavior & Autism Team (CBAT)
• Crisis Response Team
• Cultural Proficiency
• Early ACCESS
• Early Childhood
• English Language Learner (ELL)
• Hearing/Audiology
• Iowa/Common Core
• Leadership
• Literacy
• Mathematics
• Media/Library
• Multicultural, Gender Fair (MCGF)
• Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS)
• Occupational Therapy
• Parent-Educator Connection (PEC)
• Positive Behavior Interventions &
Supports (PBIS)
• Physical Therapy
• Print/Production
• Professional Development
• Science Literacy
• School Improvement
• Schools in Need of Assistance
• Special Education Consultation & Direct Support
• Speech-Language Pathology
• Student Events
• Teacher Leadership Compensation (TLC)
• Technology
• Transition
• Visual Impairment
SCHOOL MANAGEMENT
Each year, Great Prairie AEA leaders hold budget workshops
for local school districts. Superintendents and business
managers typically attend these meetings.
Click on the Course Catalog button at gpaea.org.
Great Prairie AEA partners with Drake University,
Morningside College and Viterbo University to offer advance
degrees and Master’s degrees in Southeast Iowa locations to
further advance teacher leadership and education.
In addition, AEAs provide leadership services that are based
on the Iowa Standards for School Administrators and school
needs. Services assist with recruitment, induction, retention
and professional development of educational leaders.
TECHNOLOGY & PRINT
SERVICES
Great Prairie AEA Technology Services focus on consultation,
assistance, and professional development opportunities that
enhance the integration and use of technology for the 21st
Century learner. Support is also provided for the development
and management of local and wide area networks including
the use of the Iowa Communication Network (ICN) and
Internet.
The Great Prairie AEA Print & Production Department
provides a full suite of digital and print services to area
schools at modest costs. Digital services included CD/
DVD duplication, file conversion, high speed
scanning, photo ID badges, digital photo print, digital cutouts
and graphic design. Print services include a full range of
copy and color copy, with a variety of finishing and binding
options. Items produced include but are not limited to:
school carbonless forms, letterheads, envelopes, brochures,
newsletters, business cards, handbooks, directories, calendars,
yearbooks, certificates, pocket folders, writing journals and
other instructional materials including large color posters!
Visit the Great Prairie AEA website to learn more about the
Print & Production Services offered.
Connect with GPAEA
Find us on your favorite social media or sign-up for
our e-newsletter The Cornerstone for the latest
educational news & information for area schools.
Visit gpaea.org to get started!
HOW THE AEA WORKS
HOW TO
CONTACT THE AEA
If you need to reach any of your agency service
providers, you can always go to the Great
Prairie AEA website at gpaea.org and search or
download a copy of our directory. Click on the
Directory button at the top to view, search or
download the Agency Directory.
The AEA is divided into regions, and most agency
staff are assigned to specific regions. Some agency
specialists provide services to multiple buildings
or regions. If you have concerns about a student or
about a service, we encourage you to talk directly
with your AEA staff person.
Unlike school districts, the AEA system has no taxing
authority. The agency is funded by a per-pupil assessment
designated by the state legislature, by federal funds, various
grants and sale of services. Some services, such as Professional
Development, are supported by fees charged to participants.
A nine-member board of directors elected by area school
boards governs Great Prairie AEA. Board members represent
designated segments of the agency’s service area called
director districts. They are elected by school district board
members.
DIVERSE LEARNERS
AEAs devote nearly 75 percent of their financial resources
to providing services to students with disabilities who need
special education. The AEA staff works with school staff and
families to identify the needs of children with disabilities and
provides for or supplements a wide variety of services to meet
those needs.
Some of the needs include direct services to students with
disabilities such as speech-language therapy, occupational
therapy, physical therapy, and teachers of the hearing impaired.
In addition, the agency provides staff with specialized skills
such as school psychologists, social workers, special education
consultants, autism consultants, and transition consultants just
to name a few.
The AEAs are also responsible for identifying and serving
children birth to age three and their families through Early
ACCESS.
Good luck with
your new school
year! If you need
assistance, don’t
hesitate to ask
your AEA staff
for help!
GPAEA.ORG
The Parent Educator Connection (PEC) offers a library of
information for parents of students with disabilities. PEC staff
are available to serve as a parent liaison throughout the IEP
process.
In addition to serving students with disabilities, AEAs work
with school staff to support students on 504 plans as well as
students who are talented and gifted.
LEARNING SUPPORTS
Not every student comes to school ready and able to learn.
On any given day, a significant number of students experience
barriers (either situational or long-term) which interfere with
their ability to fully engage in classroom instruction.
Research from a variety of sources indicates that fully
implementing a comprehensive system of supports promotes
healthy social, emotional, and behavioral development in
all students so that all youth have an equal opportunity to be
successful in school.
Learning Supports include a wide range of strategies,
programs, services, and practices that are implemented to
create conditions and environments that promote student
learning from pre-kindergarten to 12th grade. If your school
needs assistance in this area, talk with AEA staff in your
building about arranging this.
CURRICULUM, INSTRUCTION
AND ASSESSMENT
When the legislature enacted the Iowa Core, the Iowa
Department of Education turned to the AEA to help develop it
and to share it with school leadership teams. The agency also
has content teams to help support your efforts in aligning
content, using student formal and informal assessments and
in building better articulated curriculums between grade
levels and school buildings. The AEA is deeply committed
to assisting all learners. Content specialists work alongside
administrators and teachers to ensure quality instruction is
present in every classroom in Great Prairie AEA.
GROUP PURCHASING DISCOUNTS
AEA Purchasing is an independent, tax-exempt, nonprofit
organization supporting the mission of the Iowa Area
Education Agencies. Our goal is to combine the purchasing
power of Iowa schools to offer aggressive pricing on materials,
goods and services. In 2013, participating Iowa schools and
AEAs saved over $7 million. AEA Purchasing is funded by
minimal vendor administrative fees and overhead is low with
only five staff members maintaining daily operations.
Visit the website for product categories, vendor partners,
contacts, how to order and pricing!
aeapurchasing.org
INSTRUCTIONAL MEDIA
MEDIA & DATABASES
Great Prairie staff and teachers are assigned four
media accounts, based on the features of the database.
SNAP - Online reservation media catalog
http://snap.gpaea.org
MyUsername: ______________________________________
My Password: ______________________________________
Iowa AEA Online Databases for Lesson Plans
31Username: ______________________________________
SNAP Password: ____________________________________
Shared District Iowa AEA Online Database / GPAEA Online
Database
31District: _________________________________________
My Password: ______________________________________
Create your own individual UN/PW for Visual Thesaurus
(vocabulary) OneClickDigital (downloadable audiobooks)
Follett (ebooks)
MyUsername: ______________________________________
My Password: ______________________________________
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Website: gpaea.org, click on Course Catalog
My License Folder # is:
______ ______ ______ ______ ______ ______
The agency’s Library Media Center delivers the following resources
to school:
K-12 Materials
K-12 Print:
• Trade/Library books (thousands of titles with multiple copies - both
fiction and nonfiction)
• Audio Books (including the new Playaways – preloaded audio players)
• Boxed Book sets (up to ten copies of a single title)
• Big Books (over 600 different titles)
• Checkout period of six weeks.
K-12 Non-print:
• Study kits/Multi-media (1000 different items including history, science
and literacy book props)
• Assistive Tech resources
• Checkout period of two weeks.
Professional materials:
• Journals (over 60 print journals)
• Professional Books
• Professional Nonprint including DVD, Audio and Video
Process for reservations and delivery:
Using SNAP, our online catalog, educators can reserve media items
for delivery throughout the school year. Orders can be placed until 8:30
a.m. for next day delivery based on your delivery day. The AEA provides
weekly van delivery to public and accredited nonpublic schools. Check
with your van contact or the AEA media site for van schedules.
Educators are provided a member username/password by the Media Center.
Contact us directly at mediacenter@gpaea.org or phone 800-622-0027 x5264
with any questions.
K-12 Digital Materials
Digital Video:
• Over 500 titles from independent producers are available using our
TOMMs player in SNAP. Educators can stream or download content
from this GPAEA Digital Video Collection.
• Learn360 digital video can be searched through the SNAP catalog, as
well.
• NBC Learn
Digital Audio:
• Downloadable audio books from Recorded Books can be downloaded to
Mp4 players or listened to via the computer and SNAP.
• Learn360 digital audio clips (music, speeches) can be searched through
the SNAP catalog, as well.
Digital Images:
Learn360 digital images can be searched through the SNAP media
catalog.
eBooks:
Simultaneous, multi-user access to eBooks – K-12 science / history titles.
Search through SNAP.
DIRECTORY
Website: gpaea.org, click on Directory
View, search or download the directory from our website.
Information about Great Prairie AEA services, staff and
school districts can be accessed 24/7.
K-12 Online Databases
Students are provided username/password access for these subscription online
databases. All available at school, at home or anywhere else they may have
access to the Internet. Check with your teacher librarian or the AEA Media
Center for more information.
Iowa AEA Online:
Funded by Iowa’s Area Education Agencies for K-12 students, the following
online databases are available from the IAO site – www.iowaaeaonline.org.
• AEA Digital Library
• AP Images - You and your students have access to over two million
contemporary or historical photographs and images dating back to 1826
up to minutes ago from Associated Press photographers.
• Atomic Learning –Video clip tutorials cover hundreds of software &
web2.0 products. Atomic Learning’s 21st Century Skills Collection
includes professional development resources and curriculum materials
to empower educators to integrate 21st century skills into the classroom.
Educator accounts have been provided for teachers.
• BookFlix - Interactive literacy resource pairs classic fictional video
storybooks from Weston Woods with nonfiction eBooks from Scholastic
to reinforce reading skills and develop essential real-world knowledge
and understanding.
• Britannica Digital Learning – A suite of encyclopedia databases for
K-12 students.
• CultureGrams - Cultural and statistical snapshots of every country
recognized by the United Nations -- from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe.
• iClipart for Schools – Access over 7 million clipart images and fonts
• Gale-Cengage Learning – A series of journal databases including
Academic One File for educators’ professional use and multiple options
for students including: General One File, InfoTrac Student Edition,
Health and Wellness Resource Center, InfoTrac Junior Edition, Kids
InfoBits
• Learn360 - Top educational publishers include A&E/History/Bio,
PBS, National Geographic, Sunburst Visual Media, Reading Rainbow,
Britannica Concise Encyclopedia and many more. The videos are also
searchable through SNAP, the AEA online media catalog. Educator
accounts are provided with access to playlists and slideshow resources.
• SIRS Issues Researcher - Relevant, credible resources aligned to
learning standards that tell the whole story on the major issues of the day.
• Soundzabound - Download copyright free music tracks that your
students can use in developing podcasts, blogs and presentations.
• Teen Health & Wellness – This award-winning resource provides
students with non-judgmental, straightforward, standards-aligned,
curricular and self-help support.
• TrueFlix - Nonfiction ebooks paired with digital video introduction for
grades 4-6 from Scholasitc.
• TeachingBooks.net - Resources for teachers to connect with book
trailers, lesson plans, and author information.
Additional GPAEA Online Database
Funded by Great Prairie AEA for K-12 students, the following online
databases are also available from the AEA Media page. The resources
support goals for CCSS in Literacy and Iowa 21st Century Skills.
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PowerKnowledge - Life Science (3-8)
PowerKnowledge - Earth & Space (3-8)
PowerKnowledge - Physical Science (3-8)
CyberSmarts (3-7)
Teen CyberSmarts (6-9)
CQ Researcher
Visual Thesaurus
OneClickDigital (downloadable teen audio books)
Follett eBooks
Student News Net - SNN
EBSCO Literary Reference Center
NBC Learn digital video (also linked through SNAP)
Rosen Financial Literacy
CQ Researcher
Visual Thesaurus
OneClickDigital (downloadable teen audio books)