An introduction to Central Rivers AEA 21-22

An Introduction to Central Rivers AEA Central Rivers Area Education Agency is one of nine Iowa area education agencies (AEAs) established by the Iowa Legislature in 1975 to provide equity in educational programs across the state. Iowa’s AEAs work as educational partners with local public and accredited private schools to help assure that all children reach their potential. Iowa AEAs are widely regarded as one of the foremost regional service systems in the country, offering programs equitably, efficiently, and economically on a regional or cooperative basis among school districts.

AEAs provide access to resources for both Here are just a few of the key babies, educationally designed databases large and small school districts. Services roles the agency plays in the and a search portal for the enrichment of are provided in the following areas: communities it serves: student/teacher learning. ° The AEAs engage in economical group Special Education Support ° The AEA identifies the needs of children purchasing of food, paper, office and with disabilities and provides for or supple- janitorial supplies, and many other items, Providing specialized services for children and ments a wide variety of services to meet saving millions of dollars statewide. students birth to age 21 with diverse learning those needs. ° Schools also benefit from high quality, needs, including students with disabilities. Internet-based licensed databases and ° The AEA supports schools in the use of the multimedia resources provided by the Instructional Media Iowa Professional Development Model. It agency. These products provide 24/7 also offers professional skill-enhancements access to information that teachers and Providing instructional resources such as student to teachers and administrators, including students can use at school and at home. books, electronic professional journals, digital credit courses for licensure renewal as well resources, instructional equipment, professional as certification classes for paraeducators. About Central Rivers AEA titles, and STEM materials to support PreK-12 classroom instruction and teacher training. ° The AEA supports district personnel Central Rivers Area Education Agency pro- in curriculum and assessments, which vides support to more than 63,000 students School Technology address, at a minimum, reading, language and approximately 5,000 teachers, administra- arts, mathematics, and science. Support tors, media specialists, nurses, and paraedu- Assisting district technology leaders with is also available for establishing and cators in 53 K-12 public school districts. The network infrastructure support, professional analyzing student achievement and learning agency’s service area spans 18 counties and consultation services, and state-wide projects. climate data, and for using this information to nearly 9,000 square miles. improve student learning. Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment The ultimate goal ° The agency provides staff with specialized of our work is that every Offering support and consultation in the skills that many schools could not afford to development of school curriculum, teaching have on their own. This includes school psy- child will receive practices and the measurement of learning. chologists, social workers, speech-language a quality education. pathologists, and curriculum consultants, Professional Learning just to name a few. Staff services and materials from the agency are available without charge, Coordinating workshops, courses, materials, and ° School districts benefit from shared resourc- except for services such as printing, ongoing consultation for area educators and es such as student book sets, professional production, and “discretionary programs” support staff. books, robotics, digital StarLabs, RealCare created at the request of a pool of school districts. Leadership The agency operates three main centers, Providing leadership services that assist with one each in Cedar Falls, Marshalltown and Clear the recruitment, induction, retention, and Lake. However, nearly 70 percent of agency professional development of educational staff members are assigned to specific schools leaders. as part of a team. They work directly with chil- dren and educators as an integral part of the School-Community Planning local school staff. Others serve schools in a Providing support for School Improvement processes and communication with families and communities. Multicultural, Gender-Fair Providing services that assist schools and school districts to ensure supportive learning environments for all students.

consultative or itinerant basis, offer courses or CENTRAL RIVERS AEA workshops, or link schools with other persons, INTEGRATED SERVICES agencies or materials that meet their needs. Regions and Approximately 80,000 Iowa students age Assigned Administrators birth to 21 have been identified as having some type of disability. This means about one NORTHWEST SECTOR r in eight students in K-12 classrooms need some 1 - Dr. Beverly Plagge form of special assistance. Virtually all students 2 - Amber Dietz with disabilities receive support services from 3 - Ashley Sires the AEAs. NORTHEAST SECTOR As educational partners, Central Rivers AEA 4- Jody Albertson helps students, local district staff, families, and 5- Greg Koppes communities meet the growing challenge of 6 - Ryan Andreassen accountability and student achievement. EAST SECTOR Board of Directors 7- Melissa Hesner 7- Brena Huber A nine-member board of directors elected 8 - Joshua Johnson by area school boards governs Central Rivers AEA. Board members represent designated SOUTH SECTOR segments of the agency’s service area called 9 - Amy Thoms-Starr director districts. They are elected for four-year 10 - Julie Miller rotating terms by the school district board 11 - Heather Gould members in their director districts. Dr. Debra Rich, Board President The Central Rivers AEA Board of Direc- Sam Miller, Chief Administrator tor meetings are normally held on the first Karl Kurt, Asst. Chief Administrator/Director of HR Wednesday of each month at 5 p.m. in the Beth Strike, Director of Creative Services & Communications Cedar Falls Conference Center in Cedar Falls. Michael Kalvig, Chief Financial Officer Amy Knupp, Executive Director of Special Education Funding Jen Sigrist, Executive Director of Educational Services Unlike local school districts, the AEA sys- tem has no taxing authority. The agency is funded by a per-pupil assessment designated by the Legislature, by federal funds, various grants, and sale of services. Central Rivers Area Education Agency invests approximately 80 percent of its funding in serving children with disabilities. The remainder of the agency’s budget provides a variety of educational and media/technology services to schools and communities. CENTRAL RIVERS AREA EDUCATION AGENCY Central Rivers AEA serves... ❱ Over 10,000 children ages birth to 21 who receive special education ❱ 53 public school districts services ❱ 18 accredited non-public schools ❱ 230+ school administrators ❱ 300+ board members ❱ 5,000+ teachers, counselors, media ❱ 18 counties ❱ 9,000 square miles specialists, nurses, and ❱ 413,760 population paraeducators ❱ 63,000+ students

CRAEA STRATEGIC PLAN ~ 2020-2025 Central Rivers AEA Cedar Falls • Build internal capacity of our AEA staff. • AEA and district staff demonstrate an understanding of SDI within an MTSS 1521 Technology Parkway • Support SDI sites within our agency. Framework in their daily work. Cedar Falls, IA 50613 • Develop the AEA infrastructure necessary to sustain Ph. 1-800-542-8375 or 319-273-8200 • AEA and district staff demonstrate belief in the Guiding Principles. implementation. • AEA and district staff apply the critical features of the SDI Framework in their Central Rivers AEA Clear Lake • Scale the components of an effective, tiered MTSS system daily work. 9184 265th Street, Suite B with local schools. • Long-term outcome: By May 2023, all CRAEA districts will be fully Clear Lake, IA 50428 Ph. 1-800-392-6640 or 641-329-4200 • Facilitate just-in-time professional learning to local schools implementing SDI in an MTSS framework. that supports the components of the MTSS system. Central Rivers AEA Marshalltown • Local schools and AEA staff will have the knowledge and skills needed to support learners • Provide phases of implementation to districts for long-range with social, emotional, behavioral, and mental health concerns. 909 South 12th Street support. Marshalltown, IA 50158 • Learners will have positive outcomes (increased attendance rates, higher grades, positive Ph. 1-800-735-1539 or 1-641-753-3564 • Establish an agency-wide culture/climate committee. school behaviors, pro-social behaviors, coping skills, decreased restraints and seclusions). • Utilize culture data to develop agency and region-specific For tours of the agency, more information, or • Increase anabolic energy (i.e. courage and vulnerability). to arrange for a presentation about Central action plans. • Improve CRAEA job satisfaction and employee retention. Rivers Area Education Agency for your • Develop and retain high-value relationships. organization, contact Beth Strike, Director • Support teachers in being an activator of learning. of Creative Services & Communications at • Facilitate district creation of a Portrait of a Graduate. • Learner engagement and ownership of learning increases in classrooms. 319-273-8222 or visit our Web site at www. • Embed the Universal Constructs into teaching and learning. • Districts use common language around knowledge, skills and dispositions of the future centralriversaea.org • Engage all learners in authentic community experiences. ready learner. • Learners are confident, curious explorers of the digital world. • Learners regularly experience genuine partnerships that connect learning in/to an ever-changing world. Iowa’s Area Education Agencies www.centralriversaea.org Central Rivers Area Education Agency (AEA) does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, gender, marital status, national origin, religion, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, socioeconomic background or disability in its educational programs, activities, or employment practices as required by all applicable Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action laws, directives, and regulations of federal, state and local governing bodies and agencies. Students, parents of students, applicants for employment and employees of Central Rivers AEA shall have the right to file a formal complaint alleging non-compliance with federal and state regulations requiring nondiscrimination in educational programs and employment. Inquiries concerning ap- plication of this statement should be addressed to: Karl Kurt, Equity Coordinator, Central Rivers AEA, 1521Technology Pkwy, Cedar Falls, Iowa 50613,Telephone: 800-542-8375. UPDATED 7/2019 MTN