GHAEA Voice

24 Hours of Impact is a nationwide effort to extract community betterment and philanthropy out of local communities, organizations and businesses in a fun, positive and competitive 24-hour period. Each organization chooses exactly one hour to do as much good as they can.      Several GHAEA employees participated in 24 Hours of Impact Omaha on July 22 by volunteering with City Sprouts . Its vision is to sustainably grow, eat, provide and promote healthy, local foods. City Sprouts works with area residents and volunteers to grow vegetables, flowers and herbs using environmentally responsible and sustainable gardening techniques.      Roxanne Williams Draper, wife of Mark Draper , is the executive director of City Sprouts Omaha. Thanks Terri Bush, Michelle Custer, Stephanie Dredge, Staci Emerton, Sherry Huffman, Kristi Kelly and Catelyn Newman  for your time and efforts! 

The Evolution of Special Education in Iowa -- As Told Through the Voices of Those Who Created It  was developed by Jeff Grimes and Jim Stumme, two seasoned retirees from Iowa special education. Over a  three-year period, the authors had more than 130 conversations with parents and professionals, including Mark Draper , director of special education, who have been committed to helping  children with disabilities and their families. "Hopefully it will be helpful for those who do not have a firm grasp on how special education evolved in Iowa or the nation," says Mark."It's truly a first and a history that few states can boast that they have captured."

The 2016 Opening Day for GHAEA staff will be here soon -- Monday, Aug. 29 !   If you don't already have it on your calendar, what are you waiting for? Watch your GHAEA email and the Voice for more information.   

Connie Lundy, principal at Nodaway Valley Elementary, was mentioned in a recent Des Moines Register article about transgender students in Iowa. The mother of Bryan Brown, a fourth grader at Nodaway Valley, credits Lundy for "setting a positive tone."  Lundy spent time with all the fourth graders, telling them that Brynn was now Bryan, a boy who uses male pronouns. "That fact surprised none of his classmates because Bryan had been dressing and generally acting like a male for the previous school year," Lundy said.  Bryan is also permitted to use the boys' bathroom and his preferred name is now on his official school records.  "The change was taken up and accepted by the entire school, from art to music to other teachers to support staff," Lundy said. "The kids embraced Bryan wholeheartedly."     Read the article in its entirety here .         

July 18 was a perfect day to stay inside and work on the new carpet installation at Halverson Center. It was a Monday and it was raining! The current carpet is in dire need of replacement, much of it stained and faded. The new flooring is carpet squares, so if one gets stained or damaged, it can easily be replaced. The project is 90 percent complete (and Jeremy couldn't be happier)!  Photo: Jeremy is working his way down the hall to the Media Center area. 

View the entire list of GHAEA staff celebrating service anniversaries this month!

Lesley Ehlers  7/26 Connie Terry  7/26 Sandra Sickels  7/27 Meta Trailer  7/28 Connie Richardson  7/28 Jill Clayton  7/29 Molly Ternus  7/30 Jennifer Seuntjens  7/31 Brittney Haskell 8/1 Valerie Giegerich  8/2 Wendy Aanonson  8/3 Debbie Norman  8/5 Kathryn Wells  8/5 Kristen Johnson  8/5 Carol McMahon-Kain  8/6 Cynthia Lefeber  8/6 Tonya Billingsley  8/6 Lori Kinyon  8/8 Michelle Lidgett  8/9 Jennifer Thormodsgaard  8/10 Nicole Owen  8/11 Diane Emsick  8/12 Elena Anson  8/13 Kari Bloom  8/14 Jessie Kern  8/14 Jean Kent  8/18 Amy Liddell  8/20 Leslie McCaslin  8/20 Lisa Fisher  8/23 Cathy Mann  8/29

We Are Teachers recently featured 10 tips for cleaning up a classroom, but guess what! They also work in your home! From permanent marker to a stinky trash can . . . check it out here!