GHAEA Voice

Congratulations to Sherry Huffman , assessment consultant, who has been selected to serve on the Iowa Statewide Assessment Advisory Committee .  Marty Shudak, Council Bluffs CSD director of assessment, is also on this 22-member committee that  will work to help schools transition to new statewide assessments. The committee will meet at least four times throughout the 2016-17 school year. Meetings are open to the public.

Seven GHAEA staff attended the Decoding Dyslexia Iowa Fall Conference, Sept. 30 in Des Moines. " We had the opportunity to hear speakers share what research demonstrates to be best practices when helping students with dyslexia become better readers," said Deb Zebill, Glenwood.  Keynote speakers included John Alexander, Groves Academy; Dr. Deborah Reed, Iowa Reading Research Center; Dr. Jan Wasowicz, Learning by Design, and Nina Lorimor-Easley, True Potential Education.      Pictured, back row:  Jenna Hucka , literacy consultant, Avoca; Echo Pierce , school improvement consultant, Creston; Deb Zebill , learning supports consultant, Glenwood; Marie Neve , literacy consultant, Missouri Valley; Cindy Menendez , school improvement consultant, Glenwood; front row,  Jenna Hoesing , early childhood consultant, Missouri Valley, and Karen Wessel Hesse , school psychologist, Red Oak.       October is the month of awareness for Learning Disab...

As a child, Trae was headed down a negative path. He was a troublemaker, constantly getting suspended from school. He needed someone to help set him on a better path, and he found the support he needed at Hope Center Inc. At the Hope Center, he was able to turn his life around, putting more effort into his schoolwork and finding guidance from staff and his peers. Today, he's graduating from high school and will be attending college to become a physical therapist. His future is bright, thanks to the years of support he received from Hope Center Inc. with your donation to the United Way of the Midlands.      The United Way of the Midlands (UWM) is a network of health and human services in Douglas, Sarpy and Pottawattamie counties. When you give to the United Way, you're making a difference for thousands of our neighbors.        Since our agency encompasses several counties not served by UWM, we do not send a UWM brochure and pledge card to each emplo...

The agency's Communications Committee will hold its first meeting of the 2016-17 school  year on Nov. 2. The mission of the committee is to  serve as a conduit of information to and from regional offices/employees and to make recom mendations to administration regarding communication topics. There are three ways in which staff can voice a  comment, question or concern: through a committee member, an office comment box or through  the online form . Committee members are Casey Abler, Faith Bessire, Brooke Dornack, Denise Fricke, Sarah Matulka, Carissa Otto, Laurine Price, Nancy Sudmann, Rana Thomsen, Beth Torneten, Meta Trailer, Angie Williams and David Van Horn . 

The holidays are approaching and with that comes -- applause, please -- early dismissals. Before you head out the door, here's what you need to know about the agency's early dismissal policy. The Agency Collective Bargaining Agreement contains the following language in Article XI, Work Day: “On work days preceding holidays and recesses, all Agency offices will be closed at 2:30 p.m. At that time employees are dismissed if the individual responsibilities are met for the day.” In any given year, there are five days the agency closes early before a holiday break -- Spring Break, Memorial Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Winter Break. Employees working these specific days will be dismissed when their office closes for the day. Any employee not working on these days are not allowed to take time off a different day. If you have questions or need further clarification, check with your supervisor.

Did you know that GHAEA physical therapists serve infants, birth to three, who have or are at risk for developmental delays, and students, three to 21 years old, who have motor delays that impact access to and/or participation in their educational environment? That and so much more is why we celebrate  National Physical Therapy Month  in October -- to  honor physical therapists and the services they provide.  GHAEA physical therapists collaborate with parents and school teams to provide strategies and suggest equipment that maximize motor independence and function in the home and the school settings. Thank you,  GHAEA PT team , for all you do!  Edie Goodwin, Mary Beth Korver, Andy Ruff, Patsy Schimmel, Julie Stessman and Katie Wells . 

Jeri Fyock  10/23 Jasmine Perdue  10/23 Edie Goodwin  10/30 Amy Hoffman  11/4 Melanie Thomas  11/5 Regina Mieska  11/7 Dorene Driver  11/7 Cherry Hansen  11/9 Jennifer Foglesong  11/10 Todd Reznicek  11/10 Tim Perrin  11/10 Jennifer Bakkerud  11/11 Sarah Matulka  11/11 Sue Wagner  11/11 Nancy Lindgren  11/12 Sherry Huffman  11/13

"Let us pause our chaotic work lives a moment and reflect on a dog." This intro to a story written by Rex Huppke in the Chicago Tribune  reminds us to find joy, purpose and meaning in our daily work. 

Kim Wise , science consultant, invites you to follow GHAEA science on social media @GreenHIllsSci1 and GHAEAScience!

David Van Horn , associate administrator, is a new member of the Iowa STEM Council. Led by Lt. Governor Kim Reynolds and Kemin Industries President and CEO Dr. Chris Nelson, the council is made up of leaders in higher education, business, PreK-12 educators and state and local government officials. Its mission is to boost STEM education and innovation throughout the state of Iowa. 

The Oct./Nov. issue of In Touch features a heartwarming story about Miles Lee, a third grader at Tri-Center Elementary who was born with hydrocephalus. Thank you to Rachel Eikenberry for inviting me to meet Miles and some of his educational team. I think you will be inspired by Miles' determination and hard work and the support and love of his family. You will also see how Miles' educational team is helping him to learn and live up to his potential. This issue's cover story, written by Deb Schwiesow , looks at school safety with a spotlight on Council Bluffs CSD's emergency management plan, and the first installment of Meet the RA (regional administrator) features Kerry Aistrope and Jenny Barnett . Watch for it on Monday, and  if you have a story idea for In Touch, let me know.  

Hey, look at me! Rachel Eikenberry Last month, new GHAEA special education representatives were welcomed to the agency with a fun activity using uncooked spaghetti noodles and marshmallows. As a team at their table, employees worked to create the tallest structure using only these two items.  The activity required creativity, problem solving and of course, teamwork!  You want me to do what? Leah Olson

Logan celebrates her title with father, Jamie, Lori, and brother, Trevor. Congratulations to Logan Kinyon who was crowned Miss Rodeo Iowa 2017 at the Tri-State Rodeo in Ft. Madison on Sept. 8-10. "I became overwhelmed with emotion strictly because I worked so hard for this and it's been a long-coming dream of mine," said Logan.  She has competed in several horse shows and rodeos with events such as barrel racing, pole bending, goat tying, breakaway roping and cutting.  Logan is the daughter of Jamie and Lori Kinyon , director of human resources. She graduated from Northwest Missouri State last December with a degree in agriculture business and currently works as an equine feed sales rep at Right Turn Feeds in De Soto. Congratulations Logan! 

The South Region Early ACCESS team is looking for gently used, battery operated, soft plush toys to adapt. If you have a toy you would like to donate, please send by Dec. 1, 2016 , to the Red Oak Regional Office (Attn: Christel Nelson) . If you have questions, contact Cheryl Mulligan , occupational therapist, Red Oak. 

The AEA 267 Board of Directors (Cedar Falls) voted unanimously to change the agency name to Central Rivers AEA. It will become official on July 1, 2017, with a transition period beginning Jan. 1, 2017  when their new website is unveiled. 

Dustin Ausdemore and Kristine Nemec, Halverson's roadside prairie.  The Halverson Center prairie has been alive with beautiful color and monarch butterflies! A couple weeks ago, our neighbor, Pottawattamie County, sponsored a prairie restoration conference in which prairie enthusiasts from Iowa, Minnesota and Nebraska gathered to discuss how to re-vegetate roadsides back to native prairies, according to Dustin Ausdemore, Pottawattamie County road management. Kristine Nemec, integrated vegetation management program manger, University of Iowa, was one of the guest speakers. Attendees enjoyed touring the roadside prairie restoration on the Halverson Center campus. Thanks to Marsha Guttau , Halverson, for sharing some of her photos. 

Kristine Kelly  10/9 Lane Plugge  10/11 Rebecca Hamilton  10/11 Emily Nelson  10/12 Patricia Schimmel  10/13 Any Whipp  10/13 Cheryl Case  10/15 Terri Bush  10/18 Danelle Glidden  10/18 Jeri Fyock  10/23 Jasmine Perdue  10/23 Edie Goodwin  10/30 Amy Hoffman  11/4 Melanie Thomas  11/5 Regina Mieska  11/7 Dorene Driver  11/7 Cherry Hansen  11/9

Eunice Bohanan  10/22/2001 Angie Bramman  10/19/2007 Cheryl Case  10/13/2003 Billie Clausen  10/25/2006 Donna Dannar  10/14/1998 Diana Dewaele  10/6/1971 Michelle Hicks  10/17/1988 Cynthia Juhl  10/5/1992 Darek Madejski  10/22/1992 Kimberly Madsen  10/11/2004 Roxanne Matzen  10/22/2007 Leslie McCaslin  10/1/2002 Jonathan Skarin  10/7/2002

The new principal at Lamoni, PreK-12 is Alan Dykens (adykens@lamoni.k12.ia.us).