GHAEA Voice

Last week, the Iowa Association of School Boards (IASB) launched “The Promise of Iowa” campaign to focus attention on the future of Iowa public school students and to rally support for investments in public education.             Iowa’s future leaders, innovators and citizens are its children.  T hey are “The Promise of Iowa.” Their future is created every day by Iowa public schools.        The Promise of Iowa campaign celebrates the many successes of Iowa public schools by bringing to life the story of Iowa public education. It’s a commitment on the part of locally elected school boards to ensure that Iowa taxpayers know that their investment in public schools is making a difference.      The newly-launched website features inspirational videos and stories, one of which features the story of Miles Lee , a third grader at Tri-Center Elementary in Neola. Iowa's AEAs assisted with the research and student stories for The Promise of Iowa campaign. 

The Communications Committee met via Zoom on Nov. 2. Click here to read the Talking Points from this meeting . As always, if you have questions, contact a committee member. 

What a banner year! In sports, the Chciago Cubs finally earned the title of World Series Champs; in politics, many were thrown a curve ball! Speaking of banners, there is a new display at Halverson Center! Each of our educational partners are displayed on the wall in the administration building. The banners were printed in house and the display boards were installed by Jeremy Kern and Tim Perrin .

Congratulations to Mark Draper , director of special education, for receiving the Iowa Council of Administrators of Special Education (I-CASE) Distinguished Service Award. He was presented with the award at the I-CASE 2016 Conference in Des Moines on Nov. 16. This award is presented to individuals who are making significant contributions to programs and services for students with disabilities. Photo: Sharon Hawthorne presents the I-CASE Distinguished Service Award to Mark

Jenna Hucka Jenna Hucka (literacy consultant, Avoca) says she "loves literacy and helping children crack the code to reading." She and husband, Todd, an insurance agent, have a daughter, Priya. Jenna enjoys attending Harlan sporting events, Iowa Hawkeyes, baking and walking. She has fond memories of family vacations in Okoboji.  Melissa Lassek Melissa (Missy) Lassek , school based interventionist, CBRO, says the best part about her job is working with at risk youth. She enjoys fishing and hunting and just being anywhere in the "peaceful outdoors." She has two boys, two cats, two dogs and two hamsters -- "we do everything in pairs, like Noah!" Her favorite actor is Alan Alda and George Strait is a favorite musical artist. Marcy Marvin Marcy Marvin , speech-language pathologist, Creston, is from Sioux Center. Husband, Waylon, works at Mueller's in Osceola. She has two sons, Jared (Madison) and Braden, and stepchildren Matt and Melanie.

Confused by the agency's various newsletters, blogs and social media accounts? Let's clear the air! The Voice is a blog that provides news and information for and about GHAEA staff and board members. It typically is published every other week or as news warrants. Staff can submit news, information and story ideas through an online submission form or by e-mailing dfricke@ghaea.org.  In Touch is a bimonthly electronic newsletter that is distributed to area educators, GHAEA staff and board members. It provides information that is relevant to the schools we serve, such as current education topics, upcoming trainings and information on GHAEA services and programs. News, information and story ideas can be submitted through an online form or by e-mailing dfricke@ghaea.org.  At A Glance is a weekly electronic update that is distributed to school administrators, teachers and GHAEA staff and board members. It is exactly as stated, a glance at upcoming events and timely top

Thank you to all who pledged to this year's United Way of the Midlands campaign. Because of you, $1,878 was pledged that will be used to make a difference for our neighbors in the Omaha/Council Bluffs metro area! If you missed the deadline and want to pledge, it's never too late. Contact Denise Fricke at Halverson. 

Winter weather will soon be upon us! Each GHAEA office is set up with automated call notifications staff whenever there is a closing or late start due to inclement weather. If you are unsure of which office your notifications come from, contact your supervisor or administrative secretary.       In the meantime, if you want to be as knowledgeable as the local meteorologist, here is a recap of winter weather conditions:  Blizzard: Blowing and/or falling snow with winds of 35 mph or greater which reduce visibilities to a quarter of a mile or less for at least three hours. Winds lofting the current snow pack and reducing visibilities without any falling snow is called a ground blizzard. Freezing Rain : Rain falling on surfaces with a temperature below freezing. The rain freezes upon contact with the ground and large build-ups of ice can down trees and power lines while coating roads making travel unsafe. Sleet: : Rain/melted snow that has begun refreezing when it reaches the ground. S

Marie Neve , literacy consultant, Missouri Valley, was joined by Jenny Stessman, Sarah Ganzhorn and Kara Dickinson, Missouri Valley CSD, for a presentation at the C4K (Collaborating 4 Kids) Statewide Implementation meeting, Nov. 15, in Des Moines. They shared the model for supporting implementation of the PRESS intervention through The Tier 2 Literacy Project in Green Hills AEA.  "Missouri Valley Elem. is supported by Jenna Hoesing and myself with quality literacy professional development, onsite follow-up and collaboration with individual teachers and Robin Holtz, instructional coach and administrator," Neve said.   

Connie Richardson  (school improvement consultant, Red Oak) recently  celebrated 17 years cancer free! She celebrated with her daughter, Emilee, and thousands of others at the Des Moines Race for the Cure on Oct. 29. This race, and hundreds of others throughout the U.S., support the vision of a world without breast cancer. This is a good reminder to schedule mammograms and be consistent about monthly BSE (breast self exam). Congratulations Connie! 

Agency offices will close at 2:30 p.m. on Wed., Nov. 23, for the Thanksgiving break. Wishing all staff a very happy Thanksgiving and we'll see you back on Mon., Nov. 28! 

Jennifer Houseman  11/24 Deb Zebill  11/24 Jennifer Barnett  11/26 Marcy Marvin  11/26 Stephanie Lane  11/28 Christina Wahlert  11/28 Margaret Woodruff  11/29 Joan Holmes  11/30 Linda Perdue  12/2 Maryann Farrell  12/3 Michele Harrison  12/4 Mary Walter  12/4 Billie Jo Clausen  12/5 Patricia Schliesman  12/5 Angie Hance  12/9 Darek Madjeski  12/11 Cynthia Unger  12/11

Elena Anson Nov. 22, 1999 Amanda Cairney Nov. 17, 2014 Mary Dick  Nov. 1, 2011 Edie Goodwin Nov. 18, 1985 Karen Meiers Nov. 27, 2000 Emily Nelson Nov. 26, 1984 Michael Peters Nov. 4, 2011 Laurine Price Nov. 14, 2011 Cynthia Redding Nov. 10, 1998 Patricia Roberts Nov. 1, 2010 Emily Selsor Nov. 15, 2004 Meta Trailer Nov. 1, 1995

Katie Collins We're pleased to welcome Katie Collins ,  Dana Driscoll and Blair Holman  to GHAEA!  Katie is a speech-language pathologist housed in Atlantic. She and husband, Gary, have two children: Eli and Jake. Katie enjoys helping people to communicate. Her family enjoys vacations in Colorado and she likes to run and read.       Dana is a speech-language pathology assistant in Missouri Valley. She and husband, Adam, have three children -- Kinnick, Penelope and Addison -- along with three dogs, a cat and a guinea pig. And you might just notice she looks a little like her mother, Sandy Williams (van driver, HCE).  Dana Driscoll Blair Holman is a school based interventionist in Red Oak. His wife, Suzanne, is an RN at the Glenwood Resource Center. They have a daughter, Metaleene Joy. "I enjoy watching kids develop and grow into polite and respectful young adults," he said. Blair enjoys family time and following his favorite sport teams. A memorable trip was

Ken Lee Keeping GHAEA in the forefront is a goal of new board president Ken Lee. He believes GHAEA is “the leader in the state”, due in part to our staff and board members who take on active roles in state and local organizations and committees.       Maintaining that leadership is one of his priorities for the board, along with the agency's two goals which are to “reduce the IEP and non-IEP reading gap from 51 percent to 26 percent” and “reduce the IEP and non-IEP math gap from 46 percent to 21 percent.”      “Our board is unique. We have very little controversy and we make hard decisions,” Lee adds. He credits the agency’s leadership for making it “easy” to serve. “They keep us well informed and it is a great group to be around," he said."We always keep the well being and love of students in the forefront.”      Lee was elected president at the board’s annual meeting on Oct. 25. He has served on the board since Oct. 1994, representing Director District 6 which

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 Mary Korver  11/14 Karen Wessel Hesse  11/14 Vicki McGlade  11/16 Jennifer Pontefract  11/16 Susan Rensch  11/16 Ashley Denton  11/17 Denise Volker  11/17 Echo Pierce  11/18 Jennifer Houseman  11/24 Deb Zebill  11/24 Jennifer Barnett  11/26 Marcy Marvin  11/26 Stephanie Lane  11/28 Christina Wahlert  11/28 Margaret Woodruff  11/29 Joan Holmes  11/30