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Agency News
All NewsHow we help educators, students & families
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Scope of Options
We offer a variety of solutions designed to tackle different challenges in education. Let us support you in overcoming hurdles and reaching your goals.
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Customization
We collaborate with school districts to tailor support through their district service plans, ensuring solutions that fit each district's specific needs and goals.
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Excellence
Excellence is not a buzzword at Central Rivers AEA, it's part of our DNA as an organization. We recruit and retain highly qualified team members with a passion for service.
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Leadership & Service
We both respond to district requests and create opportunities never thought of before. Our dedication extends to every last student we serve.
Central Rivers AEA is pleased to announce that Karl Kurt, current CRAEA Assistant Chief Administrator/HR Director, has been selected as the agency’s next chief administrator! Kurt will succeed Stan Rheingans, who is retiring from the agency in June.
“Karl brings deep knowledge of our ...agency, has established relationships with staff and partners, and possesses a commitment to doing what is best for students, families, and educators. His experience with the AEA system will serve our region well,” said Dr. Debra Rich, CRAEA board president.
Kurt has been with CRAEA since 2016, where he has helped lead strategic initiatives, strengthen organizational culture, and build leadership capacity across the agency. Under his leadership, the agency launched an internal staff wellbeing program, earned Top Workplace honors, and navigated significant organizational changes through statewide educational shifts and the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I’m honored and humbled to continue serving our dedicated staff and the districts we support as the agency’s chief administrator,” said Kurt. “Our team works tirelessly to provide outstanding services and support, and I’m passionate about building on that commitment to ensure our continued success together during this important time in our agency’s history.”
In his new position, Kurt will continue to lead more than 500 full- and part-time staff members who provide special education and school improvement services along with technology and media support for over 62,000 students and 5,000 educators across an 18-county region in north central and northeastern Iowa.
Congratulations, Karl! 👏 #CRAEA #iaedchat
It's #NationalSchoolPsychologyWeek! Central Rivers AEA is grateful for our incredible team of school psychologists who work every day to support students’ learning, growth and well-being. 🙌 Thank you for all you do to help students find their path! 👏
#CRAEA #iaedchat #NSPW
Central Rivers AEA partnered with the University of Iowa’s Jacobson Institute yesterday and hosted the annual “DesignDash” for area high school students, educators and entrepreneurs! 🙌
DesignDash is a one-day event where high school students, teachers and industry leaders come ...together for an exciting, hands-on entrepreneurial experience. 🙌
19 startup concepts were generated and pitched. Ideas ranged from a monthly subscription box focused on helping teens manage stress to a job matching services helping plug young people who have learning disabilities into jobs. 👏
75+ HS students representing 11 schools showed up and delivered. Thank you to the industry professionals who mentored students and created such a welcoming space – and a big thanks to the educators who made this day possible for these young innovators! 💡👏
#CRAEA #iaedchat #designdash #studentevents
The Iowa Department of Education recently released new data showing that more Iowa high school students than ever are accomplishing work-based learning experiences with 45% of all high school seniors from the class of 2025 achieving at least one work-based learning experience while in high school. ...Student participation is up nearly 20 percentage points over the last two years, increasing from 31.7% in 2024 and 25.5% in 2023. 👏
Central Rivers AEA is dedicated to contributing to the growth of career-connected learning throughout Iowa. Our team helps connect and support hundreds of students in internships, job shadows, and work experiences – real opportunities that help them explore careers, gain confidence and build skills for their futures. And that’s not even counting the students our consultants supported through other sustained project-based learning programs like CAPS! 🙌
Some quick numbers of our support for the 2024-25 school year:
•Job shadow placements: 229
•Internship placements: 220
•Work experience placements: 435
One of our work-based learning coordinators, Theresa Smith, recently had a student from Grinnell-Newburg CSD intern with Van Wall Equipment.
It’s clear – our work is making a difference for students across Iowa! 👏
#CRAEA #iaedchat #careerconnectedlearning #studentworkexperience
Last week, our Early ACCESS team spent the day visiting community partners across the area to build stronger connections and spread the word about the services we offer. 🙌
They stopped by clinics, libraries, hospitals, daycares and even local recreation centers – anywhere families ...might go – to share how EA can help young children and their families. 👏
Early ACCESS is a program for families with children from birth to age three. It’s designed to help parents find the support and resources their child may need to grow, learn, and thrive. The team partners with families to identify needs and connect them to services, working together with professionals from public health, human services and area education agencies. 🤝
One thing that makes EA special is that it focuses on helping children learn in their everyday routines. Whether it’s mealtime, playtime, or bedtime, parents are their child’s first and most important teachers. The program is free and voluntary, so families can get help when they need it without cost or pressure.
By visiting community agencies, our EA team is helping more families learn that support is available, and that they don’t have to navigate early childhood challenges alone. 👏
Some facts about the day:
•Visited over 53 towns/districts throughout Central Rivers AEA.
•Over 40 Central Rivers AEA staff members made connections.
•Over 200 organizations visited and connected with!
#CRAEA #iaedchat #EarlyACCESS
October is #NationalPhysicalTherapyMonth!
When we think of words to describe our physical therapists, we think of: observant, adaptable, supportive, knowledgeable, goal-oriented, collaborative, communicative, patient, empathetic, motivating and resourceful! 🙌
Thank you to our ...incredible team of PTs who support our schools, students, families and communities! 👏
#CRAEA #iaedchat #PT
What we are proud of
"The AEA staff members who work with my district have been extremely helpful across the board...answering questions specific to content areas, helping with technology implementation, analyzing and using student data, and implementing Social and Emotional Learning structures."