Leadership Connections

Accessibility isn’t just about the documents and websites your staff create, it’s also about making sure every student can actually access grade-level content in the first place. That’s where the Iowa Department of Education’s Access for All initiative comes in, and Central Rivers AEA is here to help your district put it to work. Central…

Iowa’s AEAs are continuing to strengthen and streamline how we deliver professional learning across the state. As part of our systemwide effort to work more cohesively, several responsibilities related to professional learning that were previously managed separately within individual AEAs will now be coordinated centrally through a single statewide professional learning team. All AEAs will…

Central Rivers AEA is offering LETRS Volume 1 and 2 training from September through April to help local educators strengthen their reading instruction. Designed for K-5 teachers, interventionists, and coaches, this practical course focuses on the fundamentals of how students learn to read and write. Rather than introducing a new curriculum, the sessions build foundational…

Central Rivers AEA is offering its Year 1 Mentoring & Induction program this school year to help new educators succeed while meeting state licensing requirements. Beyond fulfilling Iowa’s mandatory two-year licensing pathway, the program supports both sides of the partnership: first-year teachers gain practical classroom strategies and direct coaching, while mentors sharpen their skills in…

Central Rivers AEA is offering three Youth Mental Health First Aid learning opportunities designed to help adults support young people ages 12–18. The practical course equips parents, teachers, school staff and community members to recognize early warning signs of mental health challenges in teens. Participants will learn key strategies for early intervention and gain clear…

The Iowa Governor’s School Safety Bureau is offering free training on the new I-SSAM program to qualified professionals. Register online and check out the flyer for more information.

Spring IEP reminders: Request weighting reviews as you go through rosters; we will be cleaning up some ACHIEVE data over the summer and this is a great time to review weighting if you have questions on a student.

Building a safe school environment requires a plan that protects both physical safety and emotional well-being. The PREPaRE Workshop 1: Comprehensive School Safety Planning: Prevention through Recovery (3rd Edition), a comprehensive program designed by the National Association of School Psychologists, provides educators with these essential tools. This training moves beyond basic security, teaching staff how…

Teaching students who struggle with reading requires a specialized toolkit. A professional development course,Intensifying Structured Literacy Instruction for Struggling Readers, is available to help K–12 classroom teachers, interventionists and special education teachers master Structured Literacy, an approach that uses clear, step-by-step instruction to support all learners, including those with dyslexia. Instead of a “one-size-fits-all” method,…

Join us for a dynamic one-day professional learning experience in August designed specifically for paraeducators who support student behavior and engagement in today’s classrooms. This interactive workshop will focus on practical, evidence-based strategies that strengthen classroom management and student success, including encouraging appropriate behavior, using a continuum of responses to inappropriate behavior, and increasing engagement…