• Brochures for our latest events (Lower left-hand corner)
• Latest tweets by Iowa ASCD (Lower center)
• How to get in touch with a live voice (upper right-hand  corner)Access to our brand new calendar, history of Iowa ASCD, resources, registrations for events, and membership registrations!  (banners across the top of the page)

• Iowa ASCD was organized in November, 1947.  Evenlyn Peterson, Elementary Supervisor in Waterloo, was elected as the new organization's first president.  Dean Macobmer of Drake University was vice president and Ellen Har

  

  tnett of the Iowa State Education Association was the Secretary-Treasurer. The first business meeting was held March 31, 1948, at Drake University. The "mimeographed" constitution was approved as was the slate of officers.
• And you probably didn't know that a charter member of Iowa ASCD - fresh out of college and ready to contribute and learn - is still a member of Iowa ASCD.  Her name is Betty Atwood!

• Iowa ASCD has earned the following awards from ASCD:

  • Affiliate Excellence Award - 1998
  • Outstanding Communication Award - 2002
  • Affiliate Excellence Award - 2013
  • And we have applied for another outstanding affiliate award for 2016.  We will keep you updated!

   

• Iowa ASCD has had five executive directors over the 68-year span and 4 of those also served as president of Iowa ASCD before becoming the executive directors.

• Check out the history of Iowa ASCD.  And in this area under "About," you can also get contact information

  for the Iowa ASCD board members (they would love to hear from you!), and learn more about the mission of Iowa ASCD and even sign our guestbook.

•  Check us out - it's all about your Iowa ASCD!

• Registrations:  Whether you want to register for an event with a purchase order number or a credit card, be sure to go to registrations, where you may review a description of the event and then register if you like.  If you have forgotten your membership password (needed to get your member price instead of full price), please contact Lou Howell or Chris Welch. Also, check out the cancellation policy for all events.

• Iowa ASCD Board Meetings:  Looking for our board meeting dates, agendas, and minutes?  They are here!  And remember, we would love to have you attend one or more of our board meetings.  Please contact Lou Howell or Becky Martin in advance of the meeting to assure we have materials and food for you!

•   Webinars:  Iowa ASCD seeks to provide "finger tip" access to the latest free webinars for educators.  Be sure to register for one on teacher leadership and another on personalized learning.

Note that we also share the upcoming webinars in each edition of The Source. 

• There are details about the workshop on February 11 - learning in the morning and visits on the hill in the afternoon.  You may access a flyer for members/nonmembers and one especially for graduate students.
• You may find your Iowa legislators and a podcast by Dr. Susan Pecinovsky on how to contact your legislators.  There is even a sample letter and phone transcript on what to say as you contact your legislators.
• Want to know your level of advocacy?  Check out the rubric that allows you to identify your level of skill and knowledge as well as practices in advocacy.  
• There are also research and talking/policy points on testing, poverty, whole child, and more.
• See registration information for the upcoming workshop and visits on the hill in this edition of The source.  There are only a few "seats" available.

Registration is $50 for members of Iowa ASCD and $90 for non-members. Upon registration you will receive access to tools for advocacy and influence, including talking points for major issues (e.g., competency-based instruction, teacher leadership, readers by third grade, kindergarten readiness, instructional time,teacher and principal evaluation, professional learning), sample letter and telephone script for contacting your legislators, and a rubric to evaluate your skills in advocacy. Iowa ASCD will also provide you with contact information about your legislators so that you may schedule visits "on the hill" as part of this opportunity.

Bring a parent/community member (he/she attends free!) and you will receive a $100 certificate to any Iowa ASCD conference.  Be sure to let us know in advance to assure resources, food, and coupon.

A block of rooms has been reserved for February 10^th at the Embassy Suites Hotel Des Moines Downtown - 101 E Locust St, Des Moines, IA 50309 (Phone:  515.244.1700).  Be sure to ask for the Iowa ASCD block of rooms.

Agenda:

Location: Embassy Suites Hotel - Downtown Des Moines, 101 East Locust Street, Des Moines, IA

• Continental breakfast and working lunch provided
• Legislative Update - Dr. Wise, Director of Iowa Department of Education
• Funding Update - Margaret Buckton, Financial and Educational Matters on the Hill
• Professional Learning with Drs. Pecinovsky and Smith-Bright

February 11, 2016, 1:00 - 4:00 P.M. 

Visits "on the Hill" (Capitol - East 12^th and Grand)  

• Planned visits "on the hill" with Democratic and Republican Caucuses of the House Education Committee
• Meet with YOUR Legislator(s)
• Informal (and optional) meeting at the Capitol to debrief visits with legislators and share possible next steps for Iowa ASCD members around advocacy and influence 

Register NOW! Only 15 Seats Left!  Contact Bridget Arrasmith with name(s) of registrant(s), district and mailing address, e-mail address(es), phone number as well as check or purchase order. She may be reached at the following address: 

• Iowa ASCD, Drake University, School of Education, Room 123, 3206 University Avenue, Des Moines, IA  50311  
• Phone: 515.271.1872
• FAX: 515.271.2233
• E-mail: Bridget.Arrasmith@drake.edu

• Title: Igniting Teacher Leadership!  How Do I Empower My Teachers to Lead and Learn?
• Presenter:  William Sterrett
• Provider:  ASCD
• Date and Time:  January 14 at 11:00 A.M. (CST)
• Register Here 
   
• Title:  Meet ASCD myTeachSource: Personalized Professional Learning
• Presenter:  Stefani Roth
• Provider:  ASCD
• Date and Time:  January 28 at 2:00 P.M. (CST)
• Register Here
   

• The Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) released on December 7 new standards that provide a clear, practical definition of what the supervisors of school principals should know and be able to do to improve the effectiveness of principals. The eight 2015 Model Principal Supervisor Professional Standards are the first-ever standards developed for supervisors of school principals and are voluntary. They are designed for state education agencies and local school districts to help recruit, select, support and evaluate supervisors of principals. States and districts likely will adapt them to local needs.
  
  
• The U.S. Department of Education  announced last month  the release of the 2016 National Education Technology Plan and new commitments to support personalized professional learning for district leaders across the country working to improve teaching and student achievement through the effective use of technology.

• Iowa continues to lead the nation in high school graduation rates, according to finalized data released by the U.S. Department of Education.  Data show that 90.5 percent of Iowa's seniors graduated from high school in the 2013-14 school year, up from 89.7 percent the year before. That compares to an 82.3 percent national average for the 2013-14 school year.

• The Iowa Department of Education released on December 16 the Iowa School Report Card, a new web-based system to evaluate and rate each public school based on performance on a required set of measures, such as student attendance and graduation rates.

• Iowa has expanded the quality and range of work-based learning experiences for students in kindergarten through 12th grade because of a stronger connection between business and education made possible through a state network established by the Legislature, a new Iowa Department of Education report shows.

• ASCD myTeachSource is an online professional learning platform organized around classroom-focused topic packs designed to help teachers find quick solutions to issues that interest them. Start your two-week free trial today!

• Save the date, January 13, for  Literacy Intervention Conference in Des Moines. The focus will be sharing research-based interventions that help achieve our goals of all learners becoming successful readers by the end of third grade.  The event will feature a keynote by Amanda VanDerHeyden, a national expert who will be talking to district teams about Return on Investment in Education. Sign up now!

• Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST):    The nominations for 2016 focus on K-6 teachers. The 2016 Awards will honor mathematics and science (including computer science) teachers working in grades K-6. Nominations close on April 1, 2016.  Go here to nominate a K-6 teacher of math and/or science, including computer science for 2016 recognition.

• Remember to renew your membership for 2016-2017  In 2016,  all Iowa ASCD members have access to 30 on-line books 24/7 for the entire year!  Contact Lou Howell at LouHowell@mediacombb.net if you have forgotten your password information.

• Consider an institutional membership for your building, district, or AEA.  The fee is $25 per person when you enroll at least 20 people at one time.  Great benefits!  Contact Lou Howell for more information.

• Are you a student in a graduate program?  If so, you may get a membership for three years for $45.  Contact Lou Howell for more information.

• Are you a student in a pre-service program?  If so, you may get a one-year membership for $15.  Contact Lou Howell for more information.