51��

FOSS Summer 2026 Registration — Now Open!

jputnam — Tue, 02 Jun 2026 18:28:06 +0000

Implementation Science for Educational Initiatives with Ongoing Coaching (FOSS Workshop for Grades K-8)

In this full day of learning, both new and experienced FOSS teachers will go over best practices for science instruction and plan for one FOSS unit. Teachers will explore the hands-on kit materials, curriculum planning guides, and additional digital resources for a chosen unit. Take advantage of this opportunity to fine tune your science instructional plans for your next FOSS kit. Optional ongoing virtual coaching will also be provided for participants. Any educator who attended a previous round of FOSS workshops (from the 24-25 or 25-26 school years) has multiple options to consider provided in the required registration survey in lieu of best practices previously covered. Professional learning around implementation science in the educational setting is an ongoing, dynamic process that focuses on building the necessary knowledge, skills, and capacities for successful and sustainable implementation of educational initiatives. Grounded in the NIRN (National Implementation Research Network) implementation science model, this professional learning begins with building the leadership team’s capacity to understand and apply key concepts such as implementation drivers, fidelity of implementation, and sustainability. Leaders and educators engage in targeted professional development to deepen their understanding of the core components of effective implementation, including the role of staff competencies, organizational supports, and data systems for monitoring progress. Implementation Science for Educational Initiatives with Ongoing Coaching (FOSS Workshop for Grades K-8)

GRADES K-4 SESSION 1 JULY 20 2026 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Registration Deadline: July 14, 2026 Session ID: 56533 • Cost: $123 - No Credit

GRADES K-4 SESSION 2 JULY 22 2026 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Registration Deadline: July 14, 2026 Session ID: 56529 • Cost: $123 - No Credit

GRADES K-4 SESSION 2 JULY 22 2026 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Registration Deadline: July 14, 2026 Session ID: 56531 • Cost: $123 - No Credit

View more information and topics in Don't Miss Out! Twelve registrants are required to offer these in-person workshops.

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Science Spotlight: Highland Middle School OpenSciEd Lesson in Action

jputnam — Mon, 27 Apr 2026 13:58:27 +0000

Written by Maria Hasken-Averkamp, GWAEA Science Consultant�� Highland Middle School science teachers Jayme Kallaus and Jenny Colbert have been building momentum with OpenSciEd over the past two years, learning and growing along the way. Featured Lesson: During a recent visit, Jayme’s sixth grade students were starting the OpenSciEd 6.6 Cells and Systems unit and experiencing the anchoring phenomenon centered around understanding how the body heals. During the first lesson, students were reflecting on their favorite activities and how their body’s structures and functions allow that movement to happen. Jayme provided her own example of rock climbing and how damaged foot tendons now interfere with her ability to grip the rocks safely. Students shared experiences and discussed times when they were not able to do certain activities. This then led into a new scenario for the students to investigate that involved the injury of a student who dropped a large weight-lifting kettle ball on his foot. By the end of the first day’s lesson, students were eager to view and annotate the emergency room and post-operative reports of the featured injury into what they noticed and wondered about the healing process.�� Teacher Perspectives: Jayme discussed two things primarily changed when switching to OpenSciEd. The first being that the teacher does more learning WITH the students. She joked that teachers first trying out OpenSciEd might “freak out a little bit but trust the process!” OpenSciEd curriculum provides students the opportunity to lead the learning versus the teacher presenting information for the class to learn. Jayme discussed that with the OpenSciEd curriculum, “teachers and students are in an equal partnership” in figuring out science concepts together. All OpenSciEd units are designed in a storyline that are anchored in a phenomenon that tasks students with a situation to personally connect with and figure out. Students generate initial models, questions to investigate, related phenomena as well as ideas for investigation during the anchoring lessons of the unit. Jayme said that the second thing that was a change when switching to OpenSciEd was giving more trust to students to allow them to explore. When first starting to use a new curriculum there is always some anxiety about how students will respond. Allison Butterbaugh is a para in the classroom and noted that OpenSciEd is “more challenging since it has students use more critical thinking skills.”�� Student Perspectives: The class acknowledged that it took time to adjust to being asked to create questions to investigate, share their ideas in a scientist circle, and develop models to explain their thinking. Sixth grade students also noticed some shifts in this year’s science class. Haleigh noted that they were “getting to more real-world problems.” Kendon stated “teachers lead the learning but not what you figure out.” Lain added that “they use more models and visuals” as they are asked to think like scientists. As students were sharing and comparing their experiences in this first lesson, it was evident that Jayme built a successful community of learners who recognized the value of figuring things out together.�� High Quality Instructional Material Rating: The OpenSciEd middle school curriculum received an all-green rating from EdReports for meeting expectations in the the three EdReports gateways: Meets Next Generation Science Standards, Coherence and Scope, and Useability. OpenSciEd is considered a ‘high quality instructional material’ and is an open education resource (meaning the curriculum resources are free to use.)�� Check out the elementary, middle and high school curriculum units on their and contact GWAEA Science Consultant Maria Hasken-Averkamp if interested in learning more about OpenSciEd.

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NEW! Elementary OpenSciEd Professional Learning for First Released Units

jputnam — Mon, 23 Mar 2026 17:59:18 +0000

OpenSciEd helps educators move beyond traditional science instruction by offering research-based, student-centered curriculum aligned to how students learn best. Effective implementation requires understanding its instructional routines and principles that support active student sensemaking. This course will explore lesson progressions within a unit and how they reinforce core concepts.

This professional learning experience prepares teachers to use OpenSciEd tools through a deep dive into a grade-level unit, while also building understanding of the program’s long-term goals and alignment with the A Framework for K–12 Science Education and NGSS.

Grades K-2 on June 9, 2026 (Grade-specific sessions for OpenSciEd Units K.1, 1.1 and 2.1) Registration links:
Grades 3-5 on June 11, 2026 (Grade-specific sessions for OpenSciEd Units 3.1, 4.1 and 5.1)Registration links:
Where: VAST Center, 1120 33rd Ave SW, Cedar Rapids, IA, 52404 from 8:30-4 pm.
Instructors: Maria Hasken-Averkamp for Grades K.1 and 5.1 sessions, Jason Martin-Hiner for Grades 2.1 and 4.1 sessions, and Tracy Jarrett for Grades 1.1 and 3.1 sessions.
Cost: $75

See for further details

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Teaching for the Workforce

jputnam — Wed, 04 Mar 2026 15:25:34 +0000

Implementation Science for Educational Initiatives with Ongoing Coaching

Teaching for the Workforce is a one-and-a-half-day professional learning experience for 6th–12th grade teachers and counselors. Participants will explore today’s workplaces through local business tours, presentations, and discussions focused on regional workforce needs and the essential skills students need for success.

The program also emphasizes how schools can partner with local employers and community organizations to help build a future-ready workforce. Throughout the school year, participants will receive continued support as they identify ways to integrate workforce concepts into their classrooms and develop a plan for the 2026–27 school year.

The course includes dedicated district-specific planning time, allowing teams to connect, collaborate, and strengthen partnerships with local workforce and community partners to enhance student learning.

Implementation Science

Professional learning in implementation science within an educational setting is an ongoing, dynamic process focused on building the knowledge, skills, and capacity needed for successful, sustainable initiatives. Grounded in the National Implementation Research Network (NIRN) implementation science model, this learning begins by strengthening leadership teams’ ability to understand and apply key concepts such as implementation drivers, fidelity, and sustainability.

Leaders and educators participate in targeted professional development to deepen their understanding of effective implementation practices, including the importance of staff competencies, organizational supports, and data systems used to monitor progress and guide decision-making.

Full Day Sample Participant Agenda:

*Full day agenda will be broken into modules to accommodate 2 hour early out

Day 1 Half Day	1:00 - 1:20: Welcome and Intention Setting 1:20 - 2:00: Keynote - Former Student or Business Panel 2:00 - 2:10: Debrief Activity - 5 Words 2:10 - 2:30: Break and Travel to Tours 2:30 - 3:30: Tour #1 3:30 - 3:45: Travel back to school
Day 2 Full Day	8:00 - 9:00: Review from yesterday, Current state of the workforce and education; future workforce needs; implications for PK-12 education systems 9:00 - 9:30: Exploration Activity 9:30-10:00: Break and travel 10:00 - 11:00: Tour #2 11:00 - 12:15: Travel and Lunch 12:15 -1:15: Tour #3 1:15 - 1:30: Travel back to school 1:30 - 2:30: Full group activity/debrief - Chalk Talk 2:30 - 3:30: Connections to the classroom and commitment to the work
Day 3 Quarter Day	Options could be: • Connections to the Classroom • Connections to DCAP • Connections to Work-Based Learning • Connections to Industry Recognized Credentials • Connections to School Counseling • Other needs identified by the District
Day 4 Quarter Day	Small or large group working sessions for alignment to classroom
Day 5 Quarter Day	Small or large group working sessions for alignment to classroom

Connection with Economic Development and/or Workplace Learning Connection

TIMEFRAME FOR PARTICIPANTS: • Full Day Option - One half day - One full day - Three quarter day support sessions • Early Out Option - Six - 2 hour modules - Three quarter day support sessions

TIMEFRAME FOR DISTRICT SPECIFIC PLANNING: Three quarter day planning meetings

For more information, please reach out to: Molly Crock (mcrock@gwaea.org) or Aimee Hospodarsky (ahospodarsky@gwaea.org)

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Structured Teaching for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders (LR – Graduate Credit Optional)

jputnam — Tue, 03 Mar 2026 20:00:21 +0000

Participants will participate in an immersive training designed to equip educators and support staff with practical, hands-on strategies for enhancing the learning environment for students with autism. Participants will engage in activities that teach them how to effectively structure classrooms and lessons to meet diverse needs, emphasizing the integration of evidence-based practices such as visual schedules, reinforcement systems, communication systems and tools to support functional and social communication skills. Through interactive workshops and collaborative exercises, attendees learn how to foster meaningful engagement and communication in their classrooms while ensuring that instructional methods align with best practices in autism education. Student volunteers provide opportunities for practitioners to experience real world application.

Instructor will provide handouts on the first day of class.

Important Session Information: The registration fee includes the credit cost selected plus a materials fee of $70. Instructor will provide handouts on the first day of class.

Dates: April 14, 15, 16, 2026 from 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Registration Deadline: Tuesday, April 14, 2026
Location: GWAEA's 33rd Avenue Facility, Paris Room
Instructors: Michelle Sunner, Jessica Smitterbergh, Monica Kurtz

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What Schools Need��to Know About Hearing��

jputnam — Thu, 12 Feb 2026 21:09:10 +0000

Hearing Screenings for School-Aged Students Audiology staff at Iowa’s AEAs perform hearing screenings for all��kindergarten and 2nd grade students, and any 1st graders new to school, in public school districts and accredited non-public schools across the state. These screenings are provided at no cost to districts/schools and parents as part of the AEA’s Child Find obligation. Please note that hearing screenings are not available for district/school��employees.�� Signs a Student May Have a Hearing Issue�� If students display any of these signs, they could have a hearing issue: Attention or listening concerns��

Short attention span
Easily distracted
Need instructions repeated
Say “Huh?” or “What?” often
Don’t respond when their back is turned

Academic or communication concerns��

Difficulty with comprehension
Reading/writing struggles
Speech or articulation delays
Receptive/expressive language delays

Behavior or social concerns��

Watch faces closely for clues • Seem quiet or withdrawn • Copy others’ work
Behavior concerns even during preferred activities

Physical concerns��

Frequent colds, runny nose, or ear aches
Appear tired or easily fatigued • Speak loudly

Please also consider that hearing may be having an impact on the student if there are academic concerns, especially in reading and writing, communication concerns or behavior concerns. What to Do If You’re Concerned About a Student’s Hearing�� If a teacher or parent is concerned about a student’s hearing, they should contact the school’s AEA team for assistance. AEA staff will work through the “disability suspected” process as they do for other areas of concern.

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Anamosa Named 2026 ISCA District of Distinction

jputnam — Tue, 03 Feb 2026 18:08:46 +0000

During National School Counseling Week (February 2–6), we are proud to celebrate the exceptional work of Aimee Hospodarsky, 51�� School Counselor Consultant. Aimee serves Anamosa Community School District, who recently received the honor of Anamosa Community School District, recently named an Iowa School Counselor's Association (ISCA) 2026 District of Distinction.

This honor recognizes districts that exemplify the ASCA National Model through comprehensive, equitable, and data-driven school counseling programs that support students’ academic, career, and social/emotional growth.

Anamosa earned this recognition through an equity-centered mission, strong use of data to guide practice, purposeful student outcome goals, and consistent, districtwide counseling instruction aligned with ASCA Mindsets & Behaviors. Results showed meaningful student impact, including improved attendance, reduced behavior referrals, and stronger social/emotional skills.

Members of the counseling team reflected on the recognition:

Greta Lundsgaard-Vaughn (Elementary): “This recognition reflects our commitment to ensuring every young learner feels seen, supported, and capable.”
Jaclyn Lussenhop (Middle School): “This distinction validates our collective effort to champion every student’s well-being and potential.”
Jenna Hardersen (High School): “This award highlights the power of collaboration and the belief that every student deserves a clear path forward.”

Aimee Hospodarsky, School Counselor Consultant with 51��, praised the team’s dedication and commitment throughout the rigorous application process, noting the counseling program is a true asset to the district.

"They purchased time for me to come in and provide coaching and support as they completed work toward their District of Distinction application. Throughout the process, they demonstrated a commitment to excellence in their school counseling program and stayed focused on their goal of achieving this accomplishment.�� The application process is comprehensive and requires significant time and commitment, which is a testament to their dedication to their work.�� The school counseling team is an asset to their district." shares Aimee.

Congratulations to Anamosa’s school counseling team on this well-deserved honor, and thank you Aimee for the important work you do every day to support student success.

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Implementation Science for Educational Initiatives with Ongoing Coaching:

jputnam — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 15:45:59 +0000

Sustained Project-Based Learning in the Classroom

Professional learning around implementation science in education is an ongoing, dynamic process focused on building the knowledge, skills, and capacity needed for successful and sustainable implementation of educational initiatives. Grounded in the NIRN (National Implementation Research Network) implementation science model, this learning begins by strengthening leadership teams’ ability to understand and apply key concepts such as implementation drivers, fidelity of implementation, and sustainability.

Leaders and educators engage in targeted professional development to deepen their understanding of effective implementation, including the roles of staff competencies, organizational supports, and data systems for monitoring progress.

This one-day workshop equips educators to design sustained, project-based learning experiences that connect classroom instruction to the real world of work and Iowa’s updated definition of Work-Based Learning. Participants will learn to align authentic PBL projects with content standards and WBL requirements while transforming an existing lesson or unit into a meaningful, student-centered learning experience.

Date: Thursday, March 5, 2026 from 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Location: 51�� - 4401 Sixth Street SW, Cedar Rapids, IA
Instructor: Molly Crock
Registration Deadline: Feb. 28, 2026

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School Counselors Celebrate During National School Counseling Week, Feb. 2–6, 2025

jputnam — Mon, 19 Jan 2026 14:14:26 +0000

as established by the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) has the theme of “School Counselors Amplify Student Success.” This week will focus public attention on the unique contribution of school counselors within U.S. school systems and how students are different as a result of what school counselors do. National School Counseling Week highlights the tremendous impact school counselors can have in helping students achieve school success and plan for a career. Out of the nine statewide AEAs, 51�� is fortunate to be one of three AEAs with a dedicated School Counselor Consultant: Aimee Hospodarsky. In her role, she supports 51�� school counselors by providing practical, relevant professional learning, coaching, and consultation that strengthens school counseling programs and improves student outcomes. Her work focuses on building strong, data-informed systems, supporting counselors at all stages of their careers, and helping districts implement high-quality, comprehensive school counseling programs aligned with the . Through networking opportunities, coaching, and ongoing communication, she aims to build collaborative relationships and ensure counselors feel supported, connected, and equipped to do their best work. Through her work, she has made a meaningful difference in strengthening and shining a light on the work of school counselors across our agency. “School counselors work with all students to remove barriers to learning by addressing students’ academic concerns, career options and social/emotional skills,” said Jill Cook, ASCA executive director. “School counseling programs help to increase student achievement and provide a much-needed resource for students, parents, teachers and administrators. School counselors are integral to student success.” ��More than 100,000 school counselors nationwide will be participating in the week’s festivities. Many schools will be hosting special events and activities to call attention to the countless benefits of a comprehensive school counseling program. How to Celebrate As part of its celebration for National School Counseling Week, 51�� would like to recognize and thank all the school counselors across the agency for their dedication and continuous work that is “helping students thrive.” The American School Counselor Association has created to help promote this important week! Anyone with specific questions or concerns about school counseling programs should contact the school counselors at their local schools. More general information can also be found on ASCA’s website, .

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NEW! Elementary OpenSciEd Professional Learning for First Released Units

jputnam — Wed, 17 Dec 2025 21:29:38 +0000

Elementary OpenSciEd empowers educators to move beyond traditional science teaching by collaborating with leading researchers and educators to create curricula aligned with how students learn best. Successful implementation requires understanding the instructional routines and foundational principles that support active student sensemaking of phenomena. A student-centered, social constructivist approach is essential to delivering high-quality learning. In this course, teachers will explore lesson progressions within a unit and how they reinforce the core principles of the curriculum.

This professional learning experience prepares teachers to use OpenSciEd tools to enhance student sensemaking through a deep dive into a grade-level unit, while also providing a vision for the long-term goals of the OpenSciEd Project and alignment with A Framework for K–12 Science Education and the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS).

Register today using the links listed below!

Grades K-2 on June 9, 2026 (Grade-specific sessions for OpenSciEd Units K.1, 1.1 and 2.1)

Grades 3-5 on June 11, 2026 (Grade-specific sessions for OpenSciEd Units 3.1, 4.1 and 5.1)

Where: GWAEA��VAST Center, 1120 33rd Ave SW, Cedar Rapids, IA, 52404 from 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Instructors: Maria Hasken-Averkamp for Grades K.1 and 5.1 sessions, Jason Martin-Hiner for Grades 2.1 and 4.1 sessions, and Tracy Jarrett for Grades 1.1 and 3.1 sessions. Cost: $75 See for further details

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51������

FOSS Summer 2026 Registration — Now Open!

Implementation Science for Educational Initiatives with Ongoing Coaching (FOSS Workshop for Grades K-8)

Science Spotlight: Highland Middle School OpenSciEd Lesson in Action

NEW! Elementary OpenSciEd Professional Learning for First Released Units

Teaching for the Workforce

Implementation Science for Educational Initiatives with Ongoing Coaching

Structured Teaching for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders (LR – Graduate Credit Optional)

What Schools Need��to Know About Hearing��

Anamosa Named 2026 ISCA District of Distinction

Implementation Science for Educational Initiatives with Ongoing Coaching:

Sustained Project-Based Learning in the Classroom

School Counselors Celebrate During National School Counseling Week, Feb. 2–6, 2025

NEW! Elementary OpenSciEd Professional Learning for First Released Units

51��