Mississippi Bend AEA

👏 High Five, Makennah DeVore!
We’re excited to celebrate Makennah as one of this quarter’s MBAEA High Five Award recipients! New to MBAEA this year, she’s quickly demonstrated the professionalism, integrity, and compassion of a seasoned social worker. Her commitment to supporting families and safeguarding students makes a lasting impact across our agency and schools.
Congratulations, Makennah! We’re so glad to have you on the team! 💙💛
#MBAEA #HighFiveAward #MakingAnImpact #TeamMBAEA

Today, we’re grateful to host local voters and election workers for the City and School Elections. Thank you to everyone who makes the voting process possible! 🗳️

It’s National School Psychology Week!
This week, we celebrate our incredible MBAEA School Psychologists—professionals who support students’ learning, mental health, and well-being every single day.

From assessment and intervention to collaboration and problem-solving, their work helps create safe, supportive environments where every student can learn and thrive.

Please join us in thanking our school psychologists for their dedication, compassion, and impact across our schools! 💙
#SchoolPsychologyWeek #ThankASchoolPsychologist #MBAEA

Today @ MBAEA...Special Education Department Professional Learning!

Today @ MBAEA... LETRS Training!

📣 Now Enrolling!
Looking to become a certified paraeducator or strengthen your classroom skills?
Mississippi Bend AEA is offering a new series of virtual evening courses beginning this winter and spring — perfect for paraeducators and educators seeking certification, instructional support strategies, or an area of concentration in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

🎓 Paraeducator Certification Course 1: Foundations
🗓 Jan. 5 – Feb. 27, 2026
🕕 Virtual Evenings | 6:00–8:00 PM
📅 Class Dates: Jan 5, 19, 26 & Feb 9
📌 Registration ends: Jan 4
🔗 Register here: https://mbaea.escworks.com/catalog/session.aspx?session_id=55403

📘 Paraeducator Certification Course 2: Instructional Support
🗓 Mar. 2 – Apr. 24, 2026
🕕 Virtual Evenings | 6:00–8:00 PM
📅 Class Dates: Mar 2, 23, 30 & Apr 13
📌 Registration ends: Mar 1
🔗 Register here: https://mbaea.escworks.com/catalog/session.aspx?session_id=55404

🧩 Classroom Strategies for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
(Paraeducator Area of Concentration | 3 licensure renewal credits)
🗓 Feb. 4 – May 6, 2026
🕔 Virtual Evenings | 5:00–7:00 PM
📅 Class Dates: Feb 4, 11, 18, 25; Mar 4, 11; Apr 1, 8, 15, 22, 29; May 6
📌 Registration ends: Feb 4
💡 Learn effective strategies, environmental supports, and tools for working with students on the autism spectrum.
🔗 View flyer: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1zEBNGRzRa9qqjitH4tHX0O-33AfZhXeJ/view
🔗 Register here: https://mbaea.escworks.com/catalog/session.aspx?session_id=55114

📄 For full details on certification, renewal, and licensing, explore the
MBAEA Paraeducator Program Manual:
🔗 View Manual: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Zog6y4e72rC4W7wowWW_XYBJZ-0Cb99f7QO3Pqi37LI/edit?tab=t.0

#MBAEA #Paraeducator #ProfessionalLearning #IowaEducation #SpecialEducation #AutismSupport #VirtualLearning #ParaeducatorTraining

We are so blessed to work with our amazing custodians! Thank you all, and Happy National Custodian Day!

📚✨ Today at Mississippi Bend AEA, we welcomed 120 educational leaders from across our districts for Leading for Impact, a powerful learning network focused on strengthening leadership, teaching, and student outcomes.

Through collaboration, reflection, and scenario-based problem solving, participants are engaging with the Iowa Standards for School Leaders (Standards 4, 6, and 10) to drive sustainable school improvement.

It’s inspiring to see so many leaders committed to creating meaningful impact for students in our region. 👏

#MBAEA #LeadingForImpact #EducationalLeadership #SchoolImprovement

✨ The October MBAEA Assistive Technology (AT) Newsletter is here! ✨

👉 Read the October Newsletter here: http://bit.ly/4nS2DlM

Inside you’ll find:
📌 Policy & Practice webinar on AEM & AT in the IEP
📌 New Access tools now available in our AT Lending Library
📌 AAC Awareness Month resources + discounts
📌 Free Iowa DE-sponsored access to uPAR & Read/Write tools

Together, we’re building accessibility, inclusion, and engagement for ALL students.

Our September Assistive Technology Newsletter is out! ✨
🔹 uPAR refresher + new dashboard videos
🔹 Fresh Access tools in the AT Lending Library
🔹 AAC partner tips + new resources
🔹 ATIA AT Demo Days (Sept 10)

Please share with your teams—these resources support classrooms across the region.
Read the September AT Newsletter ➜ http://bit.ly/46sFFuH
#MBAEA #AssistiveTechnology #SpecialEducation #Accessibility #AAC #IowaSchools

✨ On Friday, August 29, we held our MBAEA All-Staff gathering! ✨

It’s a rare and special opportunity when we can bring our entire team together—especially since so many of our colleagues are out in schools each day supporting learners and educators. While we missed a few faces, it was a wonderful afternoon of connection, collaboration, and celebrating the important work we get to do together.

We’re grateful for our dedicated staff and the difference they make across the region every single day. 💙

📸 Here are some highlights from the day!

Do you have a student getting ready to drive? Mississippi Bend AEA offers a Driver Education Program that adheres to state-approved driver education guidelines. We have sessions starting September 8th and continuing throughout the year!

Learn more: https://bit.ly/3MmUULQ

Alyssa Schroeder, one of our amazing General Education Consultants led LETRS training at Northeast Elementary on Tuesday!

2025-2026 Driver Education Courses are now open for registration! http://bit.ly/4fxiJhX

Brainstorming session today with MBAEA STEM Lead, Aaron Maurer, and UNI Computer Science Course participants!

Great discussions are happening today in the UNI Leadership Camp!

Making the Most of Teachable Moments: Participants are learning how brief experiences can become defining moments in education.