Education

The Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Master Gardener program will hold its core training sessions this fall for individuals interested in becoming Master Gardeners.

The Master Gardener program is looking for people who are passionate about volunteering and gardening. No previous garden knowledge is required. The program equips volunteers to grow in knowledge about gardening best practices, contribute produce to food banks to enhance food security and make Iowa’s fairgrounds and main streets beautiful.

“Master Gardeners provide information and education to Iowans,” said Susan DeBlieck, ISU Extension and Outreach Master Gardener assistant coordinator. “They are excellent community resources who help make the state a better place to live.”

Information released about the Iowa Legislative Page program is encouraging area students to apply for the 2018 session. Each year the Iowa General Assembly employs Iowa high school juniors and seniors from across the state to serve as Pages during the legislative session.

The duties of Legislative Pages vary slightly, but they generally provide valuable assistance to legislators and legislative staff. Tasks include running the chamber switchboard, delivering messages, distributing legislation, assisting committee chairpersons and sorting amendments. Pages are paid and many schools offer class credit for a student’s work in the Legislature.

Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) has received a grant sub-award in partnership with Kirkwood Community College that will provide more financial assistance for low-income eligible students through the Iowa Department of Human Services (DHS) Food Assistance Employment and Training (FA E&T) program.

NICC was selected as a community college partner for the grant sub-award in part because of the College’s expansive 5,000-square mile, eight-county service area with a substantial percentage of residents who have not earned a high school diploma or a high school equivalency diploma (HSED) and qualify for food assistance through the FA E&T program.

Just under half of northeast Iowa residents, 49.2 percent, reported a high school diploma, HSED or less as the highest educational level attained – higher than the 42 percent reported statewide, according to EMSI, Inc. Of this population, 8.08 percent of residents 25 and older live in poverty.

Each year the School Administrators of Iowa (SAI) selects a Superintendent of the Year from nominations made by each of the area education agencies throughout the state of Iowa. This year, Superintendent Dr. Dale Crozier, joint superintendent of MFL/MarMac and Eastern Allamakee Community School Districts, was nominated for the honor from the Keystone Area Education Agency (AEA).

The nomination is made by other administrators in the AEA. This is the second time Dr. Crozier has been nominated during his career as a superintendent. The individual selected as Iowa's Superintendent of the Year was Guttenberg native Gary Zittergruen, Superintendent from Benton Community School District. He was bestowed that honor at an August 2 ceremony.

The Waukon Walking School Bus, now in its fourth year, is a safe, fun and active way for students to get to school during the fall and spring months. The Walking School Bus in Waukon will walk on the following Thursday mornings this fall: September 21 and 28, and October 5, 12, 19 and 26 and will start in downtown Waukon. Interested families should drop students off by 7:40 a.m. at the Area Development and Visitor Center on the corner of First Street NW and Main Street in Waukon. Routes lead to East Elementary and West Elementary schools. Students will be walking 10-20 minutes and arrive to school by 8:10 a.m. or earlier. Fall mornings can be pretty chilly so students should come dressed for the weather. The Walking School Bus will not walk if it is below 40°F or if it is raining/storming/snowing. In order to continue this beneficial program beyond Fall 2017, more volunteer leaders are needed.

Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) Business and Community Solutions is offering the class “Windows 10 Operating System Essentials” (#57470) Tuesday, September 12 from 5-8 p.m. at the NICC Waukon Center, 1220 Third Avenue NW.

In this class, participants will learn the role of an operating system as the primary foundation and interface on a computer. Participants will spend a couple hours getting comfortable with the core features of Windows 10.

Windows 10 offers some compelling features including Cortana, the brand new Microsoft personal assistant, and a new start menu. Those who are new to Windows altogether or just upgrading from a previous version will find what is needed to get going with Windows 10. Students at the Waukon Center location will be participating via web-based video conference transmitted from the host location in Cresco.

Experience the beauty of fall at Effigy Mounds National Monument by hiking with a Ranger on one of the monument’s south unit trails. Starting Thursday, September 7, these interpretive Ranger-guided hikes will take place Thursdays and Sundays in September, beginning at 1 p.m. The moderately strenuous three- to four-mile hikes will focus on the lifestyles of the American Indians who built the mounds between 2500-900 years ago. The tours will conclude at one of the park’s iconic effigy mounds and will last approximately three hours.

Visitors should wear sturdy walking shoes, bring plenty of water and are reminded to not bring their pets. Meet the Ranger at 1 p.m. at the Marching Bears trail access located across the railroad tracks off Highway 76, one-quarter mile south of the headquarters of Effigy Mounds National Monument. Sunday tours are subject to ranger availability. For more information call 563-873-3491, ext. 123.

Justin W. Patchin, Ph.D., professor of criminal justice at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and Co-Director of the Cyberbullying Research Center, will be conducting a presentation on cyberbullying Monday, September 25 at the New Albin Community Center, beginning at 7 p.m.

Entitlted "Teen Technology Use and Misuse," Dr. Patchin's presentation will cover a broad overview of cyberbullying, including issues parents, educators, and teens need to know about how youth use and misuse technology to cause harm to their peers. The presentation will define and provide examples of cyberbullying and discuss the role of parents in preventing and responding to inappropriate online behaviors.  It will also describe many of the online environments popular among adolescents today and strategies to use to make sure they are used safely and responsibly.

At the August 21 Board of Trustees meeting at the Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) Cresco Center, members received an update on organizational development programs the College has implemented for its employees.

Seth Gilbert, J.D., Ph.D., director of organizational development, shared how organizational development opportunities for employees at the College encompass personal, professional and procedural development, as well as faculty and stakeholder development. From 2016-2017, Gilbert conducted a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis among current employees and will combine the data it generated with the data collected from an environmental scan completed by other members of institutional effectiveness. Gilbert also introduced quarterly new employee orientation sessions and a Leadership Certificate program.

by Brianne Eilers

The Allamakee Community School District (ACSD) Board of Directors held its regular monthly meeting Monday, August 21. A reception to welcome new teachers was held prior to the beginning of the meeting.

Keystone AEA board member Dr. Bill Withers and Administrator Pat Heiderscheit were present at the meeting. Dr. Withers noted that he usually checks in with school boards to see if they have any concerns that he needs to take back to the AEA. He also noted that he will be running for re-election for his seat and asked the board members for their support. Heiderscheit stated that he appreciated the working relationship between Keystone AEA and ACSD, and also noted that Keystone is grateful to have some space available to them at East Elementary.