the advocate
news from the Iowa Association of Alternative Education
Letter From the President
I know that we all went through quite a lot in the fall of 2023. As alternative educators, we are facing stress that only those who do these jobs can understand. Students need credits to graduate, but they do not want to do the work that is required. When we finally get them motivated, general education teachers tell us, “It is too late.” Parents believe we are the saviors and get angry at us when we don’t “fix” everything. Administrators think we can do all of this work without support because they have no understanding of what it takes to do our jobs. Legislators think that we are dispensable and maybe the funding should go to private organizations to see if they can do it better. We want to save everyone, but there are so many obstacles.
The great news is that our students are led by people whose mission in life is to love these kids up. We will bend over backwards and make sure they have what they need. You are angel warriors and you are amazing! Thank you for all you do!
In case you've forgotten since returning for second semester... Rest: You deserve it! Eat: You deserve it! Go to the bathroom when you need to and drink hot coffee! Get to know your own families: You deserve it!
And... register to join us at the 2024 IAAE Conference: You deserve it!
We can't wait to see you!
Joshua Baxter
Alternative Services Teacher
Carlisle High School
Spotlights
School Spotlight
(If you have a team of alternative educators we should know about, please send us a line at iowaalted@gmail.com.)
Alternative Learning Program at Ames Community School District
Ames Community Schools offers a 6-12 Alternative Learning Program (ALP). While the programming may look different between middle and high school, the goals are the same. ALP supports students in gaining skills to be successful young adults.
Ames Middle School ALP consists of four teachers providing reading and math interventions. Additionally, they each teach a new class called STRIVE (Structured Time for Reflection, Instruction, Vision, and Empowerment). STRIVE classes focus on growth mindset, executive functioning skills, emotional regulation, goal setting, and assignment completion. Students are identified for ALP based on attendance, grades, and test scores in reading and math.
Ames High School provides several program options designed to meet the educational goals of students, including a half-day program and a night program. In both options, individual student needs are accommodated through the use of a variety of learning alternatives, such as progress monitoring, instructional support, mentoring, and counseling. The day program allows students to work on graduation credits in a single classroom, or they can spend half their day in that classroom and the other half in elective courses. The day program staff is made up of a counselor and five teachers. The night program offers students the opportunity to be taught by core teachers in a smaller setting on a nontraditional timeframe. The night program staff is made up of seven teachers. All teachers provide both original credit and recovery credit in core courses, as well as academic support for all courses.
For more information about ALP programming, contact:
Middle School - Jenny Parsons at jennifer.parsons@ames.k12.ia.us
Alternative Learning Program, Reading & Learning Interventionist
High School - Ben Matthies at ben.matthies@ames.k12.ia.us
Alternative Learning Program Coordinator and Night School Administrator
Student Spotlight
Meet Paul Blake, a student of the OHANA program at Greene County High School in Jefferson, IA! Paul is a Senior who chose to create two different charcuterie boards for his woodworking project. He carefully chose the wood types after a great deal of research. His attention to detail paid off, and he enjoyed giving one of the boards as a gift.
News
Iowa Department of Education At-Risk Task Force
Current IAAE President Josh Baxter and Past President Chuck Tonelli recently represented the IAAE on the Iowa Department of Education’s At-Risk Task Force. The task force was formed as directed by the legislature last year in Senate File 560 to study the state's at-risk spending. The task force met and discussed the charge from the legislative body and prepared recommendations for consideration during the upcoming session. Once this report is released it will be shared on the IAAE website as well as in a future newsletter. Stay tuned!
To learn more about the task-force and its work visit the link below:
National Connections
IAAE board members Chuck Tonelli and Shannon Ellis traveled to Tampa, Florida to represent their school, district and the IAAE at the National Alternative Education Association’s annual conference. The METRO High School team presented their work on cross-curricular and project-based instruction in an alternative setting. They also networked with national and regional associations and built connections that the IAAE can build on in the future.
Do you want to get involved in the NAEA? Would your school benefit from professional learning focused on alternative education best practices? Would your team have something valuable to present to a national audience? Find the answer to these questions and more by visiting the NAEA Website: www.the-naea.org/
It is free and easy to become an NAEA member. Join today!
Opportunities
Join Us for Legislative Day!
Staff and students from all of Iowa’s Alternative Schools and Programs are invited to join other IAAE schools in the rotunda of the State Capitol building on Tuesday, April 16th. This is a great opportunity to introduce students to State Legislators, promote alternative education, and enjoy a pizza lunch together.
If you'd like to attend, please RSVP by emailing Shannon Ellis at sellis@crschools.us. Consider creating a table display showcasing your program, student work, and special activities. Then, email your legislators ahead of time to invite them to see your display and join you and your students for lunch. (For information on contacting your Legislators you may reference this web page: www.legis.iowa.gov/legislators)
Who Do You Know??
High school alternative education teachers, we would love to spread the word about our organization and conference to our middle school colleagues! Your middle school(s) may have one person, a whole alternative ed department, or something in between. If you know any middle school staff in your district who work with at-risk students, please pass forward this newsletter and invite them to our spring conference. We would also be thrilled to see middle school students submit work to the Mandala. Please help us find our middle school peeps! :)
(Submission deadline: March 1)
Pause With Us
2024 Conference
Mark Your Calendars!
The 2024 IAAE Conference is set for March 21 & 22nd in Cedar Rapids, IA! Come hear from inspiring world-changers as we explore "Best Practice" together. Conference themes include Restorative Practice, School Culture & Relationships, and Project Based Learning.
Check out the details:
Iowa Association of Alternative Education
Email: iowaalted@gmail.com
Website: https://sites.google.com/view/iaae/home?authuser=0
Facebook: facebook.com/iowaalted
Twitter: @iowaalted
“Love is the greatest thing we do. It's the reason we're here. We're here to love.”
- Brené Brown