Central Rivers Area Education Agency

Central Rivers Area Education Agency Central Rivers AEA serves over 62,000 students. A nine-member board of directors is elected by local school boards to govern budget decisions.

In addition, over 5,000 educators rely on our services in special education, school technology, media, and instructional/curriculum support. Central Rivers AEA is one of nine Area Education Agencies created in 1974 by the Iowa legislature to ensure equal educational opportunities for all children from birth through age 21. Support to local schools is provided through three service areas: Education

al Services, Information & Technology and Special Education. Area Education Agencies are funded from federal-aid and state-aid payments; legislatively controlled property tax; federal, state and private grants; and tuition for classes. The chief administrator handles the daily operation of the agency's divisions, each of which is headed by a director. In addition to the main office in Cedar Falls, the agency also has main offices in Marshalltown and Clear Lake. Central Rivers AEA Facebook Guidelines

Central Rivers AEA page is a place for you and other Central Rivers AEA friends to share stories and receive information. Central Rivers AEA is not responsible for the accuracy of information, opinions, claims or advice shared by our followers. We encourage collaboration, but please respect the community and its members. Understand that Central Rivers AEA reserves the right to remove postings that are:

(a) abusive, defamatory, or obscene;
(b) fraudulent, deceptive or misleading;
(c) in violation of any intellectual property right of another;
(d) in violation of any law or regulation, or
(e) otherwise offensive, graphically or in tone. Anyone repeatedly posting material that falls into the above categories will be banned from participating.

Do you want to make a difference for students & educators? Are you looking for a career change? Join our team today! 🙌 W...
06/03/2026

Do you want to make a difference for students & educators? Are you looking for a career change? Join our team today! 🙌 We are looking for a full-time Audiologist to serve our South Sector. This position will be based out of our Marshalltown office.

Our audiologists identify and support students with hearing or listening challenges. You will perform hearing tests, manage assistive technology like hearing aids and work closely with teachers and parents to ensure students can learn effectively in the classroom.

Explore all of our openings and start your career with purpose. 👏 Apply online today at our careers page! (The link can be found below in the comments).

A board meeting will be held tomorrow (Wednesday) night, June 3, at 5:00 pm. The board meeting agenda & additional inf...
06/02/2026

A board meeting will be held tomorrow (Wednesday) night, June 3, at 5:00 pm. The board meeting agenda & additional information can be found at https://bit.ly/44pc6b8.

Central Rivers AEA staff alongside teachers from Charles City Community School District and Saint Ansgar Community Schoo...
06/01/2026

Central Rivers AEA staff alongside teachers from Charles City Community School District and Saint Ansgar Community School District came together to brainstorm, share resources and collaborate on classroom strategies to support students' unique learning needs.

A huge shout-out to our incredible team representatives helping lead the way, including Jillian Zaputil-Erickson (Team Rep) and Kari Christensen (Team Rep/Special Ed Director–St. Ansgar). 👏

By sharing ideas and interventions across districts, we can ensure every child has the tools they need to thrive. Let’s keep working through these goals together! 🙌 👏

Summer office hours at all Central Rivers AEA offices go into effect today, June 1. Summer hours will run June 1 – July ...
06/01/2026

Summer office hours at all Central Rivers AEA offices go into effect today, June 1. Summer hours will run June 1 – July 31. Offices will be open from 7:30 am – 4:00 pm, Monday through Thursday. All offices will be closed on Fridays in June and July! ☀️

To wrap up , we are proud to spotlight Dr. Debra Rich, the Board President of Central Rivers AEA!Representing Director ...
05/29/2026

To wrap up , we are proud to spotlight Dr. Debra Rich, the Board President of Central Rivers AEA!

Representing Director District 2, Dr. Rich brings over 40 years of expertise as a professional educator to our board. Her distinguished career spans from the classroom to higher education, most recently serving as Assistant Director of the Comprehensive Literacy Center of Saint Mary’s College of California. A national Reading Recovery and Literacy Coach trainer and a published expert in her field, Deb’s professional journey has always been rooted in the belief that a strong foundation of literacy is key to student success.

A fierce advocate for public education, Deb is a powerful voice for the vital role Area Education Agencies play in Iowa’s schools. She is dedicated to ensuring that every educator and student has access to the high-quality resources they need to thrive. 👏

When she steps away from her leadership duties, Deb’s "teacher heart" stays busy with her grandchildren, who are her greatest joy. You might also find her getting her hands dirty with a home improvement project or finding peace in nature.

Deb’s legacy is one of unwavering service and advocacy. We are grateful for her leadership, her wisdom, and her steadfast commitment to the children, families and educators of Central Rivers AEA! 🙌

We value our partnerships with our school districts and love working together to support student success! 👏🙌
05/28/2026

We value our partnerships with our school districts and love working together to support student success! 👏🙌

During Occupational Therapy Month back in April, we celebrated what it means to create opportunities for every student t...
05/26/2026

During Occupational Therapy Month back in April, we celebrated what it means to create opportunities for every student to participate! 🙌

“Hi I'm Nora. Writing on paper is really hard for me. Voiceitt understands me. It helps me share my ideas. My favorite part is that I don't have to write.” (Nora used her technology to compose this message!)

Nora has so much to share – and her special education team has helped create new ways for her to participate and be part of her learning. Through a collaborative team approach, her team knew that assistive technology would be key. Now, using Voiceitt, she’s able to share her ideas, participate in class and connect with others in new ways. 👏 They’re already seeing it – more independence, more confidence more connection. We can’t wait to see where Nora goes next! ✨

At Central Rivers AEA, this is what we strive for every day: creating access so every student can show the world what they’re capable of. 🙌👏



(Photos show: Christi Jeys-Jewel, paraprofessional, Nora Ackerson, student, Michelle McPhee, SLP, Nicole Ceaglske, OT and Ryan Joss, Special Education Teacher)

All Central Rivers AEA offices will be closed on Monday, May 25 in observance of Memorial Day. 🇺🇸
05/25/2026

All Central Rivers AEA offices will be closed on Monday, May 25 in observance of Memorial Day. 🇺🇸

Dr. Theron Schutte is the superintendent at Marshalltown CSD, who brings a distinguished 41-year career in education to ...
05/23/2026

Dr. Theron Schutte is the superintendent at Marshalltown CSD, who brings a distinguished 41-year career in education to our board. Having partnered with three different AEAs across Iowa, Theron brings an "all means all" mindset to our discussions, focusing on how our decisions impact every district collectively – whether rural, suburban or urban.

When he isn’t advocating for our schools, Theron’s world revolves around his five grandchildren and their many activities, from sports to dance. This personal connection to the next generation fuels his commitment to a thriving educational landscape.

Theron believes the true "hidden gem" of our agency is our people and the positive relationships they build with our member schools. His goal is to ensure Central Rivers AEA remains financially healthy and continues to provide the high-quality services our districts need most. 🙌

Dr. Cynthia Phillips is the superintendent at Independence CSD, who joined our board to support the vital role the AEA plays in public education. Cynthia brings a valuable school-based perspective and lived experience to our agency, ensuring our decisions remain focused on the real-world impact for students, staff and families.

When she isn’t leading her district or volunteering with us, Cynthia is a true outdoor enthusiast who loves traveling, spending time with family and cheering from the stands at local athletic events.

She believes our true "hidden gem" is Early ACCESS, which provides essential support to families and young children to meet developmental needs early on. Her ultimate goal is to be a champion for high-quality education, ensuring every student in every district has the resources they need to succeed. 🙌

‼️ There is still time to register! ‼️ Join us next month for "Structured Teaching for Special Education!" This hands-on...
05/22/2026

‼️ There is still time to register! ‼️ Join us next month for "Structured Teaching for Special Education!" This hands-on workshop in Cedar Falls runs June 12 and June 15–18, from 8:00 am – 4:00 pm.

Learn to build better lessons and classrooms using visual schedules and communication tools. 🙌

Register online by June 3. The link can be found in our comments below.

Address

1521 Technology Parkway
Cedar Falls, IA
50613

Opening Hours

Monday 7:30am - 4pm
Tuesday 7:30am - 4pm
Wednesday 7:30am - 4pm
Thursday 7:30am - 4pm

Telephone

+13192738200

Website

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