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.

At Central Rivers AEA, we believe that every child deserves the right support at the right time to reach their full pote...
06/16/2026

At Central Rivers AEA, we believe that every child deserves the right support at the right time to reach their full potential. πŸ™Œ Did you know schools are responsible for finding children who may need extra help with learning or development? This is called 𝐂𝐑𝐒π₯𝐝 𝐅𝐒𝐧𝐝.

If you ever have concerns about your child's growth or learning, you don't have to navigate it alone. You have the right to request a free special education evaluation at any time to see how we can best support them – reach out to their teacher for support.

For child(ren) not school age, reach out to your local AEA or visit our website to learn more. The link can be found in the comments below.

We are incredibly proud of the hard work and dedication shown by Hampton-Dumont Community School District educators at t...
06/12/2026

We are incredibly proud of the hard work and dedication shown by Hampton-Dumont Community School District educators at their recent four-day Science of Reading Summit! Led by literacy consultant Melissa Blohm, our team took a deep dive into essential research on how students learn to read. To keep the energy high and the learning fun, the group enjoyed a beach-themed atmosphere while collaborating on daily routines, data-driven decision-making and effective reading and writing instruction.

The summit's impact was best captured by Jen Koenen, Hampton-Dumont CSD's Director of Academic Services, who shared: "To say that Hampton-Dumont's four-day Summer of "Science of Reading" Summit has been amazing would be an incredible understatement!! Melissa Blohm has facilitated deep learning beyond what we could have even hoped!"

Let’s work through the upcoming school year together, using these powerful, evidence-based practices to support all of our young readers! This is what outstanding professional growth looks like.

Shoutout to the Independence CSD Mustangs students who leveled up their career prep at the recent Indee Impact Career Da...
06/11/2026

Shoutout to the Independence CSD Mustangs students who leveled up their career prep at the recent Indee Impact Career Day! πŸ‘

Karl Kurt, CRAEA Assistant Chief Administrator/Director of HR and Sarah Nelson, CRAEA Director of IT/Special Programs, teamed up to deliver an awesome Professional Skills Workshop, giving students the ultimate toolkit to kickstart their futures. πŸ‘

With the assistance of our CRAEA Work-Based Learning Coordinator Keith Halverson, who helped organize the event, students got an inside look at what employers actually want to see in entry-level candidates and how to carry themselves professionally on the job. They also practiced answering interview questions with confidence, learned how to stand out from the crowd even without a lot of experience on their resumes, and even discovered how to use ChatGPT as a personal interview coach.

We love collaborating with our schools to support student success! πŸ™Œ

We are so proud to partner with the Denver Community School District to help students turn classroom lessons into hands-...
06/10/2026

We are so proud to partner with the Denver Community School District to help students turn classroom lessons into hands-on, real-world success! πŸ‘

Through their dedicated coursework and work experience program, Denver Secondary students are mastering essential employability skills in the classroom and putting them straight into practice. πŸ™Œ

You can spot these hard-working students gaining valuable skills at fantastic local hubs like Wartburg College, Waverly Hy-Vee, Denver Fareway, Discoveries Preschool, the Denver Public Library, Taylor's Physical Therapy and KWAY Radio.

A special shoutout goes to Landon, a sophomore who is completely knocking it out of the park! Landon runs the school snack cart, managing everything from ordering inventory to tracking records. His passion for leadership and community service shines incredibly bright, as he also helps run the community food bank and assists with the school concession stands. Way to go, Landon!

This wonderful partnership thrives thanks to the close collaboration between Central Rivers AEA's Ronda Reid, Special Education Consultant and Brian Foster, Work Experience Coordinator. Thank you both for your incredible dedication to mentoring our students and helping them build bright futures! πŸ‘

Ready to make a real difference for students, educators and schools across Iowa? We are hiring! This is more than a job ...
06/08/2026

Ready to make a real difference for students, educators and schools across Iowa? We are hiring! This is more than a job – it's your chance to change lives and help shape the future through meaningful connections. πŸ‘

We are looking for a Speech-Language Pathologist Assistants II in all of our sectors! These roles will work directly with our Speech-Language Pathologists to deliver instruction and collaborate with staff in our school districts.

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).

For many students transitioning out of high school, taking that first leap into the workforce can feel incredibly daunti...
06/04/2026

For many students transitioning out of high school, taking that first leap into the workforce can feel incredibly daunting. But in Iowa Falls, a fantastic partnership between Iowa Falls - Alden High School and Central Rivers AEA is changing the game by offering hands-on, real-world experience. πŸ™Œ

The program utilizes a "continuum of opportunities," as described by Work Experience Coordinator Dawn McCleish, meaning no two paths look the same.

Students build foundational skills in familiar, low-pressure settings – like a school-run coffee shop or a mock flower shop – before stepping out into the community to work alongside professionals at local businesses like car shops and retail stores. The level of support adjusts as their confidence grows.

According to CRAEA Work-Based Learning Coordinator Mitzi Petersen, the results speak for themselves. This school year alone, six out of 16 student interns were offered permanent positions at the businesses where they trained! That’s not just a statistic; it’s a young person building a life. πŸ‘

Consider Carly Hamilton, a junior at IF-A, who interned at Bel Floral last fall. As Carly shared, the experience taught her that success "takes patience and you can’t learn everything in one week. You have to be creative and you have to try." Shop owner Michelle Versteeg was impressed, noting Carly's "genuine interest in flowers" and her desire to learn and engage.

That kind of connection – between a student, a mentor and a community – is the core mission of this program. Principal Kyle Hutchinson says the CRAEA collaboration "bridges the gap between the classroom and the local workforce, ensuring every student has the tools they need to find their path."

When students find their spot, families are stronger. Communities are stronger. And a young person who might have been overlooked gets to prove what they’re capable of. That's worth investing in! πŸ‘

We invite local businesses to join us! Your partnership could be the moment a student like Carly discovers their path. For more information, reach out to Sarah Nelson, Director of IT & Special Programs ([email protected]).

Do you want to make a difference for students & educators? Are you looking for a career change? Join our team today! πŸ™Œ 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! πŸ™Œ 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. πŸ‘ 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). πŸ‘

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! πŸ™Œ πŸ‘

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! β˜€οΈ

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

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Central Rivers Area Education Agency posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to Central Rivers Area Education Agency:

Shortcuts

Share

Category