About Prairie Lakes AEA
Prairie Lakes AEA is the result of a merger between Lakeland AEA & Arrowhead AEA in 2003. Our area stretches across 14 counties (Calhoun, Clay, Buena Vista, Dickinson, Emmet, Greene, Hamilton, Humboldt, Kossuth, Palo Alto, Pocahontas, Sac, Webster & Wright) from the Minnesota border down to the Highway 30 area; and across from Interstate 35 to Highway 71. Our 8,000 square mile area is larger than the states of Delaware (2,489), Connecticut (5,543) and Rhode Island (1,545), and is comparable to New Jersey (8,721). Prairie Lakes AEA is one of Iowa's nine Area Education Agencies.
Within that region, we serve 44 public school districts and 11 accredited, nonpublic schools – such as St. Edmond, Pocahontas Catholic, Storm Lake St. Mary’s, Community Christian, Sacred Heart in Spencer, Emmetsburg Catholic, Bishop Garrigan, etc. Click here for a map of our area.
Over 32,000 students attend the schools we serve and we partner with about 3,500 educators. (We define educators who works with kids – superintendents, principals, teachers, janitors, bus drivers)
While we have physical office space in eight communities, our 230 staff members also have work space in local schools. It’s not uncommon for our folks to work in public libraries, restaurants…anywhere they can find free Internet access.
Chief Administrator is Jeff Herzberg joined Prairie Lakes AEA in July 2010. Each of the nine members of our Board of Directors is elected by local school district boards.
We live our shared vision through our values. Each core value is followed by our vision.
Communication. We collaborate and cooperate to build and sustain relationships. We respond promptly to all requests to ensure people have useful and accurate information. We recognize effective technology can enhance and support communication.
Integrity. We value diverse opinions and communicate with honesty and respect. We hold steadfast to our commitments. We see a moral purpose in setting and achieving high standards.
Success for all learners. All students are assured access to and success in the core curriculum which prepares them for the future. We utilize our knowledge and skills to meet the needs of all learners.
Compassionate support. We treat others the way we want to be treated. We assume positive intent and appreciate the diversity and talents of others.
Teamwork. We work together to solve problems and coach one another to find solutions. We value face-to-face interactions while embracing technology to connect and collaborate. We are innovative consumers of technology who use the most effective tools to reach our goals.
Excellence. We are dedicated to providing the best services and resources possible to our customers. We set high standards and pursue them relentlessly.
Innovative and effective practices. We deliver services that are based on sound research. We gather and use data to ensure that what we deliver has the desired result. Through innovative technology, education is not determined by place or time. We embrace challenges.
An inclusive climate. We collaborate to meet the needs of ALL learners. We respect and honor the unique needs of our districts as well as the diversity, skills and individual responsibilities of each and every staff member.
Shared leadership. We operate with fluid work teams organized by function rather than job title. Everyone is a leader and a team member. Everyone is empowered and works to empower others.
Efficiency. We function within the statewide AEA system, which operates as Centers of Excellence. Each center provides high-quality services using the most current research-based practices and technology. Desired results are maximized with minimal impact on agency resources.
Accountability. We listen to our customers. We design and deliver services based on needs determined by data. We do what we say we will do, with clarity, on time, every time, for our customers, partners and our colleagues.
Continuous, lifelong learning. We are always learning and enhancing our skills and knowledge. We are all learning leaders.
We believe...
- Consistent, system-wide, open communication creates a positive organization.
- Prairie Lakes AEA must be an innovative, research-based, data-driven agency collaborating with all partners to achieve excellence.
- We will serve children, families, schools and communities with integrity based on their unique needs.
- All people thrive in an atmosphere of trust, respect, excellence and recognition.
- Through shared knowledge, skills and collaborative partnerships, we can support the needs of all learners.
- Learning must be differentiated in order to meet the needs of agency, the district and the individual to build upon strengths and skills.
- Flexibility and support are needed in order to balance job responsibilities, teaming, training and application of new skills.
Our mission is to ensure success for all learners
through collaborative partnerships.
