Please Welcome Our Newest
Executive Council Members!
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Jeremy Kovash, MN
Jeremy Kovash serves as the executive director
of Lakes Country Service Cooperative, Minnesota, providing innovative support to schools and government entities.
Originally from Moorhead, MN, Jeremy earned his
bachelor’s degree from Concordia and his master’s degree and superintendent’s licensure from Moorhead State University. Formerly,
Jeremy was a teacher of psychology, history, political science, and an administrator in Perham.
Jeremy has served on the board of directors for the United Way, the Minnesota Rural Education Association, Minnesota Association of School Administrators, AESA, and is the legislative
chairperson for the Minnesota Service
Cooperatives. He is a Humphrey Policy Fellow
with the University of Minnesota and serves on
hospital and bank boards.
Jeremy has been instrumental in passing
legislation to assist communities and schools in
Minnesota. Additionally, Jeremy worked to pass
federal legislation to aid employees and public
entities across the United States.
Jeremy resides on Marion Lake with his wife Deanna and three sons.
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Dr. Mark Hoffman, PA
Dr. Mark Hoffman joined the Bucks County Intermediate Unit (Bucks IU), Pennsylvania, in 2007. Prior to assuming the role of executive director in 2015, Mark led organizational initiatives in instructional technology, information technology, online learning, facilities, and special
education. Previously, Mark served as an administrator at the Carbon Lehigh Intermediate
Unit and as a Spanish teacher in the Central Bucks School District.
Mark graduated from Penn State University with degrees in education and Spanish and received his master’s degree in education from St. Joseph’s University. He earned his doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania, with a research focus on entrepreneurship within educational service agencies.
Mark is a regular attendee of AESA events, having attended and presented at many AESA national conferences on topics ranging from entrepreneurship to multiagency collaboration.
Mark is the president-elect of the Pennsylvania Association of Intermediate Units, the state’s
AESA affiliate organization.
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Amy Razor, KY
Amy Razor is a passionate educator who has 29
years of experience teaching and leading in Kentucky. She has served in various roles to include teacher, instructional coach, principal,
assistant superintendent, and certified twice as a
National Board-Certified Educator.
Currently, Amy serves as the executive director of the Northern Kentucky Cooperative for Educational Services (NKCES), an organization that expands a traditional 30-year cooperative approach to a future-forward organization.
In addition, Amy has received several prestigious
awards during her tenure including Schools of Success, Education Commission of the States,
and Kentucky School Administrator of the Year.
She currently serves as the president of Kentucky Association of Education
Cooperatives (KAEC).
Amy stated that AESA provides unlimited
avenues to strengthen our collective efficacy,
leverage our united voice, and strengthen our
human capacity to create the best services for students possible and she is honored to serve in this role for AESA.
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AESA Business Partner Delivers
Big Results with New App
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For a limited time, we are very excited to share an invaluable resource available to you, your schools, and all parents FOR FREE through June 30, 2021 . . . the EyeSpy20/20 mobile screening app.
Last month, John Bass, AESA COO, downloaded the app on his phone and, within minutes, found that one of his grandsons has a serious vision problem. What surprised John was that his grandson had been passing vision screenings at school for years, and NOBODY knew he was suffering from this issue.
Vision critically impacts virtually every aspect of a child's life but, in particular, academic performance is directly linked to vision.
When asked, "Why are you making this app available at no charge?" EyeSpy 20/20 Product Manager Donovan Livingston stated, "During this COVID-19 pandemic, we understand the challenge parents are facing, that is why we are offering this remote screening application absolutely free of charge. There are no hidden fees, costs, or commitments."
We want you to help get the word out that this amazing technology is being made
available to districts, parents . . . and to YOU, your families, and colleagues. We truly
believe that when you see this in action, like John Bass, you'll become a fan of EyeSpy
20/20.
One side note, the EyeSpy 20/20 app does NOT collect ANY information at all. There
is no mechanism to know who has downloaded or used the program.
Therefore, make certain that if your districts are interested in using EyeSpy 20/20 they act soon!
To read John's own words, visit eyespy2020.com. Just below his testimonial you will find links to the app for both Apple and Android.
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Executive Director Opening - SERRC, Alaska |
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The upcoming retirement of Sheryl Weinberg, Executive Director of SERRC and past AESA Executive Council member, has created an opportunity for the right person to serve as the new executive director of SERRC-Alaska's Educational Resource Center. AESA is conducting the Executive Search.
The application deadline is February 26, 2021.
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Join Us for a LIVE Legislative Update for Members
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January 27, 2021
2 pm Eastern
(1 pm Central; 12 noon Mountain; 11 am Pacific; 10 am Alaska)
It’s a New Year and a New Congress
Join Noelle Ellerson Ng, AESA Associate Executive Director of Advocacy and Governance, as she discusses what to expect for education priorities with the new administration and Congress. Hear about what continued COVID response could mean in terms of additional relief and supports for ESAs and the schools you serve.
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Member Spotlight: Author and ESA Leader Tom Butler Explores Leadership in Uncertain Times |
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The COVID-19 pandemic has created an unprecedented level of uncertainty and ambiguity within the education system. The pandemic has accelerated several challenging trends facing school leaders. Money to operate schools is becoming more scarce. School leaders must now create a viable distance learning option for the school district. School safety issues now must include basic knowledge of epidemiology. A school leader's everyday experience is becoming focused on short-term management problems instead of long-term leadership opportunities. It makes you wonder, has school leadership become an exercise in just reacting to one crisis after another? |
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Dr. Butler offers a new way to think about leading a school system with a learner-centered leadership mindset. The focus of the book centers on three tenets: stay true to your learners, stay true to yourself, and stay true to your staff. By concentrating on these three tenets, school leaders can transform themselves into learner-centered leaders.
The book tells the story of a superintendent and other school leaders working in times of crisis. Through that story, school leaders learn how to transform their school district to become learner-centered by focusing on long-term leadership objectives.
In this book, school leaders will learn how to:
•Focus on learners…the most important part of a school
•Create and articulate a vision of learning for their school community
•Develop a plan to become uncompromisingly learner-centered based on the tenets of The New Learning Ecosystem
About the Author
Tom Butler is the Executive Director of Appalachia Intermediate Unit 8 in Altoona, Pennsylvania. He has worked in education for 28 years as a teacher, school counselor, principal, superintendent, and executive director. He found his passion for learner-centered leadership when he realized the influence great leaders have on creating better outcomes for learners. Tom’s blog can be found at www.poweringuped.com.
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Help Your Team Transform Your ESA's
Business Strategy
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Dr. Simester has taught this same framework to scores of Fortune 500 companies around the world. Companies such as Cisco, Fidelity, Loreal, and others use this training to help discover and develop new leaders within their organizations.
Dr. Simester teaches this session, tailored for ESAs, in true MBA style using business cases and hands-on work with real-team projects to enhance the learning. This workshop has the power to change how your leadership team thinks about the future of your ESA!
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Special Event from AESA Business Partner! |
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Compensatory Services, What Now? E-Therapy . . . A Solution!
January 21, 2021
2 pm Eastern
(1 pm Central; 12 noon Mountain; 11 am Pacific; 10 am Alaska)
Join Annmarie Iascone, E-Therapy Director of Business Development as she talks about compensatory services and how you can get up to date and stay compliant even if you are remote! This webinar is an opportunity to have an open conversation about how E-Therapy can help you and your district feel confident about serving your special education students without burning out your therapists and administrators.
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2020 Annual Conference Registered Attendees:
Use the Conference App
to Access to Recorded Sessions!
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Access the App
through March 8
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Contact Ann Fiene afiene@aesa.us if you have any problems logging into the app.
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If you attended the 2020 Annual Conference, you have access to the videos from the breakout sessions and two keynote speakers until MARCH 8, 2021!
You can log in and view recordings of:
· Keynote speakers Jenny Lay Flurrie, Microsoft’s Chief Accessibility Officer, and consultant and author Ricky Robertson (sponsored by Corwin)
· The Federal Education Policy Update
· Over 75 breakout sessions
· Joan Wade’s State of AESA Address
· The presentation of the E. Robert Stephens Award
· And more!
AND, you can still visit the virtual exhibit hall!
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Reading Leaders Book Club |
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January's Book Choice:
The Girl with the Louding Voice: A Novel, by Abi Darè
Next Meeting: January 21, 2021
7 pm Eastern; 6 pm Central; 5 pm Mountain; 4 pm Pacific; 3 pm Alaska
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