Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)

The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), signed in 2015, replaced the No Child Left Behind Act. It maintains a focus on equity for all students while giving states and local school districts much more ownership over systems of school accountability and support.

In Iowa, ESSA has been a great opportunity to build on bold education improvements underway that align with ESSA requirements, including clear and rigorous standards for what students should know and be able to do, a school accountability system that targets support where and when schools need it most and a structure for professional learning that emphasizes teacher leadership and evidence-based practices.

ESSA Support Site

Download the Flyer

Continuous Improvement ESSA Supports

Important Contacts

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Crista Carlile

Crista Carlile

  • Regional Director

Districts: Des Moines
Non-public schools: Bergman Academy, Diocese of Des Moines, Empigo Academy, Joshua Christian, Mt. Olive Lutheran, OneSchool Global, JW Reed Christian
Charter schools: Great Oaks Charter School, Horizon Science Academy

Education: Bachelor’s degree, biology; Master’s degree, secondary education; Ed.D., educational leadership

Experience: High school science teacher, Science curriculum coordinator, High school administrator, Director of teaching & learning; Regional director Joined Heartland AEA in 2022

Expertise: Systems improvement; quality/continuous improvement; leadership development; strategic planning and implementation; leadership coaching

How I’ve made an impact: I have worked closely with a district to implement a school improvement process that aligns evidence-based practices in improvement science with federal and state requirements for ESSA and Title I.

Susie Meade

Susie Meade

  • Chief Academic Officer

Education: Bachelor’s degree, secondary education; Master’s degree, special education; Doctorate degree, educational administration

Experience: Family & consumer science teacher; Special education teacher; School administration: assistant middle school principal, elementary principal, director of special education, assistant superintendent, superintendent; AEA administration: chief administrator, chief academic officer
Joined Heartland AEA in 2023

Expertise: Leadership of systems and system development, general education and special education

Professional affiliations: School Administrators of Iowa, American Association of School Administrators

How I’ve made an impact: As a school leader, I’ve led successful school improvement processes which resulted in buildings and districts identifying key needs/priorities, developing implementation plans and sustaining school improvement efforts so that all students were able to exhibit growth and improve academically initially and over time.

Wendy Robinson

Wendy Robinson

  • Director of Instructional Services

Education: Master’s degree, education

Experience: Speech-language pathologist, Director of instructional services
Joined Heartland AEA in 1982

Expertise: Literacy, MTSS, Teacher Leadership, English Learners

Professional affiliations: International Dyslexia Association, International Literacy Association, Learning Forward

How I’ve made an impact: One of my areas of strength for impact is data-based decision-making using student data at the system, building, classroom and student level to improve outcomes for students.

Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)