Hey Ms. Mincks

08/25/2026

🚨Obligatory 1st Day of School Photo (for posterity)🚨

📆 This is the start of year 19.5 for me! I am no longer confused with the students. 🤪 I didn’t really even capture a school photo- just decided to take a selfie in my car after bouncing from building to building.

☔️ It was raining to start the day- I am going with the superstition that we are washing away the old and making room for a new chapter this year.

📚 My big news is that I am starting a doctoral program this fall. Send me all the advice!

08/05/2026

Colleen’s dedication to public education and passion for supporting aspiring educators will always be remembered. I am thankful for the opportunity to have known her.

It is with heavy hearts that we share the passing of Colleen Heinz, ISEA Teaching and Learning Specialist.

Colleen dedicated her life's work to public education and the teaching profession. As a student member, association leader, and staff member, she poured her heart and soul into doing what was best for students and educators.

She will be missed dearly by her ISEA family. Our thoughts are with her loved ones, colleagues, and all whose lives she touched.

Obituary: https://www.batesgould.com/obituary/colleen-heinz

03/08/2026

📍Iowa State University

🌪️ I am always proud to be an Iowa State Alum! I am also in good company with 2025 Iowa Teacher of the Year and .colbert 2023 Iowa State Teacher of the Year!

❤️💛 Check out this recent article from the Iowa Stater: https://iowastater.iastate.edu/spring-2026/article/iowa-state-alumnae-iowa-teacher-of-year

01/11/2026

🎉💙 Emerging Educators Academy 11💙🎉

✏️ Another year of a great conference created by teachers, for teachers!

💫 It was lovely to connect with new & familiar faces!

📣 I also loved hearing from Dr. Wise at Drake Education who lifted the role of time in our work. “This is the paradox of teaching. Time is your scarcest resource. And yet, the most powerful moments are always available. Iowa educators lead not because they control time, but because they recognize the moment. Chronos is limited. Kairos is limitless!” AND the National Teacher of the Year, Ashlie Crosson, who reminded us that, “The show goes on however you direct it, so what’s your second act?”

12/12/2025

🗓️ The deadline to register for Emerging Educators Academy is approaching! Pre-service teachers, 1st-3rd year teachers and mentors, please join us on this inspiring day!

12/10/2025

💫 This was TWO years ago?? It’s unbelievable how quickly time has flown by. I am with my fellow Iowa TOY .colbert in the sense that I will always take a moment to honor this journey!

10/23/2025

Congratulations to all of these Iowa Regional Teachers of the Year!!

The Iowa Department of Education today named nine teachers from across the state as the 2026 Iowa Regional Teachers of the Year.

10/07/2025

Iowa’s premier professional learning and networking event for new teachers is back for 2026.

10/05/2025

✨MIDTESOL Conference 2025 “Multilinguals in the Midwest”✨

🧑🏻‍🏫 I am so grateful to have attended this year’s conference. There is a special energy in the room when you are surrounded by fellow educators living out the values of advocacy, lifelong learning, professionalism, and respect highlighted by the MIDTESOL community.

Things I loved:
✨ reuniting with so many familiar faces from across the state of Iowa

✨hearing stories of connection & impact from my time spent as Iowa Teacher of the Year last year-like amazing mentoring programs & panels on the celebrations and challenges of teaching MLs in rural areas

✨ attending sessions led by colleagues from my amazing West Des Moines ESOL team

✨witnessing the first “Zachary Smith Friends of MIDTESOL” award in honor of a DMPS colleague who passed last year

“There are hundreds of languages in the world, but a smile speaks them all.”

09/01/2025

❤️💙Happy Labor Day!❤️💙

🗣️ How lucky was Iowa to have the president of the nation’s largest labor union, Becky Pringle, with us today?

🗣️ President Pringle reminded us that solidarity is a verb. We will fight for our students together. We will fight for our families together. Public education is the foundation of our democracy.

🗣️ Gubernatorial candidate, Rob Sand, was also in the crowd supporting unions today!