Strategic Plan

Indiana Association for Adult and Continuing Education

December 2023- December 2026

IAACE Mission Statement:

Indiana Association for Adult and Continuing Education ELEVATES lifelong learning and workforce development through professional development, collaboration, and advocacy.

IAACE Vision Statement:

We equip our members with tools to build more robust programs, empower teachers, and inspire students. We strive for equity and respect for all. We champion the benefits of obtaining an education at any point in life.

IAACE Values –

Collaborates with Indiana adult education stakeholders.

Communicates and promotes adult education

Facilitates professional development.

Provides support to members.

Pillar One: Professional Development

Pillar Two: Collaboration

Pillar Three: Advocacy

Pillar Four: Resource Development

Pillar One: Professional Development

Professional Development Committee: Where Your Growth Takes Center Stage

The Professional Development Committee is dedicated to fostering a thriving community of continuous learners. We’re your one-stop shop for enriching experiences that ignite your potential and elevate your career. We do this by crafting a diverse and dynamic menu of opportunities, including:

Annual Conference: Dive deep into current trends, network with inspiring leaders, and gain practical tools at our premier event. We curate a captivating program featuring:
- High-profile keynote speakers: Learn from industry titans and thought leaders who push the boundaries of innovation.
- Engaging workshops and sessions: Hone your skills, explore new avenues, and get answers to your burning questions.
- Exhilarating networking opportunities: Connect with peers, potential collaborators, and future mentors.
Virtual Institute: Dive into a concentrated learning experience led by experts and colleague leaders. This program features:
- One-day curriculum: Deepen your knowledge through focused sessions, interactive exercises, and real-world case studies.
- Small group discussions: Collaborate, share insights, and build lasting connections with colleagues.
- Live Q&A sessions: Get your questions answered and gain personalized feedback from members and leaders.
Virtual Offerings: Stay ahead of the curve with our ongoing webinars, masterclasses, and bite-sized learning sessions. Choose from a range of topics to:
- Master essential skills: Learn the latest tools and techniques to boost your productivity and effectiveness.
- Discover cutting-edge trends: Gain insights into emerging technologies and adapt your skillset to the future of work.
- Sharpen your leadership abilities: Develop your communication, team-building, and strategic thinking skills.

Join us on this journey of continuous learning and growth! The Professional Development Committee is here to empower you with the knowledge, skills, and network you need to reach your full potential.

We invite you to:

Get involved: Share your ideas, volunteer your expertise, and help shape the future of our programs.
Embrace the opportunity: Step outside your comfort zone, explore new areas and become the best version of yourself.

Let’s learn, grow, and succeed together!

Goal 1: To share resources for adult education professionals, including directors and teachers

Create a repository on the website
Create toolkits for new adult education professionals
Develop Quarterly Meetings by job duty (Directors, Inters, ABE Teachers, ELL Teachers, Career Coaching and others as determined by the committee)
Incentivize information sharing
Revive mentoring program and explore collaborations: new teacher mentor, data mentor, HSE testing mentor, ELL Teaching mentor, career coach mentor.

Goal 2: Maintain the conference’s excellence and success.

Pillar Two: Collaboration

COLLABORATION AND ENGAGEMENT COMMITTEE 2024

The IAACE Collaboration and Engagement Committee is a dynamic group of people who are passionate about connecting members, fostering member engagement and collaboration, and increasing awareness of membership benefits.

The IAACE Collaboration and Engagement Committee catalyzes transformative engagement and collaboration among Indiana adult educators. By enhancing membership, nurturing communication, and recognizing impactful and innovative collaborative partnerships, this committee plays a crucial role in expanding the reach and impact of adult and continuing education.

COLLABORATION AND ENGAGEMENT COMMITTEE OBJECTIVES:

Membership:

Cultivate increased membership and member retention through strategic outreach and engagement, highlighting the benefits that IAACE provides to its members.
Ensure all members have a voice by providing regular feedback opportunities for members to express their opinions, interests, and questions to ensure all interests are represented.
Provide opportunities to strengthen connections among members and foster mutually beneficial collaborative relationships.

Communication:

Develop and implement creative and dynamic communication strategies that appeal to the communication styles of all members, promote member engagement, and highlight the benefits of collaborative initiatives among members.
Foster open communication channels among the IAACE committees and members, ensuring everyone is informed and engaged, and every voice is heard.
Share success stories and collaborative achievements to inspire and motivate further member engagement.

Recognition:

Establish criteria for recognizing members, particularly those who demonstrate impactful and innovative collaborative practices and excellence in the field, ensuring that we celebrate members who go above and beyond to advance adult and continuing education in Indiana.
Develop a systematic approach for regularly and consistently recognizing members, enabling the management of the awards and recognition for future reference.
Highlight and share the success stories of recognized members across multiple platforms to reach all members and inspire them to strive for similar success.

Goal 1: Reorganize Committees

Streamline committees to align with pillars

Advocacy- AL Engagement, Employer Engagement, Legislative Relationships
Professional Development- Conference, Virtual Institute, Virtual Offerings through webinars, special events
Collaboration – Communications, Memberships, Awards
Resources: Indiana Literacy Association

Create new descriptions of committees that include goals and objectives.
Board Members will pick committees to serve on and chair

Goal 2: Connect our work with the Department of Workforce Development (DWD)

Continue to invite DWD representatives/liaison to board monthly meetings.
Define how programs collectively address concerns with DWD.
Align our advocacy policies with DWD policies

Goal 3: To Develop Board Members.

Pillar Three: Advocacy

Championing Change: The Power of the Advocacy Committee

The Advocacy Committee is the engine that drives positive change within our organization and beyond. We are a passionate group of IAACE members dedicated to amplifying the voices of adult educators and learners, using strategic advocacy initiatives to influence policy, promote awareness, and create a brighter future for our adult education students.

Building Bridges with Legislators:

At the heart of our work lies a commitment to fostering strong relationships with policymakers. We actively engage with local, state, and federal representatives, building bridges of understanding and ensuring our concerns are heard. Through persuasive communication, data-driven arguments, and grassroots mobilization, we advocate for policies and funding that align with our mission and serve the best interests of our learners.

Empowering Adult Learners and Employers:

We recognize the transformative power of adult education and believe everyone deserves the opportunity to reach their full potential. That’s why we champion initiatives that make adult learning accessible and valued. We work with educational institutions, businesses, and community organizations to create pathways to success for adult learners, whether that means advocating for funding, promoting flexible learning options, or fostering employer engagement in workforce development programs.

Partnering for Impact: The Role of the Lobbyist:

To amplify our voice and navigate the complex world of legislative processes, we leverage the expertise of a professional lobbyist. This strategic partnership allows us to present our case to policymakers effectively, build coalitions with like-minded organizations, and ensure our advocacy efforts have a lasting impact.

What Our Members Do:

We invite you to join this dynamic force for change because your voice matters. Here are some ways you can get involved:

Participate in regular committee meetings,
Help plan and execute advocacy events,
Testify in the General Assembly on behalf of IAACE if needed,
Show, for example, engagement with legislators and other policymakers.

Remember, advocacy is not a spectator sport. It’s a collective action that requires the dedication and passion of every one of us.

We believe in the power of advocacy to make a difference. Join us, and let’s champion change together!

Goal 1: To create a unified message about IAACE in order to assist (Then helps our AE Providers to create a unified message about services.)

Goal 2: Create annual legislative priorities, advocacy tools, and events to advance our mission and vision for adult education.

Pillar Four: Resource/Fund Development

Resource Committee: Facilitating Knowledge Sharing for IAACE and ILA

The Resource Committee serves as a central hub for members of the Indiana Association for Adult and Continuing Education (IAACE), (501 c 4) and the Indiana Literacy Association (ILA) (501 c3). Our mission is to identify, curate, and disseminate valuable resources that support the professional development needs of both organizations and the needs of Indiana Adult Learners.

Key Functions:

Fund Development: ILA in collaboration with IAACE is committed to pursuing funding opportunities and securing resources that empower adults in our community to unlock the transformative power of literacy and education.
Resource Development: We actively seek out and collect high-quality resources relevant to the fields of continuing education and literacy (IAACE) and Indiana Literacy (ILA). This may include articles, research papers, best practice guides, case studies, and online tools.
Content Curation: The committee meticulously evaluates resources to ensure they are credible, up-to-date, and aligned with the interests of IAACE and ILA members.
Knowledge Sharing: We utilize various channels to share curated resources with members, such as online databases, newsletters, and conference presentations.
Collaboration: The committee fosters collaboration between IAACE and ILA by identifying areas where resources and expertise can be shared across disciplines.

Benefits for Members:

Easy Access to Valuable Information: The Resource Committee streamlines access to relevant and reliable information, saving members valuable time and effort.
Enhanced Professional Development: Our curated resources empower members to stay current with industry trends, best practices, and legal developments in their respective fields.
Cross-Disciplinary Learning: The committee facilitates knowledge exchange between IAACE and ILA, allowing members to gain new perspectives and broaden their professional horizons.

Goal 1: IAACE and Indiana Literacy Association (ILA) (501c3) will collaborate to secure funding for seed funding to hire a grant writer and begin raising funds for priority areas.

Pillar Two: COLLABORATION AND ENGAGEMENT COMMITTEE 2024

COLLABORATION AND ENGAGEMENT COMMITTEE OBJECTIVES:

Membership:

Cultivate increased membership and member retention through strategic outreach and engagement, highlighting the benefits that IAACE provides to its members.
Ensure all members have a voice by providing regular feedback opportunities for members to express their opinions, interests, and questions to ensure all interests are represented.
Provide opportunities to strengthen connections among members and foster mutually beneficial collaborative relationships.

Communication:

Develop and implement creative and dynamic communication strategies that appeal to the communication styles of all members, promote member engagement, and highlight the benefits of collaborative initiatives among members.
Foster open communication channels among the IAACE committees and members, ensuring everyone is informed and engaged and every voice is heard.
Share success stories and collaborative achievements to inspire and motivate further member engagement.

Recognition:

Establish criteria for recognizing members, particularly those who demonstrate impactful and innovative collaborative practices and excellence in the field, ensuring that we celebrate members who go above and beyond to advance adult and continuing education in Indiana.
Develop a systematic approach for regularly and consistently recognizing members, enabling the management of the awards and recognition for future reference.
Highlight and share the success stories of recognized members across multiple platforms to reach all members and inspire them to strive for similar success.

Pillar Three: Championing Change: The Power of the Advocacy Committee

Building Bridges with Legislators:

Empowering Adult Learners and Employers:

Partnering for Impact: The Role of the Lobbyist:

What Our Members Do:

We invite you to join this dynamic force for change because your voice matters. Here are some ways you can get involved:

Participate in regular committee meetings,
Help plan and execute advocacy events,
Testify in the General Assembly on behalf of IAACE if needed,
Show, for example, engagement with legislators and other policymakers.

Remember, advocacy is not a spectator sport. It’s a collective action that requires the dedication and passion of every one of us.

We believe in the power of advocacy to make a difference. Join us, and let’s champion change together!

Pillar Four: Resource Committee: Facilitating Knowledge Sharing and Fund Development for IAACE and ILA

The Resource/Fund Committee serves as a central hub for members of the Indiana Association for Adult and Continuing Education (IAACE), (501 c 4) and the Indiana Literacy Association (ILA) (501 c3). Our mission is to identify, curate, and disseminate valuable resources that support the professional development and knowledge needs of both organizations.

Resource Committee: Facilitating Knowledge Sharing for IAACE and ILA

Key Functions:

Fund Development: ILA in collaboration with IAACE is committed to pursuing funding opportunities and securing resources that empower adults in our community to unlock the transformative power of literacy and education.
Resource Development: We actively seek out and collect high-quality resources relevant to the fields of continuing education and literacy (IAACE) and Indiana Literacy (ILA). This may include articles, research papers, best practice guides, case studies, and online tools.
Content Curation: The committee meticulously evaluates resources to ensure they are credible, up-to-date, and aligned with the interests of IAACE and ILA members.
Knowledge Sharing: We utilize various channels, such as online databases, newsletters, and conference presentations, to share curated resources with members.
Collaboration: The committee fosters collaboration between IAACE and ILA by identifying areas where resources and expertise can be shared across disciplines.

Benefits for Members:

Easy Access to Valuable Information: The Resource Committee streamlines access to relevant and reliable information, saving members valuable time and effort.
Enhanced Professional Development: Our curated resources empower members to stay current with industry trends, best practices, and legal developments in their respective fields.

Cross-Disciplinary Learning: The committee facilitates knowledge exchange between IAACE and ILA, allowing members to gain new perspectives and broaden their professional horizons.