Heartland Area Education Agency

Heartland Area Education Agency, based at 6500 Corporate Dr in Johnston, Iowa, operates as an open, non-charter public educational service agency serving the broader Des Moines–West Des Moines metropolitan area. Situated within a large suburban setting, this regional agency functions distinctively from traditional local school districts. Rather than directly enrolling students across standard pre-kindergarten through 12th-grade academic tracks or operating individual school buildings, the agency provides vital administrative, specialized, and instructional infrastructure to support local learning communities across central Iowa.

To maintain its broad service mission, the agency relies on a specialized workforce designed to deliver regional educational support rather than direct classroom instruction. According to National Center for Education Statistics dataset context for the 2024–2025 academic year, the agency maintains a total workforce of over 1,313 full-time equivalent (FTE) staff members. Reflecting its dedicated service model, the vast majority of this team consists of nearly 1,260 FTE support staff positions, paired with roughly 40 FTE teachers and 14 FTE instructional aides. For parents, educators, and researchers, these figures highlight an agency structured to deliver essential expertise, resources, and technical support to school districts and families throughout the region.