Members

Director District Members

District 1

Currently vacant

School Districts Represented: Ankeny, Des Moines, Saydel

District 2

Elizabeth Brennan

Resides in West Des Moines
(515) 222-6920
ejcb@me.com

School Districts Represented: Des Moines, West Des Moines
Member Since: 2015
Term Expires: 2029

Elizabeth (Liz) Brennan is a former member of the West Des Moines Schools’ Board of Education and has served in many volunteer positions throughout the West Des Moines district. She serves on the Iowa Association of School Boards Board of Directors as the past president and is also a board member of BANK, a community bank based in eastern Iowa. Brennan graduated from St. Olaf College with a bachelor of arts degree in French and later earned her teaching degree, with an ESL endorsement, from the University of Iowa. She also earned her international diploma in early childhood teaching from Montessori Centre International. Liz is currently a preschool teacher at Montessori Children’s House in West Des Moines.

District 3

Heather Sievers

Resides in Altoona
(641) 757-9747
hsievers@heartlandaea.org

School Districts Represented: Baxter, Bondurant-Farrar, Carlisle, Colfax-Mingo, Collins-Maxwell, Colo-NESCO, Indianola, Knoxville, Lynnville-Sully, Melcher-Dallas, Newton, Norwalk, PCM, Pella, Pleasantville, Southeast Polk, Southeast Warren, Twin Cedars
Member Since: 2025
Term Expires: 2027

Heather Sievers holds master’s degrees in counseling psychology as well as clinical nurse leadership and currently works as a Manager of Performance Improvement focusing on improving operations, financial health and care delivery in a healthcare system. She is the founder of Advocates for Iowa’s Children, a lobbying group focused on community education and legislative advocacy for Iowa’s AEAs and the public education system. Her daughter, Rowan, lives with rare disabilities, and Heartland AEA has been supporting her and their family since she was an infant.

District 4

Margie Schwenk

Resides in Coon Rapids
(712) 830-3893
margieschwenk@gmail.com

School Districts Represented: Adair-Casey, Adel-DeSoto-Minburn, Audubon, Carroll, Coon Rapids-Bayard, Dallas Center-Grimes, Earlham, Exira-Elk Horn-Kimballton, Glidden-Ralston, Guthrie Center, Interstate 35, Madrid, Martensdale-St. Marys, Ogden, Panorama, Perry, Van Meter, Waukee, West Central Valley, Winterset, Woodward-Granger
Member Since: 2018
Term Expires: 2029

Margie Schwenk is retired from a 41-year career in education. During four decades of service, she was a middle school teacher, gifted and talented teacher/program director and director of curriculum and professional learning, all for the Coon Rapids-Bayard Community School District. Margie earned her master’s degree in educational leadership from Drake University, a bachelor’s degree in respiratory therapy and science from the College of St. Mary in Omaha and a bachelor’s degree in education and philosophy from Iowa State University. On a statewide basis, she served as an evaluator for the Regents Alternative Pathway to Iowa Licensure program and as a gifted and talented consultant and curriculum specialist.

District 5

Tiara Mays-Sims

Resides in Johnston
(515) 771-2674
tmays@heartlandaea.org

School Districts Represented: Ames, Ballard, Boone, Gilbert, Johnston, Nevada, Roland-Story, United, Urbandale
Member Since: 2021
Term Expires: 2027

Tiara Mays-Sims is a graduate of Iowa State University with a bachelor of arts degree in psychology. She later continued her education and obtained a master of business administration degree from Purdue University Global. She currently works in managed care as a contract negotiator. Tiara serves as a board member for the Red Cross of Central Iowa and Investing in My Future, Inc. In addition, she is an undergraduate advisor for collegiate women through her sorority, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. Tiara is also a published author with her book #TwinChronicals™: Adventures of Prince & Tiana and is a contributor for Autism Parenting Magazine.

At-Large Members (Superintendents or Designees)

Shawn Holloway

(515) 238-0802
shawn.holloway@norwalkschools.org

Member Since: 2025
Term Expires: 2027

Shawn Holloway has been the superintendent of the Norwalk Community School District since 2022. Throughout his career, Holloway has led with a straightforward, student-centered approach grounded in strong instructional systems and responsible management of public resources. His experience includes superintendent roles in the Panorama, Orient-Macksburg and Gladbrook-Reinbeck Community School Districts. A committed regional partner, Shawn has worked directly with community organizations, economic development groups, neighboring districts and postsecondary partners to expand opportunities for students and families. His career reflects a steady commitment to transparent communication, community engagement and the belief that AEAs play a critical role in supporting equitable access to strong instruction and services for all Iowa students.

Shawn holds an educational specialist degree with PK–12 Superintendent and AEA Administrative endorsements from Wayne State College, a master of science degree in educational leadership from Drake University and a bachelor of science degree in elementary education from Iowa State University.

Kasey Huebner

(641) 221-0423
kasey.huebner@panorama.k12.ia.us

Member Since: 2025
Term Expires: 2029

Kasey Huebner has been the superintendent of the Panorama Community School District since 2023. Before coming to Panorama, he gained 12 years of leadership experience in the Spirit Lake Community School District in Northwest Iowa. Having a great understanding of both rural and growing districts, he is dedicated to ensuring Heartland AEA continues delivering high-quality services and support to students, educators and families across rural west and central Iowa.

Mark Lane

(515) 326-5722
marklane@wghawks.school

Member Since: 2025
Term Expires: 2027

Mark Lane has been the superintendent of the Woodward-Granger Community School District since 2022. In 30 years in public education, he has been a teacher, coach, school counselor, building administrator, district administrator and superintendent. Mark is honored to serve Heartland AEA students, families, districts and staff as a board member.

Mary Poulter

Designee for Tim Salmon, Superintendent, Colfax-Mingo Schools

(515) 779-0114
mpoulter@heartlandaea.org

Member Since: 2025
Term Expires: 2029

Mary Poulter is a retired educator with experience as a classroom teacher in Newton, curriculum coordinator for Baxter and Colfax-Mingo and an elementary principal for Prairie City and PCM Community School Districts. She completed 10 years on the Colfax-Mingo Board of Education and nine years on the Iowa Association of School Boards’ Board of Directors. She is a member of the Iowa School Employee Benefits Association Board of Directors, as well as the secretary for the Colfax Public Library. Mary served on the Governor’s School Safety Infrastructure Safety Task Force, and she is the program chair for the Polk County Master Gardeners. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Central College and her master’s degree from Iowa State University.

Board Officers

President: Elizabeth Brennan
Vice President: Tiara Mays-Sims
Chief Administrative Officer: Cindy Yelick
Secretary: Jenny Ugolini
Treasurer: Brian Whalen