Education: Bachelor’s degree, music education; Master’s degree, curriculum & instruction in gifted education

Experience: Elementary vocal music teacher, Family-school liaison in special education (Family & Educator Partnership Coordinator), Secondary talented and gifted teacher, Gifted & talented/Professional learning consultant
Joined Heartland AEA in 2021

Expertise: Curriculum and strategies for gifted students; serving advanced learners within an MTSS structure; instructional framework implementation

Professional affiliations: National Association for Gifted Children, Iowa Talented & Gifted

How I’ve made an impact: I’ve had the privilege of helping districts large and small improve what they offer for gifted/advanced learners by facilitating a program review based on Iowa Code requirements and current research in gifted education.

Education: Bachelor’s degree, early childhood and elementary education with K-6 reading endorsement; Master’s degree, teaching; K-12 ELL endorsement; Master’s degree, educational administration

Experience: Preschool teacher, 1st grade teacher, Instructional coach, Literacy consultant/professional learning consultant
Joined Heartland AEA in 2021

Expertise: Science of Reading; literacy instructional packages; supporting English Learners; MTSS (support in building capacity of building leadership teams, SAMI facilitation, action planning/school improvement); systems coaching (district and building level); ESSA; co-teaching; instructional coaching; curriculum adoption/implementation 

How I’ve made an impact: I worked with the administrators of several elementary schools in a district on developing and implementing a comprehensive school improvement plan. At one school, we started by analyzing student achievement data and determining areas of strength and areas for growth. I then supported administrators in developing processes to work with their leadership team to determine action steps to address growth areas. Throughout the school year, I provided a cadence of weekly support, which included classroom observations and leadership coaching around providing meaningful feedback to teachers. As a result, school leaders gained the knowledge and skills to carry out school improvement action steps as well as monitor progress toward meeting the goals they established for themselves.

Education: Bachelor’s degree, elementary education with reading endorsement; Master’s degree, effective teaching, learning and leadership with literacy specialist endorsement; Literacy coaching certificate

Experience: Elementary classroom teacher, Instructional coach, Professional learning consultant
Joined Heartland AEA in 2017

Expertise: Adult learning; Cognitive Coaching; instructional coaching; mentoring and induction; elementary literacy; professional learning planning and implementation; PLCs; instructional design; MTSS; ESSA; portrait of a graduate

How I’ve made an impact: By leveraging my facilitation and coaching expertise, I successfully guided an elementary school in refining its literacy programming and instruction, integrating the research of the Science of Reading and evidence-based instructional practices to significantly enhance student outcomes.

Education: ​​Bachelor’s degree, psychology; Master’s degree, education; Ed.S., school psychology; Master’s degree, educational leadership

Experience: School psychologist, Challenging behavior consultant, Assessment consultant, Director of student services, Professional learning consultant Joined Heartland AEA in 2020

Expertise: MTSS supports; intervention systems; leadership and infrastructure; postsecondary success; transition; district career and academic planning; IDEA-DA SDI literacy and transition; special education; ACHIEVE; Section 504; diverse learners; at-risk programming; co-teaching; academic and SEBH evidence-based practices; behavior assessment and intervention; de-escalation; CPI; Science of Reading; UFLI; literacy curriculum review; paraeducator training; needs assessment; ESSA school improvement; leadership coaching (4DX); computer science; data systems (CASA, state reporting, EdInsight, FASTBridge, Panorama, Career Information Systems)

How I’ve made an impact: Over several years, I have collaborated with a district on an innovative literacy MTSS redesign. By developing a comprehensive framework for universal literacy instruction and designing and implementing targeted supplemental and intensive interventions PK-12, we successfully increased student proficiency from 75% to 90%. This achievement reflects our commitment to fostering impactful learning experiences for all students.

Education: K-8 Reading Endorsement; PK-12 Administration & Evaluator; K-6 Master Educator

Experience: Classroom teacher; Instructional coach (elementary and middle school); Facilitator of curriculum & professional learning; Professional learning consultant
Joined Heartland AEA in 2022

Expertise: Leadership & Infrastructure that supports learning, implementation and sustainability; strategic planning; ESSA support; MTSS support for building and district leadership teams with implementation and sustainability; leadership coaching; implementation science; adult learning; mentoring; continuous improvement strategies and processes; systems thinking; Early Childhood: system support; Literacy: standards, assessment; Science of Reading; instructional practices; high-quality materials and intervention systems

How I’ve made an impact: A district preschool leadership team focused on long-term strategic planning with a systems-oriented approach. I facilitated discussions by utilizing a structured process, asking targeted questions to stimulate critical thinking and ensuring that all perspectives were taken into account. Through this collaborative effort, the team successfully developed a comprehensive departmental strategic plan, incorporating actionable steps, designated intervals for data review and reflection and the formulation of future action items.