Professional Learning Consultation

Program Overview

Heartland AEA consultants support students, educators and families by fostering an environment where we communicate, collaborate and evolve together. As a multidisciplinary team, consultants aim to improve outcomes for all learners by building strong relationships and making meaningful connections.

Consultants support school improvement through a robust MTSS framework including coaching and consultation related to needs assessment and planning for infrastructure including universal instruction and supplementation and intensive instruction to ensure improved outcomes for all students and families.

Areas of Support

Consultants provide a variety of support related to:

School Improvement

Curriculum Review

Content experts can assist with selecting high-quality instructional materials, implementation and sustainability supports.

Data Systems

We can provide support around a number of the data systems that Iowa educators use such as FASTBridge, Student Success (Panorama), EdInsight, Iowa School Performance Profiles, Student Outcomes, ELAA, DLM, Iowa Postsecondary Readiness Reports, Conditions for Learning, myIGDIs and ELPA21.

Early Warning Systems

Educational early warning systems (EWS) include academics, behavior and course performance and provide indicators to support early intervention. We provide support to work through data needed to support an EWS.

Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) Technical Assistance

We provide packages of support to assist with the implementation of ESSA requirements.

Leadership Coaching

We provide coaching frameworks for developing leaders.

Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS)

We support schools in the implementation of an MTSS framework across content areas through a variety of services such as providing and/or supporting district personnel to design, deliver and evaluate professional learning opportunities; consulting with PLCs and teachers in data reviews and supporting the review of universal and targeted/intensive instructional practices.

Standards Work

We provide support in designing a standards-based learning framework including grading and reporting.

Data-Based Decision-Making

We provide support around data collection, analysis, interpretation, decision implementation and evaluation

School & Community Planning

Postsecondary Success

We provide support with District Career & Academic Plans (DCAP), Portrait of a Graduate, postsecondary data analysis, meaningful career conversations, work-based learning, authentic learning and Regional Planning Partnerships.

Career & Technical Education (CTE) & Perkins

School Counseling

We support school counselors through a number of professional learning opportunities.

Homeschooling

We ensure that parents/guardians receive the annual competent private instruction notification from each district, provide special education services for students with an IEP and administer standardized testing services for homeschooled children.

Strategic Planning

We provide support with community needs assessments; creating a mission, vision, core values, goals, action plans and measures/metrics; School Improvement Advisory Committees (SIAC); District Leadership Teams (DLT) and Portrait of a Graduate.

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System Implementation Support

Standards-based Learning Including Grading & Reporting

Supplemental & Intensive Supports

Important Contacts

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Kaylynne Christenson

Kaylynne Christenson

  • Professional Service Provider: Generalist

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.

 

Angela Dvorak

Angela Dvorak

  • Professional Service Provider: Generalist

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.

Kate Lamoureux

Kate Lamoureux

  • Professional Service Provider: Generalist
Michelle Vaughan

Michelle Vaughan

  • Professional Service Provider: Generalist

Education: Bachelor’s degree, elementary education and early childhood education; Master’s degree, literacy education; Endorsements, reading and K-12 reading specialist

Experience: 5th grade teacher, 3rd and 4th grade looping teacher with special education co-teaching, Elementary instructional coach, Instructional coach consultant
Joined Heartland AEA in 2015

Expertise: Curriculum planning and delivery; differentiated instruction; assessment and data analysis; adult learning theory; planning and providing professional learning; mentoring and induction; facilitation; change management; building teacher capacity

How I’ve made an impact: As an instructional coach, I partnered with administrators and teacher leaders to help them achieve their goals of building a culture of coaching within their schools. By providing ongoing support, facilitating targeted coaching sessions, modeling and implementing sustainable strategies and fostering collaborative dialogue, I empowered them to create a coaching framework that strengthened instructional practices and promoted continuous professional growth among their colleagues. 

Professional Learning Consultation