Amy Hanken Selected to New Supervisor of Special Education: Early ACCESS, Early Childhood and Related Services Position

Heartland AEA is pleased to announce the hiring of Heartland AEA staff member Amy Hanken as the Supervisor of Special Education: Early ACCESS, Early Childhood and Related Services, a position new to the Agency. Amy will join the agency’s leadership team on July 1, 2019, and will lead and coordinate our work related to Early ACCESS, early childhood and that of our related services groups (i.e., occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech-language, hearing and vision). She will also be a member of the Special Education Leadership Team.

Amy brings nine years of experience in education as a special education teacher and an AEA consultant. Her previous experience includes:

• Special Education Teacher, Hansen Elementary, Cedar Falls, 2010 - 2012
• Special Education Teacher, Denison Elementary, Denison, 2012 - 2015
• Early Childhood Special Education Consultant, Heartland AEA, 2015 - present

In her time at the Agency, Amy has also been a member of the Child Find Cadre Team, implementing professional learning with team members around best practices in the Child Find process; early childhood PBIS coach, delivering early childhood PBIS training to districts; Teacher Quality instructor; and a mentor to a student in the University of Northern Iowa’s special education consultant program, meeting with the student weekly and providing ongoing mentorship.

In July 2019 Amy will earn her PK-12 Principal/Special Education Supervisor certificate from the University of Northern Iowa. She earned her special education consultant endorsement from Morningside College, her master’s degree in special education and her bachelor’s degree in elementary education, both from the University of Northern Iowa.