Nikki Heiman
Special Education Director
Summary
Dynamic Leader is focused on staying curious about ways to improve strategies and systems to better serve all students in education. Brings comprehensive knowledge of education leadership in many different capacities, including classroom level experience to consulting at the state level and serving on multiple governor-appointed positions. Skilled at analyzing problems to find innovative solutions. Strong moral and ethical compass with a focus on not only bringing diversity and equity to inclusion, but to a place of meaningful belonging for all throughout the education system.
Overview
14
14
years of professional experience
8
8
years of post-secondary education
Work History
Director of Marshall County Special Education Cooperative
- Improved efficiency with strategic planning, resource allocation, and time management practices.
- Enhanced team collaboration through regular communication and goal setting.
- Optimized staff performance by designing comprehensive training and mentoring programs tailored to individual needs.
- Implemented innovative solutions to solve complex problems, resulting in better services to meet the needs of diverse learners.
- Established a culture of continuous improvement by fostering open communication channels and empowering employees to voice their ideas.
- Designed opportunities for collaboration with general education.
Director, Educate Kansas
- Secured key partnerships that contributed to the project's overall growth strategy.
- Facilitated interagency collaboration for improved decision-making processes and communication among stakeholders.
- Managed budgets effectively to ensure optimal use of resources while maintaining financial stability.
- Improved project efficiency with strategic planning, and resource allocation.
- Wrote the original grant in collaboration with a team, then secured additional funding throughout the project as need continued to grow.
- Provided comprehensive updates to key state department stakeholders involved in funding and advocating for the progress of the grant.
School Improvement Services Specialist
Greenbush Education Service Center
01.2018 - 01.2022
- Coordinated and delivered high-quality professional learning experiences for educators, including Teacher Leader Cadre
- Provided technical assistance and targeted support to member districts as needed
- Served as a consultant to administrators, teachers and curriculum directors on topics such as curriculum, instruction, achievement, and accreditation.
- Assisted administrators throughout Kansas with aligning their strategic plans with professional development.
- Supported administrators in alignment of curriculum decisions with state requirements and student needs.
Adjunct Professor
Friends University
08.2018 - 05.2019
- Fostered a positive and collaborative learning environment.
- Improved overall course quality through the implementation of regular evaluations, incorporating student feedback into future improvements.
- Increased student retention by providing individualized support and tailored feedback on assignments.
- Contributed to curriculum development efforts, ensuring content was up-to-date and relevant to industry trends.
- Developed lesson plans and syllabi.
Integration Specialist
Marshall-Nemaha Special Education Cooperative
08.2016 - 06.2018
- Contributed to the overall success of the organization by sharing knowledge and expertise with colleagues through presentations, workshops, or mentoring sessions.
- Provided training sessions for team members on best practices in education.
- Provided technical support and on the job training and coaching for both special education and general education staff members.
K-12 Adaptive Special Education Teacher
Holton Special Education Cooperative
08.2007 - 06.2016
- Proved successful working within tight deadlines and a fast-paced environment.
- Developed strong communication and organizational skills.
- Developed and maintained courteous and effective working relationships with teachers, families, therapists and providers in the community who support students with wraparound services, including justice involved students.
- Adaptable and proficient in learning new concepts quickly and efficiently.
- Passionate about learning and committed to continual improvement.
- Fostered strong relationships with parents and guardians, maintaining open lines of communication to ensure student progress.
- Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to provide comprehensive support for students with special needs and support general educators with strategies for students in general education who are struggling to keep up with the curriculum.
- Improved student behavior management by implementing consistent routines, clear expectations, and positive reinforcement strategies.
- Developed IEPs tailored to individual student needs, ensuring their academic success and personal growth.
- Promoted a positive learning environment through the use of differentiated instruction and individualized support for diverse learners.
- Implemented behavior modification strategies, resulting in improved self-regulation and classroom participation among students.
- Evaluated student progress regularly using various assessment methods, ensuring accurate measurement of skill development and areas requiring additional support.
- Participated in ongoing professional development opportunities focused on evidence-based practices in special education teaching methodologies.
- Served as a mentor to new teachers, sharing best practices in special education instruction and classroom management techniques.
- Streamlined classroom processes by integrating technology tools such as interactive whiteboards and assistive devices designed for students with disabilities.
- Coordinated with general education teachers to develop accommodations or modifications necessary for successful inclusion of students with special needs in mainstream classrooms.
- Assisted in creating a safe and nurturing classroom environment that promoted emotional well-being and academic growth for all students.
- Provided targeted instructional support to struggling learners, identifying specific areas for improvement and designing effective intervention plans.
- Modified general education curriculum for special-needs students using various instructional techniques and technologies.
- Delivered effective and differentiated classroom instruction to range of neurodiverse students.
- Taught multiple subjects to students with intellectual or emotional disabilities.
- Coordinated special education students and teacher assistant schedules with master schedule.
- Mentored new teachers on student progress monitoring and legal document preparation.
- Provided emotional support to students and families.
Education
Education Leadership EdD, ABD - Education Leadership
Kansas State University
Manhattan, KS 08.2020 - Current
Some College (No Degree) - Education Administration
Fort Hays State College
Hays 08.2017 - 05.2018
Master of Science -
Emporia State University
Emporia, KS 08.2006 - 05.2009
Bachelor of Science -
Peru State College
Peru, NE 01.2001 - 05.2002
Skills
Data analysis at both micro and macro system levels
Conflict resolution
Strong team building and leadership abilities
Effective communication with stakeholders of varying degrees of experience
Budget management and financial document handling
Project Management
Staff Development
Verbal and written communication
Strategic Planning
Interpersonal Skills
Problem-solving abilities
Process Improvements
Teamwork and Collaboration
Professional Experience Details
- Kansas Statewide Teacher Recruitment Project (Greenbush), 2020, 2022, Developed and executed a comprehensive recruitment strategy to meet the project's needs, Conducted a research study in collaboration with nationally recognized researchers to identify areas of need in Kansas, Prioritized diversity in recruitment efforts to ensure a teaching workforce that reflects the student population, Collaborated with teacher preparation programs, Utilized data analytics to assess the effectiveness of recruitment efforts, Managed the budget allocated within the grant project, Provided regular reports to authorities and stakeholders involved in the grant
- Director of Marshall County Special Education Cooperative , Develop, implement, and evaluate special education programs and services to meet the needs of students with disabilities, including curriculum development, compliance with Individualized Education Plans (IEPs), and assessment strategies, Ensure compliance with federal and state laws and regulations related to special education, such as IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act), Provide leadership and support to special education teachers, support staff, and related service providers, Conduct evaluations, address staffing needs, and support their professional development, Manage a budget of $3M for special education services, Collaborate with parents and guardians to foster effective partnerships in supporting students with disabilities, Foster a supportive and inclusive environment for students with disabilities, Collect and analyze data on individual student performance and program effectiveness to identify system needs, Report data to relevant stakeholders in a meaningful way, Stay informed about best practices in special education and provide training and professional development opportunities to staff, Advocate for students with disabilities within the local community and at the state and federal levels, Utilize collaborative conflict resolution practices in daily interactions
Committees And Advocacy
- Served 8 years on the Kansas Council for Developmental Disabilities, appointed by 2 governors
- Appointed to the Employment First Oversight Commission in 2023 by Governor Laura Kelly
- Serving on the State Commissioner's Special Education Director's Advisory Committee
- Serving on Greenbush's Special Education Director's Advisory Committee
- Serving on the Kansas Transition Coordinating Council, an interagency collaboration to improve post-secondary outcomes for individuals with disabilities statewide
Timeline
Education Leadership EdD, ABD - Education Leadership
Kansas State University
08.2020 - Current
Adjunct Professor
Friends University
08.2018 - 05.2019
School Improvement Services Specialist
Greenbush Education Service Center
01.2018 - 01.2022
Some College (No Degree) - Education Administration
Fort Hays State College
08.2017 - 05.2018
Integration Specialist
Marshall-Nemaha Special Education Cooperative
08.2016 - 06.2018
K-12 Adaptive Special Education Teacher
Holton Special Education Cooperative
08.2007 - 06.2016
Master of Science -
Emporia State University
08.2006 - 05.2009
Bachelor of Science -
Peru State College
01.2001 - 05.2002