Postsecondary Success

Our postsecondary team partners with district teams and individuals to support students in achieving postsecondary success. Through personalized coaching, collaborative efforts and expert consulting, we equip educators with the tools and strategies needed to help their students embark on a successful transition to college, career and beyond.

Postsecondary Success Support Packages

Our team can provide a wide array of postsecondary supports for your district. Each project will be customized to the specific needs of your district. 

  • District Career & Academic Plan (DCAP)
  • Meaningful career conversations
  • K-12 school counseling program
  • Career-connected learning
  • Authentic learning
  • Postsecondary systems & coaching
  • Transition for students with disabilities
  • Postsecondary data analysis
  • Portrait of a graduate
  • Work-based learning
  • CTE & Perkins

Join the Heartland AEA Postsecondary Success Network!

Join your local colleagues to learn and share all about postsecondary success!

Third Thursday of the month, 8:30-11:00 a.m.
  • Sept. 19, 2024
  • Oct. 17, 2024 – All-day DCAP Workshop at Holiday Inn & Suites Des Moines-Northwest, 4800 Merle Hay Rd, Urbandale, IA
  • Nov. 21, 2024
  • Dec. 19, 2024
  • Jan. 16, 2025
  • Feb. 20, 2025

We will be using the same Zoom link and running agenda all year.

For past recordings and resources from network meetings, visit the Postsecondary Success Google Site.

Sign up for the Postsecondary Success Email Group

Use the form below to sign up for our Postsecondary Success email group.

Postsecondary Success Email Group

Download the Flyer

Postsecondary Success Supports

Services to Improve Transition Outcomes

Important Contacts

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Susen Schirmer

Sue Schirmer

  • Professional Learning & Leadership Consultant

Education: Bachelor’s degree, communication studies & theatre education; Master’s degree, counseling & human resource development; Educational administration certification

Experience: Secondary language arts teacher, School counselor, Professional learning consultant
Joined Heartland AEA in 2005

Expertise: School counseling, Cognitive Coaching, postsecondary success, at-risk programming

Professional affiliations: Iowa School Counselor Association (former board member, Lifetime Achievement Award, Advocate of the Year Award), American School Counselor Association, Cognitive Coaching mentor trainer, National College Attainment Network

How I’ve made an impact: I am a school counseling consultant who partners with districts to design data-driven, ASCA-aligned K-12 programs that support student success at every level. I work to empower student success beyond high school through strategic partnerships, coaching, collaboration and consulting to equip district teams with the tools to guide students toward postsecondary achievements.

Angela Dvorak

Angela Dvorak

  • Professional Learning & Leadership Consultant

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.

Postsecondary Success