Chronic Absenteeism Overview

Kay Schmalen

Director of Professional Learning

Kay Schmalen is a former middle school ELA/Science teacher who is passionate about utilizing technology effectively to engage students in their learning. She is a lover of learning, an advocate for all students to be prepared for life beyond high school, enjoys analyzing data and coaching and connecting with others.

Erin Welsh

PBIS Consultant - Grant Wood AEA

Erin has worked as a PBIS Consultant for three years and loves the opportunity to work with school teams on improving their systems of support for social-emotional-behavioral health. This is her 16th year at GWAEA, where she worked previously as a school psychologist, and has always enjoyed her role partnering with teachers, students, administrators, and families to reach their goals.

Aimee Hospodarsky

PK-5 School Counselor Consultant - Grant Wood AEA

As an elementary school counselor consultant, Aimee sees school counselors as a critical factor in the junction of students’ academic, career, and social-emotional success, and is a passionate advocate for the role. In her work, she seeks to be a collaborator and a connector to provide resources and support for school counselors to assist in building data-driven, proactive school counseling programs for improved student outcomes.

Tammy Beener

Director of Behavior Supports - Cedar Rapids Schools

In this new position as the Director of Behavior Supports for Cedar Rapids, Tammy is focusing on best practice in supporting students’ experiencing behavioral crisis. Helping to develop systems to sustain this work is a priority. In the past, she has been passionate about supporting schools implementing systems, practices and data at each tier of a multi- tiered systems of support. Her current work has made it clear that a strong multi-tiered system of support is vital to support both the students and adults.