WCASS Staff

Executive Director

Jim Heiden- Executive Director 

As a Special Educator at heart, Jim Heiden is pleased to be returning to his roots as the Executive Director for WCASS, the premier professional organization for special education leaders and student services professionals in the State of Wisconsin.  Jim brings over 40 years of public-school experience to WCASS.  Jim has been a tireless advocate for students with and without special needs throughout his lengthy career.  He has served as a special education teacher, student services director, superintendent and school board member in various Wisconsin public schools.  He has been an adjunct professor for most of the colleges and universities in the Metro-Milwaukee area. He most recently was the Director of the EdD program at Alverno.  Jim earned his PhD in Urban Education from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 2012.  Professionally, he has been involved in the Council for Exceptional Children for over 35 years. He has held leadership positions in national, state and local affiliations of CEC. In 2015 Dr. Heiden served as the President of International CEC. He continues his service to CEC in distinction as a Past President and a member of the Elizabeth Farrell Society. You can reach Jim Heiden at [email protected]

Co-Directors of Member Learning

 Danica Lewis has over 20 years of experience in schools in Wisconsin and beyond. She began her career as a teacher for the Oshkosh Area School District, and then went on to launch and lead the universal 4K program there before moving in the role of Director of Special Education. Following her work in Oshkosh, Danica took on the role of Director of Pupil Services and Special Education in the Fond du Lac School district in 2011. The following year she added on the role of Director of Curriculum and served in those two roles for nearly a decade. In 2017, the Wisconsin Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development recognized Danica as the “Instructional Leader of the Year” for the State of Wisconsin. Following her time as an administrator, Danica moved into a consulting role, serving teachers and leaders throughout the nation. In this work, she develops and delivers professional development and provides job embedded coaching related to special education, curriculum design, instructional coaching, and literacy. Danica lives with her husband, two children, a cat and a dog in Oshkosh. Connect with Danica.

Deb proudly shares that she has worked in education for over thirty-nine years. She recently retired on July 1, 2024, and is excited to take on this new challenge as Co-Director of Member Learning. 

Throughout her career Deb has worked with teams to create structures and frameworks to deliver impactful professional learning experiences. Deb served as the Statewide Coordinator for the Regional Special Education (RSN). At CESA 8 Deb served as the RSN Director, a Program Support Teacher and Director of Special Education. Deb's specialty was working with districts to provide collaborative support to students with IEPs.  Before taking on leadership roles at CESA 8, Deb was a special education teacher for over fifteen years. During this time, Deb realized the importance of working with families and communities to create the best educational experience for her students. Deb is currently a Fellow for Islands of Brilliance at the Tomahawk Fellowship Program. This program serves adult autistic individuals by using art, technology, and creativity to encourage independence and create employment pathways. She is truly a lifelong learner who knows that when professional learning aligns with coaching and networking, the learner tends to experience a more positive outcome. Deb grew up in the La Crosse area but currently resides in Rhinelander and is an outdoor enthusiast. Connect with Deb.

Association Management 

Ione graduated from UW – Platteville in 2021 with a degree in Industrial Technology Management, an emphasis in Manufacturing, and a minor in Industrial Control Systems.  Ione started her career at Sure Controls in Appleton where she worked as an Electrical Designer and Training Coordinator.  In addition to her technical work, Ione has a passion for training and development. Utilizing these passions and skills, Ione focuses on membership development and events for WCASS.  

You can reach Ione at: [email protected].

Heather L. Dyer, CAE is Managing Partner of Morgan Data Solutions, LLC, (MDS) an Association Management firm providing solutions for associations, not for profits and small businesses.  MDS was founded in November 2001 by Heather and her husband and has provided association and data services to more than 30 Wisconsin‐based associations in the last 23 years. Heather is currently the director for eight Wisconsin-based Associations and one National Association. Supervising a staff of six, MDS runs over 130 meetings and events per year.  Heather earned her CAE (Certified Association Executive) in 2010 and holds a bachelor’s degree in political science with an Accounting Minor from Western Illinois University.   

 You can reach Heather at: [email protected].