Katie Heimdal
Executive/Special Education Director

Email - kheimdal@northlandsped.org
Telephone - 218-741-9201 ext. 100
Telephone - 218-471-1040 (direct)

Dear Northland Learning Center Community,

It is an honor to introduce myself as the new Executive/Special Education Director at Northland Learning Center (NLC) and to join this extraordinary school community. I hope that this letter finds you enjoying the rejuvenating days of summer and that you and your student are looking forward to beginning a wonderful school year together in September. I can assure you that I share in this school community’s commitment to caring for your student each and every day while providing them a world-class learning environment.

I join the NLC staff as a seasoned special education teacher, behavior specialist, administrator, and special programs director, but in addition to my role as an educator, I am the mother of two boys. My eldest is a senior at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University in Prescott, AZ and graduates this winter.  My younger son is living in the south metro with plans to move up here and continue with his college education. I have spent my summers vacationing up north and I am excited to now be a resident.

The 2022-2023 school year will mark my 17th year in education. Since graduating from St. Cloud State University (undergraduate) and St. Mary’s University (graduate), I have served communities in the south metro in Minnesota, Hawaii, Arizona, and Washington state.  Although I have always felt at home in the special education classroom, it is in my position as a program director where I have been most fulfilled in my life’s work. The director position provides me the chance to work collaboratively with teachers on a daily basis, while also remaining connected with students learning and growing in the classroom. I firmly believe that every student can excel and that the partnership between home and school builds confidence in students to use their potential to shape their future, the future of our community, and of our nation.

My conversations, with NLC staff and with the districts that we service, over the last few months, have brought me privileged insights into the core beliefs and values that underlie the Northland Learning Center. 

To our students, I cannot wait to meet you all! I hope that you are excited for this coming school year and that you are out enjoying this summer break. It is going to be a fun year learning together. If you are near the school at all this summer, please stop by and say hello!

In closing, please know that my door is always open to you. I heartily welcome your conversation and positive input throughout this year. Let us always keep our students the primary focus of our work. I look forward to celebrating our collective successes during the 2022-2023 school year.

Enjoy the remaining days of summer!

Sincerely,

Ms. Katie Heimdal
Executive/Special Education Director
Northland Learning Center