As the Director of Special Services, Iversen will be part of Superintendent Emily Miller’s Cabinet leadership team at the district central office. She will organize and administer special education and related services for students with disabilities. 

In this critical position, Iversen will help ensure that those educational services comply with district policies and state and federal regulations. That includes overseeing KSD’s gifted, English Language Learners, health and childcare services. Her department includes paraprofessionals, Talented and Gifted program and special education teachers, and Kids Club staff members.

Current Director of Special Services Heather Guilkey submitted her resignation earlier this year in order to pursue other opportunities. Dr. Guilkey has served KSD well for 11 years. She started the life skills program at Kearney High School in 2013, and later became the process coordinator for secondary schools. Guilkey has led the Department of Special Services since 2019.

According to Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources Zach McMains, KSD led an extensive process to identify and recruit a high-quality candidate for the position.

“Ms. Iversen has the ideal combination of experiences at different levels of public education and is highly knowledgeable and skilled in all the areas we need for this very important position,” Dr. McMains said. “She is highly recommended and we’re pleased to welcome her to the Bulldogs team!”

Iversen has been a special education professional since 2013. She is currently serving as the Special Services Process Coordinator for Grain Valley R-V School District. Before joining Grain Valley, she held that same position for five years at Guadalupe Centers, which runs a system of charter schools in Kansas City. Her career started as a special education teacher at Gordon Parks Elementary School.

“I have a strong passion for special education and leadership, and was drawn to the district’s tight-knit community and support for the school district,” Iversen said. “I am excited to build on the success of the district’s special programs to ensure every student’s needs are met.”

Iversen holds a Bachelor of Science degree and a Master of Educational Leadership degree from Northwest Missouri State University. She is currently participating in the Missouri Pathway for Aspiring Leaders program through the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

Visit www.ksdr1.net/departments/special-programs to learn more about the work overseen by KSD’s Department of Special Services.

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Paraprofessionals, or paras, provide instructional, behavioral, and other support to students, especially students with special education needs such as physical or developmental disabilities. A typical day includes everything from de-escalating behavioral issues and helping students communicate to helping physically disabled students move about the classroom and build daily living skills. Paras are often simultaneously working as educators, caregivers, guidance counselors, and translators – all wrapped up in one job.

LET’S HEAR IT FOR OUR BULLDOG PARAPROFESSIONALS:

KHS

• Kristie Little
• Kellie Parker
• Derrick Reffitt
• Ana Welch
• Jill Yetter

KJH

• Michelle Campbell
• Ashley Danner
• Jennifer Duncan
• Ashley Hart
• Doris Muiller
• Sarah Rogers
• Kim Roth
• Nicole Voyles

KMS

• Brian Bartley
• Danielle Oberfoell
• Kaitlyn Parks
• Michelle Satree

Southview

• Nikole Foote
• Morgan Greenwood
• Amanda Harrell
• Suzanne Kertz
• Michelle Snider

Dogwood

• Ashley Bricker
• Elvia DiGirolamo
• Missy Green
• Sherri Passiglia
• Kyra Rine
• Irene Shurtliff

Kearney Elementary

• Kalie Dickson
• Kari Dingus
• Rachelle Jennings
• Ashlee Pinnell
• Susan Young

Hawthorne

• Lindsay Arnold
• Patricia Booth
• Nelia Coronado
• Penny Dunker
• Scott Henrichs
• Diane Herrero
• Stacey Milligan
• Mary Saunders
• Cameryn Shanks
• Lindsey Winton

EEC

• Westley Cartwright
• Barbara Crew
• Cindy Hollinberger
• Rose Hoyes
• Donna Lance
• Jennifer Lopez
• Jennifer Morrison
• Shelby Pierce 

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The KHS team included (from left to right in the picture above) River Cahill, Adalynne Worley, Riley Lisec, Lydia Bobadilla Torres, Nathan Freestone and Max Thene. They are coached by Life Skills teachers Lacy Vassmer and Ashley Weston.

Job Olympics is a competition for high school students centered on vocational simulations. The competition allows students to compete in events that showcase their individual employability skills. Community members to act as judges over the vocational events.

“I’m always inspired by these students because of their work ethic and focus,” Ms. Vassmer said. “This is an amazing experience for all of us and I’m very, very proud of them!”

KHS Team Results

• Adalynne Worley – third place for animal care
• Nathan Freestone – first place for light assembly
• Lydia Bobadilla Torres – first place for gift card stocking & first place for sorting mail. 
• Max Thene, River Cahill and Riley Lisec – ribbons for scoring high in all of their events

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Kearney, Mo., November 10, 2022: Not being able to see was an eye-opening experience for Kearney Middle School seventh-grader Peter Jensen.

Mr. Jensen wore a ski mask with taped-over lenses and attempted to strike a kickball under the guidance of his maskless partner in the KMS gym on Monday, Oct. 31. The exercise proved challenging, but that was part of the point. It was all part of a two-day program to provide every student with the experience of playing sports adapted for individuals with special needs.

“This was difficult, for sure,” Jensen said. “It’s valuable because it helps you feel what it’s like to be in someone else’s shoes, someone with special needs. It also helps you learn how to rely on your other senses.”

The program was led by staff members with Midwest Adaptive Sports, which is headquartered in Dearborn, Mo. The non-profit organization is primarily focused on positively impacting the lives of those with physical, cognitive, emotional or behavioral challenges through adaptive recreational and competitive sports.

After KMS PE teacher Troy Resler shepherded a flock of seventh graders into one corner of the gym, Midwest Adaptive Sports President Stan Weston talked them through what they were about the experience and why it was important.

“That little word, ‘adapt:’ it means, ‘to change.’ We help people who need things changed a little bit in order to enjoy these sports,” Mr. Weston said. “We’re here to show you how easy it is to do something good for somebody, to make a small change that makes a big difference. And they don’t have to be special needs. You can do something good for anybody.”

One group of students was taught how to play basketball while in wheelchairs, under the guidance of Midwest Adaptive Sports Wheelchair Basketball Director Matt Bollig. The other group played blind kickball, with Weston showing them how to follow the directions of their sighted helpers and to use audio signals – loud clapping and ringing made by other students – to locate the bases.

Kearney School District Physical Therapist Anne Hayter invited Coach Weston and his staff to lead the program at KMS in order to help the students learn how to engage positively with classmates who have special needs. She had significant support from KMS PE teacher Kristen Campbell.

“We know that one of the best ways of building empathy and understanding is to have students get a sense of what people with special needs experience every day,” Ms. Hayter said. “This Midwest Adaptive Sports program is perfect because it’s fun but also very effective. You can see that these kids really get it, and that awareness will impact how they interact with their classmates moving forward.”

Visit www.midwestadaptivesports.org to learn more about the program available through Midwest Adaptive Sports.

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