Dan Heitzman, director of special education for Northview Public Schools, recently received statewide recognition for his service and leadership. Heitzman was awarded the Patricia Gilcrest-Frazier Award from the Michigan Association of Administrators of Special Education.
The award is given to a deserving special-education director of a public school district.
It was a well-deserved honor, said Laurie VanderPloeg, director of special education and early childhood for the Kent ISD: “Dan is an exceptional leader who has touched to lives of so many children and families for many years.”
Superintendent Mike Paskewicz called him the best special-education administrator he was worked with in 40 years in public schools.
“His ability to see the entire spectrum of general education and special-needs education has resulted in the improvement of our services to all children in Northview,” Paskewicz wrote in a letter of recommendation. “Dan has an absolute passion for students and their families.”
Heitzman was an elementary and middle-school resource teacher before taking his current post. He has master’s degrees in learning disabilities and special-education administration from Grand Valley State University.