Amy J. Williamson, Founder

Amy is a specialist in supporting Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) with the Center for Applied Research and Educational Improvement (CAREI) at the University of Minnesota. She is also the former Deputy Director of the Iowa Department of Education, where she had the opportunity to lead Iowa’s education community during the COVID-19 pandemic response. Prior to her role as Deputy Director she served as the Department’s Bureau Chief for School Improvement for more than eight years.  Her first roles at the Department were in special education, a specialty for which Amy remains a relentless champion.

As Deputy Director, Amy led four bureaus of 130 professional staff working in early childhood through secondary education. She led Department policy and program coordination, including work with education stakeholders, the Office of the Governor, and the General Assembly.  Amy managed a budget exceeding $400 million annually, as well as more than $1 billion in federal relief funds for COVID-19.

As Bureau Chief, Amy led Iowa’s statewide change to Differentiated Accountability: a new monitoring and accreditation process for preschool-12th grade schools in Iowa.  She co-led the 125-member Statewide School Improvement Team and Training Cadre with a focus on early literacy, helping Iowa make more than 4% gains in literacy scores over a 3-year period.

Your advisor, coach, and #1 fan.

Amy specializes in state and federal education laws, education policy, government efficiency, large scale implementation, change management, and strategic planning.