Miriam Van Heukelem - Brochure
 

Education

J.D. (Highest Honors), Drake University, 2009

B.A., The George Washington University, 2003

  

Practice Groups

  • Board Governance
  • Collective Bargaining/Labor Law
  • Employment & Labor Law
  • Higher Education
  • Litigation
  • Student Issues

Overview

Miriam provides comprehensive legal representation to school districts, area education agencies, colleges, and universities throughout the state of Iowa. She helps clients navigate the complex legal issues facing educational institutions in the 21st Century by combining legal expertise with practical experience to find solutions that are the right fit for each client and each situation.

Miriam has extensive experience representing clients in federal and state courts and agencies in litigation on a variety of matters, including Constitutional challenges, Title IX, IDEA/Section 504, employment and labor laws, and student rights. She values collaborative, results-oriented solutions to legal problems and has represented education clients in mediations and other forms of dispute resolution on a wide range of issues. Miriam regularly advises boards on compliance with open meetings and open records laws, as well as overall board governance. She  also serves as an investigator for Title IX, harassment, discrimination, and other internal complaints for a variety of educational entities, private businesses, and non-profit organizations.

Miriam has been with the Ahlers & Cooney Law Firm for her entire legal career, where she currently serves as the Firm’s Education Practice Area Leader.  She has previously served as the chair of the Firm’s recruiting committee, bringing new attorneys into the Firm and actively contributing to the training and mentorship of our next generation of lawyers. Miriam is actively involved in her community, serving as President of the Polk County Women Attorneys in 2019 and chair of the Polk County Juvenile Drug Court board from 2022-2024. 

Prior to law school, Miriam dedicated three years to teaching middle school on Chicago’s south side through Teach for America. Miriam continues her passion for teaching by presenting at numerous conferences, meetings, and staff trainings on education and employment-related topics. 

Bar Admissions

Iowa, 2009

Court Admissions

All Iowa Courts

U.S. District Courts – Northern and Southern Districts of Iowa

U.S. Court of Appeals – Eighth Circuit

Representative Projects

  • Successful defense of school district and area education agency in civil action arising under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act in which the student’s parent challenged virtually every aspect of the student’s special education program.  Bohn v. Cedar Rapids Cmty. Sch. Dist. and Grant Wood Area Educ. Agency, 116 LRP 48692 (N.D. Iowa Nov. 18, 2016).
  • Successful defense of school district and area education agency in appeal of parent’s claim seeking reimbursement for out-of-state tuition reimbursement under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.  Sneitzer v. Iowa Dep’t of Educ. et al., 796 F.3d 942 (8th Cir. 2015).
  • Obtained summary judgment in favor of school district and individually-named defendants in federal lawsuit alleging employment discrimination.  Duarte v. Colo-NESCO Community School District et al., no. 4:12-cv-00456 (S.D. Iowa Mar. 27, 2014).
  • Successful defense of school district in federal lawsuit brought by a parent claiming violations of constitutional due process and equal protection.  Schmidt v. Des Moines Indep. Cmty. Sch. Dist., 655 F.3d 811 (8th Cir. 2011).

Memberships

American Bar Association

Iowa State Bar Association

Polk County Bar Association

National School Boards Association, Council of School Attorneys

Iowa Council of School Board Attorneys

Polk County Women Attorneys

Recognitions

Best Lawyers in America©

  • Education Law (2022-2025)
  • Employment Law - Management (2025)
  • Litigation - Labor and Employment (2021-2025)

Super Lawyers Great Plains - Schools & Education (2017-2019)

Chambers USA - Litigation: General Commercial - Associate to Watch (2015-2016), Up and Coming (2017)

The Business Record's Forty Under 40 (2020)

Order of the Coif

Honorary Order of the Barristers

Speaking/Presentations

Miriam's most recent speaking engagements include:

Iowa Association of School Business Officials, Spring Conference, "Stump the Attorneys," with Danielle Haindfield and Kristy Latta, April 2025

School Administrators of Iowa, "Employment Law Issues and Recent Updates,"  February 2025

Iowa Association of School Boards, Annual Convention, "Is my Microphone On?  Navigating Public Participation in School Board Meetings Under Iowa Law," with Elizabeth Heffernan and "Navigating the Teacher Termination Process Through Real-World Scenarios," with Kristy Latta, November 2024

Ahlers & Cooney, P.C., Employment Law Seminar, "Employee Investigation / Discipline / Termination," with Emily Ellingson and "Advanced FMLA/ADA/Pregnant Workers Act" November 2024

Iowa Association of School Business Officials, Fall Conference, "Disability / FMLA & Leave Policies," with Emily Ellingson, October 2024

Ahlers & Cooney, P.C., Title IX Client Seminar, "Overview of Major Title IX Changes," with Emily Ellingson, "K-12 Investigator Training," with Carrie Weber and "Higher Ed:  Decision-Making, Including Live Hearings, and Informal Resolution," with Rebecca Reif, June 2024

Iowa Association of School Business Officials, Spring Conference, "Stump the Attorneys," with Danielle Haindfield and Kristy Latta, March 2024

Iowa Association of School Business Officials, Fall Conference, "Stump the Attorneys," with Danielle Haindfield and Kristy Latta, September 2023

Iowa State University, Iowa School Business Management Academy, "Legal - Advanced Employment Law," May 2023

Ahlers & Cooney, Employment Law Client Seminar, "Handbook Workshop," with Carrie Weber and "Iowa Employment Law Hot Topics," with Emily Ellingson, Aaron Hilligas, and Brett Nitzschke, April 2023

Iowa Association of School Business Officials, Spring Conference, "Hot Topics in Education Law" with Danielle Haindfield and Kristy Latta, March 2023

Iowa Association of School Boards, Annual Convention, "Navigating Social Media:  Lessons Learned from the Front Line," with panel, November 2022

Iowa State University, Iowa School Business Management Academy, "Legal - Advanced Employment Law," and "Top 5 School Legal Issues" with Katherine Beenken, Danielle Haindfield, and Kristy Latta, April 2022

Ahlers & Cooney, Employment Law Client Seminar, "ADA and FMLA," with Carrie Weber, April 2022

Iowa Association of School Business Officials, "Staff Reductions," March 2022

Iowa State Bar Association, "COVID-19: Vaccination and Mask Mandates," March 2022

Iowa Association of School Boards, "Mock Contract Termination Hearing," with Kristy Latta, March 2022 

Iowa State University, Iowa School Business Management Academy, “Parent & Student Rights,” April 2021

Ahlers & Cooney, P.C., Webinar, "Final Chapter 103 Rules Adopted," with Katherine Beenken, Elizabeth Heffernan, and Carrie Weber, December 2020

Iowa State Bar Association, Labor and Employment Virtual Seminar, “COVID-19 Case Law and Legal Issues (ADA Accommodation Issues)," November 2020

Iowa Association of School Boards, 2020 Employee Relations Digital Conference, “Implementing Title IX Changes in a Historic Time,” October 2020

Ahlers & Cooney, P.C., Title IX Virtual Training Workshop for Clients, June 2020 

  • "Title IX Coordinator Training"
  • "Title IX Investigator Training," with Ann Smisek
  • "Training on Supportive Measures and Informal Resolution," with Carrie Weber

Ahlers & Cooney, P.C., Webinar, "New Title IX Final Regulations, What You Need to Know for K-12s and Higher Education," with Rebecca Reif, May 2020

Ahlers & Cooney, P.C., Webinar, "Chapter 103, Restraint and Seclusion: How Proposed Rule Changes Will Affect District Practices," with Katherine Beenken and Carrie Weber, November 2019

Ahlers & Cooney, Employment Law Client Seminar, "Investigations," with Emily Kolbe, November 2019

Iowa State University, Iowa School Business Management Academy, “Legal Perspective: Mental Health Issues in Our Schools,” May 2019 

Iowa Civil Rights Commission, Annual Symposium, "Navigating the Legal Landscape of Accessible Education for Students with Disabilities,” April 2019

Ahlers & Cooney P.C., Webinar, "New Proposed Regulations under Title IX," January 2019

Iowa Public Employer Labor Relations Association (IaPELRA), Winter Conference, "Transgender Issues in Employment," December 2018

Iowa Association of School Boards, Employee Relations Conference, "Investigating Allegation of Sexual Harassment & Assault in the #MeToo Era," October 2018

Iowa Association of School Business Officials, Payroll Conference, "Public Employer Garnishments," October 2018

Iowa Department of Education, Special Education Symposium, "Legal Update," June 2018

Professional, Community and Civic Leadership

Ashcraft Library Project, Board Secretary (2015 - present)

Polk County Juvenile Drug Court Collective, Board of Directors (2015 - present), Chair (2022-2024)

Polk County Women Attorneys, Board of Directors (2013 - present, President 2019)

Iowa State Bar Association – Young Lawyers Division, District 5C Representative (2014-2016)

Volunteer Judge, Drake Moot Court Program

  
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