Introducing Heather Bruen: Connect Academy’s New President

We are excited to announce the promotion of Heather Bruen to President of Connect Academy! Her leadership and passion for student success will guide our next chapter.

Connect Academy is proud to announce Heather Bruen as our new President. With nearly two decades of experience in special education, education consulting, and leadership, Heather brings a deep, authentic commitment to students with complex educational and therapeutic needs.

Her appointment marks a new chapter in the growth and impact of Connect Academy, and we are thrilled to have her stepping into this strategic leadership role.

A Career Rooted in Student-Centered Support
Heather’s path to leadership has always centered around one guiding principle: doing what’s best for students. Her professional journey began in the classroom as a special education teacher, followed by roles as a school counselor and IEP coordinator. These frontline experiences shaped her deep understanding of the day-to-day challenges and triumphs faced by students and educators alike.

Heather later joined the Illinois State Board of Education, where she was responsible for monitoring and approving nonpublic special education programs across the country serving Illinois students. This unique role gave her a statewide and national perspective on how schools can deliver both compliance and quality in serving diverse learners.

Driven by a desire to support schools more directly, Heather co-founded Proficio Consulting, a firm dedicated to strengthening special education programs through the lens of both best practice and regulatory excellence. It was through this work that she began partnering with Connect Academy, helping guide its development from the very beginning.

“Connect Academy has been one of our clients from its inception, and we have helped develop it into the program that it has become,” stated Bruen. 

Over the past year, Heather served as Executive Director, playing a hands-on role in guiding Connect Academy’s daily operations and strategic growth. Now, as President, she will continue to lead the organization, this time as a direct employee and dedicated member of the Connect Academy family.

Leading with Vision, Accountability, and Heart
As President, Heather serves as the chief executive officer and strategic leader of the organization. Her responsibilities span academic programs, operations, talent development, finance, and growth. But above all, her focus is on supporting student success and ensuring that Connect Academy continues to be a premier provider for students with special needs.

Bruen shares, “This role is about expanding our reach through new partnerships, geographic expansion, and innovative programming, all while maintaining a strong culture rooted in equity, accountability, and results.”

Her leadership approach is collaborative, strategic, and deeply student-focused. She is committed to empowering the staff, building strong partnerships with districts and families, and creating opportunities that lead to real, lasting outcomes for students.

“As I step into this role, I am looking to support the organization by developing opportunities for growth, growing district and family partnerships, and supporting staff so that they are able to focus their energies on supporting students.”

A Message to the Connect Academy Community
When asked what message she’d like to share with students, staff, families, and partners, Bruen's response is simple and sincere:

“I am at your service. Every aspect of this program and its developers is focused on what is best for students, and I cannot think of a vision or mission that is more aligned with my professional experiences and goals.”

Heather brings not just expertise, but humility, care, and a belief in what’s possible when students are truly seen, supported, and celebrated. Her leadership is a continuation of Connect Academy’s commitment to individualized care, collaborative partnerships, and student-centered innovation.

Please join us in welcoming Heather Bruen as the new President of Connect Academy. We are incredibly fortunate to have her leading our organization into the future.