Cyndy Erickson
Evaluator & Communicator Extraordinaire at Next Step Adventure
When Cyndy Erickson retired from the Iowa Department of Education in 2015, she took off running. She established CE Consulting and has not had a dull moment since. She is a master communicator; clarity is her specialty. Another is facilitating Fierce Conversations. She is fierce, but diplomatic enough to be a certified mediator.
Cyndy provided leadership for outcome-based planning and evaluation for Next Step, working on projects for the Mid-Iowa Health Foundation and Keep Iowa Beautiful. Over a long career in education, Cyndy has provided leadership for many stellar initiatives.
Cyndy launched the SUCCESS program of Des Moines Public Schools in the late 1980s and put case managers and counselors into schools across the city. SUCCESS was one of six programs selected nationally to receive an Excellence Award for Community Collaboration for Children and Youth.
Cyndy is a published author; her publications include Practical Evaluation for Collaborative Services: Goals, Processes, Tools, and Reporting Systems for School-Based Programs and How to Start Your Own School-Based Legal Clinic. She is a voracious reader; favorite authors include Stephen King, Kate Quinn and Fredrik Backman.
In the summer, you’ll find Cyndy preparing to show at the Iowa State Fair — her cookies are legendary. She entered and rocked the Des Moines Register’s story telling stage in 2016.