Collection: Mari Heikkinen

Mari Heikkinen, M.Ed., graduated as a class teacher and special education teacher. She worked as a class teacher in Helsinki at Suutarila and Töyrynummi primary schools from 1997 to 1999, at Seutula School in Vantaa from 2000 to 2002, and as a class teacher, special class teacher, and special education teacher at Savio School in Kerava from 2002 to 2010. From 2007 to 2010, she also served as Coordinator of Special Education. She was principal of Savio School from 2010 to 2018 and Director of Support for Growth and Learning in Kerava from 2018 to 2019. Since 2019, she has been principal of Porolahti Comprehensive School in Helsinki.

Heikkinen is particularly interested in wellbeing in schools and the development of inclusive education. In her career, she has developed models and structures for student welfare, multi-professional cooperation, and inclusive school and learning support. She is also interested in themes such as learning communities, distributed leadership, collaboration, and coherent school pathways. She served as one of three pedagogical planners for the design of Keravajoki Comprehensive School and Päivölänlaakso School.

Mari Heikkinen has contributed as an author to the Finnish language and literature textbook series Vipunen. She has also served on the board of the Uusimaa Principals’ Association since 2012.