To me it sounds like either the heater union sealing washers, the heater union to water by pass hose or the heater union to heater control valve hose is leaking. All of which, I hate to say, are only replaceable with the cylinder head off of the block. You could quite possibly get the clamp off of the heater union to heater control valve hose off (that long hose at the back top of the head that attaches to the valve on the firewall.) if you know someone with, what we in the automotive industry call, "Jap Hands". That other 90 degree hose (the heater union to water bypass pipe hose) is not replaceable with the head attached to the block.
"what are good things that are fairly inexpensive that would be good to check/replace while the head is apart"
Every hose, gasket and sealing washer that you can't get to unless the intake manifold or head is off.
And if this mechanic is truly "certified" he will know enough to have the head sent to a machine shop to be checked for warpage and cracks.
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