Introducing the NIU Illinois CTE Project Team
Earlier this school year, the Illinois State Board of Education and Northern Illinois University’s Illinois P-20 Network and NIU STEAM entered into a multi-year partnership to further develop and implement Career & Technical Education (CTE) solutions and strategies with regards to:
- Professional Learning
- Teacher Recruitment and Retention
- Instructional Materials and Strategies
Given the nature of the 2021-2022 school year, additional new staff members for the NIU Illinois CTE Project Team were hired during the spring for Summer 2022 start dates so as not to pull educators from schools and districts during a complex and challenging school year. The NIU Illinois CTE Project is excited to add the following team members beginning July 1, 2022:
CTE Educator – Ben Owen, who has served as a business and technology teacher as well as a Multi-Tier Systems of Support (MTSS) Coordinator, Dean of Students and Athletic Director at Genoa-Kingston and Hiawatha High School. During his tenure as a teacher, among the courses he taught, Ben implemented INCubator successfully and saw enrollment in the course increase year-over-year, and this work is just one example of Ben’s focus of providing project-based and authentic learning experiences for all students. Prior to becoming an educator, Ben used his original Bachelor’s Degree in Business and his MBA as he worked in the private sector in human resources and operations management roles.
CTE Educator – Bill Rose, who has served in various teaching and leadership roles in the Rockford area. Bill has taught both Business and Social Science courses. Bill also holds a Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instruction and a Master’s Certificate in Reading. In addition to his strong CTE background, which has included serving in a CTE leadership role at Rockford East High School, Bill has also been deeply involved curriculum and professional development work related to Project-Based and Problem-Based Learning, career-ready certifications and credentials for students, and Competency-Based Instruction.
DEI Educator – Shavina Baker (Pierre), who has served as a teacher, RTI specialist, athletic director, after-school program director, as a director of operations, and most recently as a principal in Rockford. Prior to becoming an educator, Shavina worked in the insurance industry, bringing additional workplace experience to her work on this state-wide CTE initiative. Shavina has extensive experience in her school leadership roles in implementing strategies that promote and developing a culture that supports diversity, equity, and inclusion. Additionally, in those same school leadership roles, she has developed and led professional learning as well as having worked extensively with curriculum, instruction, and assessment.
In addition to these team members, the NIU Illinois CTE Project team is being led by Jason Klein and Rodrigo López, who facilitate the Illinois P-20 Network, and the team includes key members of the NIU STEAM team, including Dr. Kristin Brynteson, the Director of NIU STEAM, Debbie Kerman, the Assistant Director of NIU STEAM, NIU STEAM Program Coordinator Lise Schlosser, and NIU STEAM Instructor Kerri Sosnowski.
Over the coming weeks and months, each of these new team members will be out and about and look forward to meeting and working with educators from across Illinois as well as learning in and with schools and districts across the state.
