2023 Presenter Bios
Abby Lyons
“Brain-Based Social Emotional Learning: Teaching and Learning with the Whole Child in Mind”
Abby Lyons is a Social Emotional Learning Coach in Bloomington-Normal, Illinois. In this role, Abby uses a mindful approach to share Social Emotional Learning and brain-based information with kids and adults. Additionally, Abby owns the Yoga Lab- a Power Yoga Studio and Craft Coffee Shop in Bloomington. The mission of the Yoga Lab is to free people to do the work they love.
Dr. Lindsey Jensen
“Student, Family, and Community Engagement”
Dr. Lindsey Jensen is the 2018 Illinois Teacher of the Year, the 2020 NEA Foundation for Teaching Excellence Illinois Awardee, and Vice-President of the Illinois State Teachers of the Year. Her work has been featured in IL-ASCD, Teach Plus, NEA Today, Education Post, and Flip the System US: How Teachers Can Transform Education and Save Democracy. Her career in education spans 18 years, and she currently serves as the State Coordinator for Educators Rising Illinois & the Early Career Development and Aspiring Ed Director for the Illinois Education Association
Mandy White
“Be a STEM Superhero”
Mandy White taught third and fourth grade for twenty years. Since 2018, she has focused on teaching future teachers at Illinois State University. All topics related to STEM and Special Education fuel her passion as she works with students in SED as well as Teaching and Learning. Helping future teachers to live full and happy lives has become a personal mission.
Kristal Shelvin, Monica Wilks, and Sherri Thomas
“Prepare Now to Land your Dream Teaching Job Later”
Kristal H. Shelvin, Ph.D. is the Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for McLean Unit School District #5. In this position, she directs the implementation of the district’s equity action plan with the goal of attaining equitable experiences for students and staff. Prior to this position, Dr. Shelvin supervised school psychologists and social workers at a special education cooperative and coordinated a county-wide system of care for children’s social-emotional- and behavioral development. With a particular interest in interdisciplinary work, Dr. Shelvin strives to build collaborations among educators, mental health professionals, child welfare staff, medical providers, families, and communities. Her passion is broadening educational opportunities for all children regardless of their life circumstances. Kristal H. Shelvin holds a master’s degree in education administration and a doctorate in school psychology. She is licensed in Illinois to practice school and clinical psychology.
Monica Wilks, SHRM-SCP is the Human Resources Manager for McLean County School District Unit No. 5 and coordinates the New Teacher Recruitment initiatives for the district. She has been a member of the Bloomington/Normal community for over 20 years and a member of the HR community for over 10 years. Monica is a member of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) and serves on the Board of Directors for the Bloomington/Normal Human Resource Council (BNHRC) as the Director of Diversity. She is a graduate of Illinois State University with a Masters of Science in Public Administration and a Bachelor’s of Science in Political Science. In 2016 she was named a Distinguished Alumni of Illinois State University by the Department of Politics & Government. She received her Senior Certified Professional designation from SHRM in August 2019. She is a member of Unit 5’s District Equity Leadership Team (DELT) and an Equity and Inclusion Training Facilitator.
Sherrilyn Thomas has worked for Bloomington Public Schools District 87 for 26 years and is currently in her 3rd year as the Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources. Sherrilyn is a multi-graduate of Illinois State University. She earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Middle School Education in 1996 and a Master’s Degree in Educational Administration & Foundations in 2000. A lifelong learner, Sherrilyn is a member of various professional organizations such as Illinois Principals Association, Illinois Association for School Personnel Administrators, American Association of School Personnel Administrators and Bloomington/Normal Human Resource Council (BNHRC). Throughout her tenure with District 87, Sherrilyn has served as a mentor and worked to develop leadership skills in young women. Sherrilyn has consistently promoted women in leadership during her time as a proud member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. and as a member of the YWCA Women of Distinction WINGS Committee.
Dr. Anthony Jones
“Wait, What? I Didn't Know That Was a Part of Teaching Too!”
Dr. Anthony Jones currently serves as the Director of the laboratory school and Assistant Dean of the College of Education at Illinois State University. Prior to this position, he has served as the Director of Equity, district office administration, principal, teacher, and coach in Iowa and Tennessee. Dr. Jones has been in the field of education for 23 years and is passionate about the role of spirituality in equity, diversity, inclusion, and access in teaching, learning, and leadership to create a welcoming environment for all learners to enjoy their educational experience, pursue their purpose, and reimagine schools. His research lens centers on the role of spirituality and leadership, Paulo Freire’s theory of critical pedagogy and critical consciousness, and equity, inclusion, access through a sense of belonging.
Kevin Jones
“Applied Restorative Practices”
Kevin Jones is the founder, owner, and CEO of Pathways2RestorativeLeadership. He spent more than 38 years working in the fields of social services, mental health, and education philosophy, with particular emphasis on working with youth and their families. He honed his practice through direct care and as an administrator in residential treatment programs, group homes, mental health organizations and alternative schools. As a retired administrator, Kevin continues to work with Central Illinois at the Regional Office of Education #17 to support restorative leadership team development. Kevin also consults with the education department at Illinois State University. Kevin has presented at international conferences in the field of restorative practices. He is a Lecturer and Faculty for the IIRP Graduate School. He earned a Master of Science in Restorative Practices from the IIRP Graduate School and a Master of Science in Educational Leadership Organizational Policy/Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion from the University of Illinois. Kevin has explicit experience over the past 8 years training law enforcement, school resource officers, government officials, community leaders, security officers, and educators throughout Central Illinois, the United States and Internationally. He was granted the Martin Luther King Jr award by the Bloomington and Normal Human Relations Commissions in 2017, honored with the Philanthropy of the Year award by the Illinois Prairie Community Foundation in 2022, and is nominated for the 2023 Grabill-Homan Community Peace Prize.
Dr. Becky Beucher
“Firefighters, Exiles, and Protectors: Exploring Your Many Parts from the Inside Out”
Dr. Becky Beucher (she/her/hers) identifies as a cisgender female, queer, and white-bodied person of Scottish and German ethnic ancestry. She is the Director of the Efaw Center for Educator Excellence, in the College of Education at Illinois State University. Beucher centers critical care in her work and is currently working on her Masters in Social Work. As the Director of the Efaw Center, she works with her team of student staff to build professional development to support educators thrive in their education and in their education professions. She is certified in: Internal Family Systems, yoga, Den Second Degree Reiki, Restorative Practices, and Restorative Conferences, and is currently training to be a Somatic Experiencing practitioner. Beucher centers youth voices and experiences by exploring how middle and high-school-aged youth of minoritized identities navigate school spaces. She collaborates with high school educators and community leaders to support teachers in developing their culturally responsive, inclusive, and anti-racist teaching practices through exploring their own positionalities in relation to what and how they teach. Before becoming the Director of the Efaw Center, she taught undergraduate and graduate-level classes in multiliteracies and technology, literacy theory, and multicultural education.
Peter and Kristin Richey
“The Power in Positive” and “How a Passion Can Connect Schools to the Community”
Peter and Kristin Richey are in their sixteenth year of education and reside and teach in the Chicagoland area. After graduating from Illinois State University in 2008 in Middle Level Education, both have gone on to win the Outstanding Young Alumni Award from the College of Education and the EAF Spirit Award. Peter is a 5th grade teacher at Edison Elementary School in Elmhurst, IL and Kristin is the Literacy Specialist at Westmont Junior High School in Westmont, IL. They are married with two children, Brayden and Olive.
Bella Chlada
“How a Passion Can Connect Schools to the Community”
Bella Chlada is currently a Sophomore at Illinois State University with a major in Special Education LBS. She was a founding member of the Honor Flight Chicago Operation Education team.
Molly Dunne
“To Education & Beyond”
Molly Dunne is the Director of Professional Learning & Coaching for Northwest Suburban Special Education Organization (NSSEO), a special education cooperative serving local school districts in the Northwest suburbs of Chicago. She created the program "Building Future Teachers" and speaks to high school education programs in the local area to promote all aspects of education. Molly is a proud graduate of Illinois State University.
Dr. Brandon Thornton
“Teaching is NOT for the Birds: Combating Twitter Hot Takes & Taking Back the Narrative”
Dr. Brandon Thornton started his lifelong journey for learning in Rock Island, Illinois, in 1989 -- born as the last (and best) son of two preschool teachers. In other words, teaching has always been in his blood. After graduating from Rock Island High School in 2007, he ventured off to Illinois State University, where he received a B.S. in Secondary Mathematics Education in 2011. He then started teaching math at Bloomington High School, where he currently resides. After receiving a M.S. in Special Education in 2016, he moved into Special Education. He received his Ed.D. in Special Education at ISU and still teaches at Bloomington High School, where he is humbled to be every single day as a teacher, speech and debate coach, and sponsor to the anime club.
Nikki Maurer
“On the Right Path to Becoming an Educator”
Nikki Maurer is currently the Assistant Director of Student Teaching and Student Affairs in the School of Teaching and Learning at Illinois State University. Previously, she served as the Associate Principal at Normal Community High School. Prior to becoming an administrator, Nikki taught English, Speech, and Theatre in positions ranging from Kindergarten through 12th grade and from the city of Chicago to rural Colfax to Bloomington-Normal. Her passions include assisting young adults throughout their exploration of career pathways and recruiting and mentoring future teachers for a successful career in education.
Troy Hinkel
“Endorsement Basics”
Troy is a third-generation teacher who has been working in Illinois education for 20 years. Starting as a secondary social science teacher he worked his way through high school and junior high administration as an athletic director, assistant principal and principal before coming to ISU in 2015 as the Associate Director of the Lauby Teacher Education Center and educational licensure officer.
Dr. Evelyn Baca and Dr. Erin Mikulec
“International Teaching”
Evelyn C. Baca is an Assistant Professor of Bilingual/Bicultural Education in the School of Teaching and Learning at Illinois State University. Dr. Baca is a former secondary language teacher (Spanish as a heritage and new language) and taught English in bilingual elementary schools as a Fulbright Scholar in the Community of Madrid (Spain). Dr. Baca leads international educational experiences for pre-service teachers to Alcalá de Henares, Spain. Dr. Baca’s research and teaching focus on multilingual learners, bilingual teaching and learning, and educator preparedness to work with culturally and linguistically diverse learners.
Dr. Erin Mikulec is a Professor and the Associate Director of the School of Teaching and Learning. Dr. Mikulec is a former secondary school language teacher (Spanish and French) and has also taught English internationally in Finland, Japan, and Panama, as well as on campus to visiting international students and faculty from Thailand, Germany, Saudi Arabia, and China. In 2014, Dr. Mikulec was a Fulbright Scholar at the University of Helsinki in Finland, where she taught and worked in primary and secondary schools. Dr. Mikulec leads education abroad programs for pre-service teachers in Brighton, England, and Helsinki, Finland. Dr. Mikulec's research focuses on international and education abroad, LGBTQ+ youth, and clinical field experiences for pre-service teachers.
Dr. Ryan Brown
“The Roles of a High School Teacher”
Dr. Ryan Brown is an Associate Dean in the College of Education and Professor of Secondary Education. Ryan is a former middle and high school technology and engineering teacher. His current research focuses on engineering education and STEM integration.
Dr. Rachel Sparks
“Introduction to Civic Engagement”
Dr. Rachel Sparks (she/her/hers) is the Assistant Director of Assessment at the Center for Civic Engagement at Illinois State University. She has a bachelor’s degree in secondary science education from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, and began her career as a high school science teacher in north-central Ohio teaching biology, chemistry, earth science, and astronomy. She earned her Ph.D. in biological sciences from Illinois State University and conducted research in biology education to assess how students engage with evolutionary concepts outside of the classroom. In her time at ISU, she has taught over 2,000 students in introductory biology and introductory chemistry courses, including a section of introductory biology specially designed for future elementary teachers. She was also previously employed at the Center for Mathematics, Science, and Technology in various roles, primarily directing summer camps offered in partnership with Bloomington-Normal community organizations and evaluating these and other STEM programs. As a former teacher, Dr. Sparks finds joy in working with future teachers, especially in helping them develop and implement civically engaged teaching and assessment strategies.
Patricia Valente
“Cultivating Your Teacher Identity”
Patricia Valente is the Director of the Multilingual & Multicultural Program at Rantoul City Schools 137. Her interests focus on culturally relevant pedagogy while integrating student testimonials, multilingual learners and their families, developing multilingual continuum of services and providing instructional supports that allow students to maximize their opportunities.
Dr. Apryl Riley
“Where Does My Job End and I Begin?”
Dr. Apryl Riley is the Program Manager at Chicago Teacher Education Pipeline, National Center for Urban Education, Illinois State University. Apryl is an alumna of Chicago Public Schools and taught high school English Language Arts for 11 years on the far south side of Chicago for Chicago Public Schools as well. Dr. Riley is dedicated to assisting educators in urban education through providing various culturally relevant professional development topics to ISU teacher candidates, graduates and various educators across Illinois and Chicago.
Dr. Benjamin Wellenreiter
“The Possibilities and Challenges of Politics in the Classroom: (Yes, There are Possibilities)”
A former middle level social studies teacher of 19 years, Benjamin R. Wellenreiter, Ed.D., is an Associate Professor in the School of Teaching and Learning at Illinois State University. Dr. Wellenreiter teaches courses in middle-level social studies pedagogy, content-area literacy, middle school teaching methods, classroom management, and current events in education. He is active in the Illinois Council for the Social Studies, serving as its Executive Director. He has publications in Middle School Journal¸ Middle Level Learner¸ The Clearing House, and Children, Youth and Environments. Dr. Wellenreiter has numerous edited book chapters on social studies curriculum and pedagogy. Ben’s research interests include social studies pedagogy, patriotism education, and non-academic school environments.
Dr. Miranda Lin and Michael Pierce
“Changing the World with Service Learning”
Dr. Miranda Lin is a professor of early childhood education. Prior to becoming a teacher educator, Miranda taught in Taiwan, China, and Florida. Miranda has more than 30 publications and two edited books and was a PI of the ECE competence module pilot project and a current PI for the early childhood faculty preparation grant. She has brought more than 1.3 million external grant money to support student learning. Her research interests include service-learning, anti-bias education, home-school partnerships, teacher preparation, and global education. Besides being active in her scholarly work, Miranda also has extensive service at the local, state, national, and international levels. She is the current president of AsiaConnect at ISU and past president of the Chinese American Educational Research Association and Development Association.
Michael Pierce is a junior at Illinois State University majoring in Elementary Education. He is very excited for his upcoming year as it means he will get some more experience within the classroom. He has learned a lot of concepts and information that he knows will help with his teaching. In his free time, he likes to play sports such as soccer, volleyball, spike ball, and others. He also really loves listening to music and enjoys all genres. His passion for teaching has only grown with the school years passing by, and he's excited for what the future holds.
Daniel Jackson
Keynote Speaker
Daniel Jackson ‘18 earned his bachelor’s degree in elementary education with an English language learners endorsement from Illinois State University and his master’s degree from Chicago State University. At Dixon Elementary in Chicago, he teaches 2nd grade and serves as the chairman of both the primary department and the Culture and Climate Team. He also serves on the Illinois State University Alumni Association Board of Directors. Born and raised in Chicago, Daniel has walked the path that he teaches his students to follow. He understands the quote by George Washington Carver, “All learning is understanding relationships”. Not only does he work with the students, but he has a commitment to teaching the community. As a Black male raised in Bronzeville and Englewood, he had to learn how to be teachable and socially conscious of disparities among different groups of children. As a young educator, he strives to develop critical thinking skills in young minds to transform their lives
Dr. Laura O’Donnell
“Educational Career Opportunities"
Dr. Laura O’Donnell has spent twenty-nine years in public education in Central Illinois. She is a graduate of Illinois State University earning a Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction and a doctoral degree in K-12 Leadership. Dr. O’Donnell has served as a high school science teacher, assistant principal, elementary principal, middle school principal and central office administrator including the Superintendent role. While Dr. O’Donnell has experience at all education levels, a large portion of her work is related to creating robust secondary education opportunities. A large part of her work has included onboarding and mentoring new teachers in multiple schools and multiple Districts.
Darren Clerkin
“Tips to Become a Millionaire, Even If It Seems Impossible”
Darren Clerkin graduated from Illinois State University with his bachelors (2008) and master's degree (2010). He currently teaches retirement planning and financial literacy courses in the College of Business at Illinois State University. He is a current PhD student in the College of Education at Illinois State University.
He lives in Bloomington with his wife and two sons. In his spare time, he likes to garden and exercise.
Dr. Laura O'Donnell
“Practical Strategies for Retaining the Best Teachers”
Dr. Laura O’Donnell has spent twenty nine years in public education in Central Illinois. She is a graduate of Illinois State University earning a Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction and a doctoral degree in K-12 Leadership. Dr. O’Donnell has served as a high school science teacher, assistant principal, elementary principal, middle school principal and central office administrator including the Superintendent role. While Dr. O’Donnell has experience at all education levels, a large portion of her work is related to creating robust secondary education opportunities. A large part of her work has included onboarding and mentoring new teachers in multiple schools and multiple Districts.
Rita DiVita
“Implementing Dual Credit and Future Teacher Programs: A Panel Discussion”
Rita DiVita works at Normal Community High School.
Dolores Mille
“Implementing Dual Credit and Future Teacher Programs: A Panel Discussion”
Toni Pemberton
“This session focuses on the lessons learned from successful programs and invites the audience to share their experiences as well”
Jen McGowan
“Rural and Small Schools Pathways to Teacher Education”
Jen McGowen works at Prairie Central.
Brian Quam
“Rural and Small Schools Pathways to Teacher Education”
Brian Quam currently serves as the Curriculum Director at Prairie Central CUSD #8. Throughout his 23 years in education, Brian has experience as a high school social studies instructor, coach, assistant principal, building principal and curriculum director. Brian has a B.S. and M.A from Illinois State University and an EDS degree from Eastern Illinois University. He has a passion to support and assist rural school districts in the Central Illinois Region.
Dr. Robyn Seglem
“Re-Imagining Education and the Next Iteration of Teaching and Learning”
Dr. Robyn Seglem is a Professor in the School of Teaching and Learning at ISU. She taught middle and high school ELA for nine years, is a nationally board- certified teacher, and serves as a co-editor of the journal Voices from the Middle.
Kristi Sutter
“Re-Imagining Education and the Next Iteration of Teaching and Learning”
Kristi Sutter-Instructional Facilitator at Metcalf Laboratory School.
With 29 years of teaching experience, Kristi has experience coaching and co-teaching to amplify interdisciplinary learning throughout Illinois. Her passion is coaching novice and experienced teachers as they rethink teaching and learning.