ROE 17 POD

In this episode of ROE 17 POD, we talk with Marc Miller who serves on the board of the Pratt Music Foundation and the Share the Music. Pratt Music Foundation scholarships are awarded annually to talented, motivated, financially qualified elementary and high school students (grades 2 through 12) in Bloomington-Normal-McLean County. The Share the Music takes donated, serviceable instruments, repairs...

Join us as we celebrate National FFA Week and sit down with Clinton High School! We chat with Hannah Redile, teacher and FFA Advisor, and her student, Davis Howell, Clinton FFA President and National FFA awardee. We talk about the amazing programs FFA has to offer, Davis' experience with the National FFA contest, and why all students should give FFA a try!

Ashley Aper is the principal at Chester-East Lincoln Elementary School and the Special Education Administrator for both CEL and Hartsburg-Emden in Logan County. In this episode, we talk about what inspired her to get into school leadership and how families can advocate for their students.

Lynn Shook is the Principal of Stevenson Elementary in Bloomington District 87. After coaching women's college basketball for 13 years, Lynn decided to put her teaching license to work and began teaching Physical Education. After realizing how much she loved being in schools, she eventually became a school administrator. Her journey to the classroom and principal's office is unconventional and ins...

Sara Welch is a Reading Interventionist at Northwest Elementary School for District 27 in Lincoln, IL. She is currently in her 20th year of teaching. Sara works with struggling readers using Reading Recovery and LETRS strategies, and sometimes a combination of both. The best part of her job is watching the light bulbs go on and everything clicking for her students!

Vanessa Tibbs is an Interventionalist at Olympia South Elementary in the Olympia CUSD 16 district. She has worked in a school library, owned a beauty salon, and served as a paraprofessional before finally finding her sweet spot as an Interventionalist and STEM leader in her building. Not only does Vanessa help students with all subjects, but she has dove into the world of STEM offering unique oppo...

Jeff Spencer is a Science Instructional Coach for ROE # 17 with experience teaching at the college and high school levels. Through his work at ROE # 17, Jeff partners with school districts and K-12 teachers to design, adapt, and support classroom practices that align with the Next Generation Science Standards.

April Schermann is a math and computer science teacher at Normal West High School and a fierce advocate for STEM education. She is a 2023 Disney 100 Teacher, a 2023 Project Lead the Way National Computer Science Teacher of the Year, a multi-year recipient of the NCWIT Aspirations in Computing Educator Award, a 2019 Illinois Classroom Teacher of the Year Nominee, and a Girls Who Code Advisor, among...

In this episode, we sit down with Frank Arnolts, Principal at Tri-Valley High School, and talk about his experience in education, and what he hopes for the future. Frank Arnolts is in his second year as Principal of Tri-Valley High School. He earned a Bachelor's degree in Education and History from Illinois College and a Master’s in Educational Leadership from the University of St. Francis. He tau...

Tammy Wilson is the Executive Director of The Vault, a teen community center in Clinton. The Vault has a mission to help teens recognize their value, realize their potential, and reach their goals. They have a 10,000-foot facility where teens can hang out with friends, build relationships with adult mentors, participate in enriching activities, and give back to their community. Learn more at https...

Tera Graves is the Director of the Livingston Area Career Center and has been with the LACC for the past 14 years. In this episode, we learn about the different programs LACC offers, the areas they hope to grow, and how they make an impact in the lives of the students they serve. Learn more at https://www.lacc.k12.il.us/

In this episode, we sit down with Greg Meyer, Executive Director, and Michele Evans, the Grants & Communications Director, of the Illinois Prairie Community Foundation. The IPCF is a grant-making public charity dedicated to improving the lives of people in their four-county service area (McLean, DeWitt, Livingston, and Logan counties). They bring together the financial resources of individuals, fa...

In this week's episode, we sit down with Nick Papineau, the Education Director of the Children's Discovery Museum in Normal. We talk about the power of play, the new Luckey Climber, and how students and the community can experience the CDM. Learn more at https://www.childrensdiscoverymuseum.net/

The mission of the Challenger Learning Center is to engage students and teachers in dynamic, hands-on exploration and discovery opportunities that strengthen knowledge in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), inspire students to pursue careers in these fields, and provide an outlet to learn and apply important life skills. The CLC offers programs for students year-round in grad...

In this episode we sit down with the award-winning broadcaster turned government worker, Katherine Murphy. She spends her time telling the story of Bloomington, Illinois as the Communications & External Affairs Manager for the City. She started her journey in broadcasting in High School in the Western Burbs of Chicago and continued down that path at Illinois State University. After graduation, she...

Molly Evans is the Executive Director of the McLean County Children’s Advocacy Center & CASA program. Molly grew up in McLean County and has over 20 years of experience in the child protection field, serving children and families in McLean, Livingston, and DeWitt counties. Learn more about the McLean County CAC by visiting https://www.mcleancountyil.gov/125/Child-Advocacy-Center-CAC-CASA

In this episode, we sit down with Tracy Warne, a member of the Planning Team for 100 Women for Good Bloomington-Normal. 100 Women for Good is a group of 100 women who are passionate about making a positive and meaningful impact on Bloomington-Normal, the neighborhood they call home. Their goal is to bring together at least 100 women who will contribute financially to local nonprofits in Bloomingto...

Kristin Mangrich is entering her 10th year in education at Woodland CUSD 5 and her 2nd year as the principal of the elementary school. Prior to her current role, Kristin served as an assistant principal for the district and an athletic director for another district. Before entering educational leadership she taught physical education. Kristin received an astounding 11 nominations for the ROE # 17...

Nikki Meyer has served as the Business Community Coordinator for the Bloomington Area Career Center since 2014. Among other things, Nikki oversees the BACC’s participation in Skills USA and the Annual 8th Grade Career Expo. She earned her bachelor's in Psychology in 2010 from Illinois State University. Special note: After this episode was recorded BACC decided to mix up their Career Expos this yea...

In this episode of ROE 17 POD, we sit down with Candace Summers, Senior Director of Education for the McLean County Museum of History and lead coordinator for the Evergreen Cemetery Walk. Every year she helps to educate over 20,000 people in Central Illinois through a wide variety of education programs. About 8,000 of those individuals are school children and senior citizens who receive in-depth e...

Marilena Gozur was named the 2022 Illinois East Central Teacher of the Year by the Illinois State Board of Education's Those Who Excel Awards. Mrs. Gozur is going into her 14th year at Cedar Ridge Elementary School in Unit 5, which is where she started her career. As a bilingual special education teacher, she works with students in kindergarten through fifth grade.

In this episode of ROE 17 POD, we sit down with ROE # 17 Truancy Specialists Jim Drengwitz and Steve Mintus. Jim, and Steve, along with Mary Diener, are all retired administrators who serve on our team to help families and students overcome various obstacles to getting to school.

Cara Logan was born in Illinois and attended Unit 5 schools from kindergarten through high school. During her junior year of high school, she was in Bloomington Area Career Center’s Health Careers and Medical Terminology class and participated in the cadaver dissection lab in LeRoy. During her senior year of high school, she had the privilege of being in both BACC's EMT-Basic class and the Certifi...

Dr. Katie Bruemmer was recently named the 2023 Illinois East Central Teacher of the Year by the Illinois State Board of Education’s Annual Those Who Excel Awards. Dr. Bruemmer is the College and Career Readiness Coordinator at Heyworth CUSD 4. As an English Teacher at Heyworth, Dr. Bruemmer saw a need to expand AP courses and has expanded Heyworth’s AP program to include 14 dual credit courses, te...

Cameo Williams has worked in education for almost 20 years! She has served as a first-grade and third-grade teacher and will be the new Assistant Principal at Pepper Ridge Elementary. Cameo, who goes by Cami in her district, was recently recognized in our ROE # 17 Regional Recognition program for her work on the Grove Care Closet, a project to give back to student educators.