In this episode, we chat with Rita DiVita, a veteran teacher at Normal Community High School in Unit 5. The Family and Consumer Sciences Department is nothing like the movie depictions of home economics of the 1950s. This modern department offers students the opportunity to learn about dietetics, finances, sewing, and career exploration. Students in the Education Pathway program even get the opportunity to observe classrooms to explore if teaching is the right career for them.

Dr. Anthony Jones currently serves as the Director of the laboratory school and Assistant Dean of the College of Education at Illinois State University. Before this position, he served as the Director of Equity, Director of Student Services, principal, assistant principal, teacher, and coach in Iowa and Tennessee. Dr. Jones has been in education for 24 years and is passionate about the role of equity, diversity, inclusion, sense of belonging, and access in leadership to create a welcoming environment for learners to enjoy their educational experience, and use their gifts to pursue their purpose, and life goals.

Candace Schmidt currently serves as the Assistant Principal at Lincoln Community High School. Her educational career began as a high school English teacher and later transitioned to middle school, where she spent the majority of her professional career.

She is passionate about cultivating a positive and supportive school culture, and her enthusiasm and energy shine through this episode. We discuss how she strives to build a strong sense of community among students, staff, and administration.

One of Candace’s key initiatives is the LCHS Kindness Club, a space that empowers students to take an active role in shaping a positive school environment. We enjoyed our conversation with Candace and we enjoyed learning about how she is making kindness cool again!

Jenna Cicciarelli Wiesner is Vice President, Client and Community Relations Director for PNC Bank in Central Illinois. In this role, she allocates PNC’s philanthropic dollars locally and directs PNC’s local client and community relations activities, including event production, sponsorships, grant-making, employee engagement, and contract negotiations. In addition, she represents PNC in the community through board memberships, speaking engagements, and managing community relationships.

2024-2025 PNC First Grant Applications:

tinyurl.com/ROE17PNCFirstGrant2024

The application link below is live and will close Monday, September 9th @ 11:59 pm.

In this bonus segment, we sat down with Roger Kutzner, a Livingston County War Museum historian. Roger shared the story of Eleanor Ewing, a Pontiac native, and mathematician who worked on the IBM Calculating Team during the Manhatten Project.

Learn more about Eleanor at: https://ahf.nuclearmuseum.org/ahf/profile/eleanor-ewing/

Learn more about the Livingston County War Museum at: www.livingstoncountywarmuseum.com

Established in 2004 by World War II veterans Dal Estes and Neil Bach as a living, hands-on museum to recognize the sacrifices and service of U. S. military veterans from Livingston County and Central Illinois. The goal is to educate schools, civic groups, and the general public about the history of local veterans from World War I to the present conflicts. The museum is staffed by both veteran and non-veteran volunteers.

Learn more at www.livingstoncountywarmuseum.com

This episode originally aired on 9/12/2023

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.

This episode originally aired on 1/16/2024.

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.

REPLAY: This episode originally aired on 1/9/2024.

April Schermann is a math and computer science teacher at Normal West High School anda 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 other things. In this episode, we talk to April about all things science, technology, engineering, and math.