One of Alignment’s key initiatives is to develop and mentor future teachers from high school to university degree completion. Working alongside the school districts U-46, 300 and 301, Alignment’s Teacher Pipeline Team helps identify students pursuing a teaching profession supporting those students with mentoring, postsecondary visits, and education specific summer internships.
The Teacher Pipeline events for students in the 2025-2026 school year will be announced soon.
Teacher Pipeline Team
Jonathan Anderson
Coordinator of Career and College Readiness
Community School District 300
Melissa Baker
Educator’s Rising Teacher
Community School District 300
Stephen Buchs
College Pathways Director
Central Community School District 301
Kathleen Cox
Director of Early Learners
School District U-46
Elizabeth Hererra
Manager of Student Recruitment
Elgin Community College
Myka Kennedy
Director of Educational Pathways
School District U-46
Jason Kline
Senior Director of Learning Partnerships Northern Illinois University
Chris Lowe
Assistant Director for Student Success
Northern Illinois University
Emalie Matuszewski
Early Childhood CTE Teacher
School District 300
Lauren Nehlsen
Associate Dean, Recruitment, Outreach, Global Engagement
Elgin Community College
Sheryl Nelson
Owner
Goddard School
Alex Owens
Assistant Director of Student Success
Northern Illinois University
Amber Peters
Executive Director
Enriching Partnerships for Early Learning
Christine (Christy) Schweitzer
Assistant State Coordinator
Illinois Education Association-NEA
Joseph Sieczkowski
Director of CTE, Pathways, and College and Career Programs
Community School District 300
Todd Stirn
Work-Based Learning Specialist
Northern Kane County Region 110
Kristin Stombres
Associate Professor of Education
Judson University
Terry Stroh
Director
Northern Kane County Region 110
Gretchen Taylor
Student Readiness Coordinator Elgin Community College
Kimerly Widerski
Early Childhood CTE Teacher
School District U-46
ACE is a member of the Alignment USA communities of collaboration and collective impact.
