Community Partnerships

Region 110 Celebrates Nancy Coleman as the IACTE Carl Perkins Community Service Award Winner

February 24, 2026

Northern Kane County Vocational Region 110 proudly announces that Nancy Coleman, Executive Director of the Alignment Collaborative for Education, has been named the State of Illinois Carl Perkins Community Service Award Winner by the Illinois Association of Career and Technical Education (IACTE).

Named in honor of the late Congressman Carl Perkins, this prestigious award recognizes IACTE members who use Career and Technical Education (CTE) to make a significant, humanitarian impact on their communities. Nancy’s selection exemplifies her spirit of collaboration, relentless innovation, and unwavering commitment to student success.

As Executive Director of the Alignment Collaborative for Education, Nancy has built a powerful, partnership-driven workforce model across northern Kane County. By mobilizing a 30-member board and more than 200 business and community partners, she has successfully expanded equitable career pathways and meaningful service-learning opportunities for thousands of local students.

Under her visionary leadership, the collaborative has achieved remarkable milestones:

Skill Development: 3,418 students strengthened their resumes through regional workshops.
Exponential Growth: Internship applications skyrocketed from 65 in 2022 to 1,006 in 2025, alongside the engagement of 55 dedicated employer partners.
Career Placements: Student internship placements increased from 52 to 243, supported by $240,000 in student stipends.
Community Investment: Employers contributed 14,580 volunteer hours, representing an estimated $729,000 investment into the local community.

Beyond these achievements, Nancy spearheads the U-46 Explore initiative, which serves 2,300 eighth graders annually, ensuring that career readiness begins early. In 2025 alone, Alignment and its partners contributed more than 14,000 volunteer hours to local schools. Her transformative work has previously earned recognition from United Way Metro Chicago and School District U-46.

Nancy’s leadership serves as a prime example of how strategic community partnerships create lasting, generational impact. As the Illinois state winner, she will advance to regional consideration late this spring, with the potential for national consideration in the fall of 2026.

Nancy Coleman of Alignment accepts the IACTE Carl Perkins Community Service Award — Dr. Chris Merrill, Executive Director, Illinois ACTE (left), Nancy Coleman (center), Kaleb Smith, President, Illinois ACTE (right). Nancy Coleman, Executive Director of the Alignment Collaborative for Education, has been named the State of Illinois Carl Perkins Community Service Award Winner by the Illinois Association of Career and Technical Education (IACTE).

Camcraft and Matrix Attracts Students to Automation, Manufacturing and Robotics Careers

February 12, 2026

Northern Kane County Region 110, in partnership with Camcraft and Matrix, offered Central High School students the opportunity to study the latest automation and robotics applications in manufacturing. The February 12 visit attracted students interested in engineering and manufacturing careers to highly automated operations beyond the classroom. Thank you to Camcraft and Matrix for championing these experiences for the region’s future engineering and precision manufacturing workforce.

U-46’s Dr. Suzanne Johnson Named a ‘Superintendent to Watch’ by National Group

January 12, 2026

U-46 superintendent Dr. Suzanne Johnson named to NSPRA's "30 to Watch"

Program honors superintendents with strong communication and relationship-building skills

School District U-46 Superintendent Dr. Suzanne Johnson was named to the National School Public Relations Association’s (NSPRA’s) list of “Superintendents to Watch.” Each year, NSPRA recognizes superintendents with fewer than five years of experience who demonstrate dynamic, fast-paced leadership with strong communication at its core. The selection process was highly competitive, with a deep field of outstanding nominees, from which only 30 superintendents nationwide were selected.

“These leaders understand that communication is not just about sharing information. It is about building relationships,” said NSPRA Executive Director Barbara M. Hunter, APR. “Through meaningful engagement with families, staff, and community members, they are advancing their districts with clarity and purpose.”

One of the major accomplishments for which Dr. Johnson was recognized was leading the district’s “Unite U-46” effort — a community engagement initiative that successfully secured a $180 million bond approval in spring 2023, approved by a majority of voters in all three U-46 counties. The community support is now powering the completion of several district-defining, decades-in-the-making projects that will result in a major shift of the current educational landscape.

Dr. Johnson’s nomination for the NPSRA honor included letters of support from community leaders who recognized her for the relationships she has built across the school district.

Nancy Coleman, executive director of the Alignment Collaborative for Education, cited Dr. Johnson as a champion of efforts to provide work-based opportunities and paid internships for high schoolers and to create a path through which future teachers can complete their education degrees and certifications without having to leave the community.

“Dr. Johnson is defining a culture that embraces collaboration for the benefit of students, families, and the overall economic prosperity of the region,” Coleman said. ”Her unwavering commitment to supporting youth is always present as she works beside teachers and business community leaders to ensure students can graduate academic and career ready, prepared for successful futures.”

Carol Gieske, CEO of the Elgin Area Chamber of Commerce, praised Dr. Johnson’s visible leadership, responsiveness, and forward-thinking communication strategies that have made her a trusted and respected voice in Elgin and beyond. “She exemplifies the kind of superintendent who not only leads with integrity but also builds lasting bridges between schools and the broader community,” Gieske explained.

“Dr. Johnson exemplifies what it means to be a transparent, engaging, and visionary communicator — one who not only ‘talks the talk,’ but consistently ‘walks the walk,’” said Amber Peters, the executive director of Enriching Partnerships for Early Learning, noting how Dr. Johnson has used her strong communications and relationship-building skills to increase awareness and support for the importance of early childhood education. “As both a leader and a parent, Dr. Johnson understands the power of communication to build trust, foster connection, and inspire collective action,” Peters said.

Karla Jiménez, Elgin Community College’s chief community & government relations officer, highlighted Dr. Johnson’s belief that “strong communication is at the heart of effective leadership,” in particular mentioning the award-winning “Johnson on the Job” video series in which the superintendent visits U-46 employees to experience the work they do first-hand, and shares their stories with the public. “Dr. Johnson leads with authenticity, care, and courage,” Jiménez said. “She’s a thoughtful communicator, a collaborator by nature, and a superintendent who never loses sight of the students and families she serves.”

Dr. Johnson has deep roots in U-46. She attended U-46 schools from kindergarten through high school, graduating from Elgin High School. Her parents were both U-46 educators, and after college, she returned to the district as a language arts educator, coach, high school principal, and district administrator. She was named interim superintendent in February 2023, and officially became superintendent of the state’s second-largest school district for the 2023-24 school year.

This year’s “Superintendents to Watch” will be formally recognized at the NSPRA 2026 National Seminar in New Orleans in July.

U-46 Press Release
Tara Burghart
January 12, 2026

Alignment wishes you Happy Holidays and a Prosperous 2026!

December 18, 2025

Together we conclude an impactful 2025.

As we prepare to celebrate the holidays, we want to take a moment to rejoice in each of you, our business, community, and school partners. Together, we will conclude 2025 serving over 15,000 students where you have invested more than 13,000 volunteer hours.

Yes, the numbers are strong and are expected to grow to over 17,000 students in 2026 with an estimated volunteer contribution of more than 18,000 hours. However, it is also about our efforts to reach the students that need the resources the most.

It is about starting in middle school ensuring students and parents are informed about all the career pathway opportunities available in our 11 regional high schools. It is also about you being willing to invest a minimum of 60 hours in individual students that have never had the experience to work in their career field of choice. It’s about being a champion for youth beyond the walls of the high school showing them early how to best succeed in a competitive and challenging world.

Having a positive impact on the lives of students beyond what the schools can provide alone is why the Alignment partnership is critical to the future of those individuals, their families, and the community. Because of you, we can be the difference between no career plan and one that leads to a successful future.

Adriana, Annabelle, Edgar, and I thank you for investing in Alignment’s mission. We wish you all Happy Holidays, and a prosperous New Year in 2026!

Best regards,

Nancy

Nancy Coleman
Executive Director
Alignment Collaborative for Education

Internship Recognition Breakfast Celebrates 2025 Industry Host Partners

December 10, 2025

Alignment's 2025 Internship Host Breakfast

Sponsored by the AED Foundation and in partnership with Northern Kane County Region 110, Alignment hosted its 2025 Internship Host Recognition Breakfast on December 4 at Bartlett Hills Golf Club. More than 50 organizations came together for the event to recognize all host sites that provided a total of 243 students with paid internship experiences during 2025.

Welcomed to Bartlett by City Manager Paula Schumacher, the morning’s program highlighted the profound success and impact of this growing internship initiative that originally began five years ago with the first interns placed with the Village of Bartlett.

Alongside presenting awards to each 2025 host organization, the event featured compelling testimonies from past interns, industry representatives, and elected officials Hanover Park Mayor Rodney Craig and City of Elgin Mayor David Kaptain, embodying the significance of creating internship experiences that invest in the future success of the community.

Partners from Advocate Sherman Hospital, AED Foundation, Elgin Community College, Hoffer Plastics, Seigle Foundation, and Wintrust echoed the students’ sentiments in the importance of students being in the workplace to engage with industry professionals. Sharing their internship host experiences, these partners emphasized the reward and return of this future workforce investment to the region. With 243 interns placed for a minimum of 60 hours, the 55 host sites invested over 13,000 hours in these internship experiences representing more than a $700,000 return on investment to the school districts and the community.

Two student panels representing Bartlett, Central, Hampshire, Larkin, South Elgin, St. Charles East, and Streamwood high schools highlighted how their internship experiences have shaped their future career goals. From skill development to gaining stark clarity on what careers to pursue, interns expressed their immense gratitude to host organizations and confidently encouraged all the organizations in the room to support students and the future workforce by becoming a host site in 2026.

Superintendents from School Districts U-46, 300, 301, and 303 each announced increased financial commitments to sponsor internships next year. Elgin Community College (ECC), confirming on Monday following the breakfast, a third year of funding under the Taking Back the Trades grant securing a 33% increase from 2025 resulting in 100 high school students receiving paid summer internship opportunities in 2026.

Combining the financial support from the school districts, ECC, and the business partners that have already committed funding for 2026, the goal is to match 300 students to their career goal in this paid work opportunity. Alignment and Northern Kane County Region 110 are working to identify all internship opportunities by March 1. If your organization is interested in offering internships for Summer 2026, please contact Nancy Coleman at colemanace@align4edu.org, Terry Stroh at terry.stroh@central301.net, or Dr. Todd Stirn at efe.stirn@central301.net for further information.

Thank you to our 2025 Internship Host Organizations

Automotive, Engineering, Heavy Equipment, Manufacturing and Trade Professions

Advanced Compressor Technologies
Bob Loquercio Auto Group
Bucher Hydraulics
Elgin Sweeper
Hampton, Lenzini and Renwick, LLC
Hoffer Plastics
ITW Shakeproof
Judson University
KS Auto Care
Lakeview Precision Machining
Service Concepts
Shales McNutt Construction
Village of Bartlett
West Side Tractor
WT Group

Business, Culinary, Finance, Government, and IT

Bartlett Hills Golf Club and Banquets
Centro de Información
City of Elgin – City Manager’s Office
Downtown Neighborhood Association
Elgin Area Chamber of Commerce
Elgin Development Group
Elgin Symphony Orchestra
Explore Elgin Area
Gather Pingree Grove
Gowns for Good
The Haight
Golden Corridor Family YMCA
Keith French Photography
Microsoft
Office of State Representative Anna Moeller
Opiquad, LLC
Rosati’s
Wintrust

Education, Human Services, and Veterinary Science

Advance Preschool
Anderson Humane Veterinary Clinic
Bartlett Park District
Central Community School District 301
Community Unit School District 300
Hanover Township
Mid-Valley Special Education Cooperative
Northern Illinois Special Recreation Association
Pet Vet Animal Clinic
Precious Angels
School District U-46
South Elgin Parks & Recreation
Tails Humane Society
Two Rivers Head Start

First Responder

Bartlett Police Department
Elgin Fire Department
Elgin Police Department
Hanover Park Fire Department
Hanover Township Emergency Services

Healthcare

Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital
Advocate Sherman Hospital
Athletico
Diamond Physical Therapy
OrthoIllinois
VNA Health Care
Well Child Center

Automotive, Engineering, Heavy Equipment, Manufacturing and Trade Professions Hosts

Northern Kane County Region 110 and Alignment Host Landmark Career Pathways Advisory Meeting

November 17, 2025

2025 Advisory Team meeting - room overview

Over 60 leaders from business and industry across the Fox Valley region volunteered their time and industry expertise to form a Career Pathways Curriculum Review and Advisory Council Model to support School Districts U-46, 300, 301, 303 and Elgin Community College. This unprecedented gathering provided actionable insights into the essential skills and knowledge that should be part of the region’s high school Career and Technical Education (CTE) curricula for the 11 high schools in the region.

Representatives from diverse fields—including Business, Finance, IT, Computer Science, Engineering, Manufacturing, Healthcare, First Responder Services, Law and Public Service, Programming, Communications, Marketing, Graphic Design, and Education—participated in focused discussions to ensure students are prepared for the evolving workforce.

Key Themes and Foundational Skills Needed in Today’s Workforce

Breakout sessions by industry sector revealed several common foundational themes of identified opportunities in today’s entry level workforce that need to be addressed as early as high school to better prepare students for the future workforce. Examples of skills identified across multiple industry clusters included:

Professional Skills: Initiative, reliability, and accountability
Communication: Strong oral, written, and digital communication skills
Critical Thinking & Problem Solving: Independent and collaborative approaches
Academic Foundations:
- Mathematics: Algebraic reasoning, spreadsheets, budgets, and statistical data
- English Language Arts: Oral and written communication, digital literacy, and presentation development
- Science: Pathway-specific courses such as anatomy, biology, chemistry, physics, and health-related sciences
- AI competency in various applications

A Milestone Event

This was the largest advisory board meeting of its kind, featuring curriculum and work-based learning leaders Dr. Todd Stirn (Northern Kane County Region 110), Joseph Sieczkowski and Jonathan Anderson (District 300), Stephen Buchs (District 301), Dr. Monica Boehle (District 303), and Myka Kennedy (District U-46) as well as numerous educational leaders from Elgin Community College including Dr. Sandra Gonzalez, Dr. Parul Raval, and Dr. Farah Bennani among others. The meeting was facilitated by Regional Director Terry Stroh (Northern Kane County Vocational Region 110) and Executive Director Nancy Coleman (Alignment Collaborative for Education).

“This morning, Northern Kane County Region 110, with the support of our business and community partners, held regional advisory committee meetings simultaneously across more than a dozen industry clusters for all four school districts,” noted Director Stroh. “When we began planning, I hoped for 20–25 business partners to attend. The room was packed with over 60, highlighting the commitment of our partners and the collaboration across districts and industry.”

Thank You to Our Business Community and Postsecondary Partners for a “Win-Win”

“This event highlights the power of collaboration among our school districts, business partners, and education organizations,” said Nancy Coleman, Executive Director of the Alignment Collaborative for Education. “It was Alignment’s honor to bring together such a depth of knowledge and experience to support the region’s school districts. We are strengthening our region’s 11 high schools to deliver academic and career education that is a precursor to preparing students for the future workforce. The investment today will pay for itself as we ensure within a decade a workforce that meets and hopefully exceeds the region’s need for continued economic growth and community prosperity.”