INTC 2021 Leadership Conference 

Aaron Sitze

Aaron Sitze is a two-time ILTOY finalist and a National Board Certified teacher who works with districts to create innovative, cross-curricular programs that are active, authentic, and applied.  His Open Program won the 2016 ISBE Award of Excellence, and his Social Entrepreneurship program is unique nationwide.

Aimee Park

I am privileged and honored to work with students; I am both humbled and motivated knowing that I am able to make a difference in the lives of my students each day. Whether advocating for my students at local, state, and national levels or engaging with student scientists in our classroom, I am committed to providing all students with an equitable, student-centered learning experience.

Brandon Thornton

Brandon is finishing up his 10th year as a high school teacher at Bloomington HS where he teaches special education, coaches speech and debate, and works tirelessly to bring new after-school programs to the school that educate, empower, and engage students.  He is currently working towards an Ed.D. in special education at Illinois State University.

Kate Lee

Kate Lee has more than tripled the enrollment of the choir program since she began her teaching career as the Director of Choirs at Maine East High School in 2018. She also started a new class called All In Choir: a choir for students of all physical, cognitive, and sensory ability levels. It is a class in which both special education and general education students come together to build connections and friendships through music.

Born in Seoul, South Korea, Kate and her family immigrated to the United States when she was a young child. She graduated with a Bachelor of Music in Voice & Opera Performance, Music Education, and a minor in Sociology from Northwestern University, and is currently working towards a Master of Music Education at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Kathleen Duffy

I'm a 9th-year social studies teacher who loves to introduce history & books to high school scholars. Equity, engagement, literacy, & critical thinking are at the front of my teaching philosophy. It has been my mission to create a more representative & interdisciplinary curriculum in order to best teach all students. I believe each student should see themselves represented in the curriculum, our community, and our nation. 

Katie McGarvey

Katie is a Special Education teacher at Hoffman Estates High School in District 211.  She teaches students with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Kimberly Engelman

Kimberly Engelman has been an early childhood educator for the past 26 years for the Alton School District working with students who are considered at-risk.  In her pre-k classroom of 3 to 5 year-olds, students engage in hands-on learning through play to promote the development of the whole child. Kim was also recently selected as the Illinois 2021 Early Childhood Teacher of The Year.

Marricea Page

I'm just your everyday teacher striving to be better today than I was yesterday by supporting my students, my colleagues, and my community in any way possible.

Precious Allen

Precious Allen is an elementary school teacher that thrives on introducing her students to global experiences and STEM careers. She is a published international children's book author and was recently recognized as a 2021 Finalist for Illinois State Teacher of the Year

Traci Krueger

Traci is a 3rd-grade teacher who was called to go back to my home school district to teach. She is a firm believer in harnessing the power of building relationships with my students, colleagues, and community.

Veronica Rodriguez

Veronica has been teaching for 14 years and is currently teaching in CCSD59 in a 4th- grade Spanish Dual Language Classroom.  She has served on many committees including the Building Leadership Team, Bilingual Teacher/Parent Advisory Committee and served as a district ELL Liaison.  Veronica is currently a proud fellow of Teach Plus an organization that empowers teachers to become advocates and agents of change.

Topper Steinman 

Topper Steinman is an educator from Champaign, Il. with over 45 years of experience as a teacher, counselor, and educational consultant.  Topper has presented numerous workshops and seminars throughout the country with educators, parents, youth, community, and business groups.  His topics cover a wide variety of interest areas with efforts aimed at bridging the adult/youth gap while creating a healthy sense of self and others.