The Great Lakes East Comprehensive Assistance Center/
Learning Point Associates Staff
Barbara Youngren
Center Director
Great Lakes East Comprehensive Assistance Center
Youngren joined the staff in January 1997, having taught at the elementary level for 26 years in both regular and gifted education. Youngren also has taught middle and high school students and mathematics methods courses both at the undergraduate and graduate levels. She has conducted numerous workshops and presentations at the district, state, and national levels pertaining to professional development, curriculum reform and framework development; Lesson Study; and teaching and learning reform in mathematics, science, and technology education. For the past five years, she has served as the director of the North Central Eisenhower Mathematics and Science Consortium (NCEMSC). In this role, she supervised a large staff of employees and consultants and focused on the design and delivery of technical assistance and professional development in mathematics and science. She implemented large-scale technical-assistance work across the seven states of the North Central region, which included the states to be served by the Great Lakes East Comprehensive Assistance Center. She also coordinated efforts with the other mathematics and science consortia and worked effectively with the U.S. Department of Education. In addition to her NCEMSC work, Youngren directed the Mathematics and Science group at Learning Point Associates in providing technical assistance and professional development as well as disseminating exemplary research-based resources to state departments of education, school districts, regional collaboratives, networks, and other educational entities both nationally and internationally.
Youngren holds a bachelor's degree from St. Xavier University in Chicago, in English and elementary education. She holds master's degrees in foundations of education/gifted education and educational administration from Northern Illinois University in DeKalb and is an adjunct instructor in education at National-Louis University in Evanston, Illinois. She also has been an adjunct instructor at Aurora University in the K–8 Young Scholars Gifted Program for many years. Her earlier years in education included teaching from the elementary to college levels in Chicago, Aurora, Plano, and Wheaton, Illinois. She brings expertise in professional development, curriculum development, mathematics problem solving and critical thinking, Lesson Study, assessment design, school improvement planning, effective technology use, and designing and implementing engaged learning projects. Youngren's knowledge in the area of mathematics problem solving and critical thinking has been enhanced by her involvement, both as a classroom teacher and as a facilitator, in the development of K–5 standards-based interdisciplinary problem solving, critical thinking lessons, and several publications developed at Learning Point Associates. She is also the author of several case studies on mathematics problem solving.
Ted Stilwill
Program Lead
Great Lakes East Comprehensive Assistance Center
Stilwill recently joined Learning Point Associates as the Program Lead for the Great Lakes East Comprehensive Assistance Center. Stilwill, one of the nation's most esteemed educational leaders, holds a master's degree in teaching from Drake University and brings an unfaltering commitment to education in addition to an impressive repertoire of skills, experience, and field connections. As Iowa's director of education for nearly 10 years, Stilwill oversaw the development, passage, and implementation of landmark teacher quality and student achievement legislation that improved the salary and professional development support systems for Iowa teachers while maintaining strong accountability for increased student learning. Prior to becoming the state's chief state school officer, Stilwill served as the administrator of the Iowa Department of Education's elementary and secondary education division for seven years. His career also includes 18 years in various classroom and administrative positions at the school and district levels. A past president and former board member of several organizations—including the Council of Chief State School Officers and the North Central Regional Educational Laboratory® (NCREL®)—Stilwill brings extensive leadership ability and a national reputation for excellence to the position. He also is skilled in project management, staff supervision, problem solving, general management, public speaking, and consensus building.
Great Lake East Comprehensive Center
State Managers and Content Center Liaisons
Jayne Sowers, Ph.D.—Indiana
Dr. Sowers holds a doctorate in education with a focus in curriculum and instruction from Portland State University in Portland, Oregon. At Learning Point Associates, Dr Sowers holds the position of senior program associate. She currently is utilizing her extensive experience with students with disabilities and English language learners (ELLs) to develop and implement reviews of several school districts in New York. Her strong planning and organizational skills allow her to outline tasks and timelines for large projects in a timely and detailed manner. Her years of living overseas and in the deaf culture provide her with a solid background for working with educators in areas of cultural awareness and acceptance. Her recent text, Creating a Community of Learners: Solving the Problem of Classroom Management, is designed to assist teachers in becoming more aware of the diverse students in their classrooms and recognizing their unique needs. Having recently moved back to the Midwest, Sowers is looking for opportunities to become involved in local and regional professional organizations in early childhood, special education, ELL, and reading.
Gary Appel—Michigan
Appel is a senior program associate at Learning Point Associates. He works in the Professional Services Group to provide professional development and technical assistance to school districts, regional collaboratives, networks, and other educational initiatives. Appel also creates products and tools for educators and directs the Learning Point Associates Lesson Study activities. His areas of expertise include mathematics, science, technology, curriculum, and professional development design. Appel is a skilled technical-assistance provider, group facilitator, and professional developer with more than 25 years of experience in education. He is knowledgeable about adult learning styles, training-module development, and promoting collaborative styles of work. Appel also will serve as the liaison for the National High Schools Center, housed at the American Institutes for Research.
Mark Mitchell—Ohio
Mitchell holds a master's degree in national resources and education from the University of Michigan and has experience and skills in designing and implementing professional development in K–12 science with schools and school districts. Mitchell's professional development experiences include design and facilitation of Lesson Study; examining student work; and collaborating with WestEd to facilitate Understanding Science Project workshops. Mitchell has worked in schools in New York City to conduct curriculum audits, classroom observations, and focus group interviews. He also has experience facilitating school improvement planning with Chicago schools. Before Learning Point Associates, Mitchell worked closely on school reform efforts with rural, isolated, northern Michigan school districts. At Michigan State University, Mitchell taught graduate-level science courses to teachers for developing both content and pedagogical knowledge. At Learning Point Associates, Mitchell has developed professional development tools to include on a Lesson Study CD-ROM: Invitation to Lesson Study. He also coauthored a facilitator's guide to Powerful Practices in Mathematics and Science. Currently, Mitchell is cowriting a book for facilitators of Lesson Study that will be published by Corwin Press in 2006.
