To learn, teach, train to write, and speak with leaders So That, I can serve, equip and assist them in enhancing their leadership skills To serve and lead their organization and add value to society By enriching people’s lives
Master of Educational Administration | December 1999

Governors State University, University Park, IL
Doctor of Education, Counselor Education, and Psychology | December 1982

Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL
Dissertation Topic: Teacher Stress Events over the Course of a School Year

Master of Education, Counselor Education | June 1976
Illinois State University, Normal, IL

Bachelors of Science Degree, History/Business Education | June 1972
Illinois State University, Normal, IL

State-Approved Director of Special Education Learning Behavior Specialist I

Type 75 General Administrative Certificate

Type 73 Pupil Personnel Certificate

Type 9 General Teaching Certificate
John Maxwell Team Certified Speaker, Coach and Trainer

Direct Selling World Alliance Certified Trainer and Coach

Iron Oaks Foundation Certified Trainer Outdoor Education

William Glaser Institute, Certified Basic Week Instructor

State of Illinois Certified Mental Health Counselor

State of Illinois Certified Associate Alcoholism Counselor

National Certified Counselor
Lewis University Academic Coordinator, Romeoville, IL | June 2009 – May 2014

Associate Professor, Department of Educational Leadership
Courses Taught: School Law, Practicum, Ethics, and Moral Foundations, Practicum I, Practicum II, Multicultural Education, and Classroom Management for Counselors.

Academic Coordinator
-Facilitate enrollment initiatives with Dean of the College of Education
-Coordinate enrollment efforts, Outreach, and Marketing activities with Lewis University Marketing and Communication Dept. and the Office of Graduate and Adult Admissions with the College of Education
-Coordinate standardized billing, and discount efforts with Lewis University Bursars Office and Campus Anywhere programmers with College of Education staff
-Support student certification questions with the Certification Officer

Department of Educational Leadership professor

Member of ISBE Principal Redesign committee

Author of Internship portion of Lewis University Principal

Redesign Program and rewrite of three classes accepted by ISBE in 2012

Supported Graduate Students in cohorts in all departments in on-campus and off-campus locations for billing, scheduling, and certification concerns in cooperation with the Certification Officer, Registrar’s office, Bursars office, and Graduate Admissions

Coordinated and supported current students and enrollment initiatives with a variety of Lewis University departments.

Graduate Forum on Enrollment member 2013 -2014

Develop information sessions for various departments of the College of Education

Facilitate, coordinate partnerships with area districts and Joliet Diocese and Chicago Archdiocese school systems

Member of Bishop Kaffer Outstanding Catholic School Leader award selection committee and co-facilitate awards breakfast with Lewis University event planners

Member of the Aspiring School Leaders committee to develop leaders for Parochial Schools resulting in a Leadership Cohort for developing Diocesan Leaders

Coordinated two cohorts for parochial schools to gain the LBSI Special Education Endorsement

Coordinated outreach activities with area Public and Parochial schools

Consult with Department Chairs and Program Directors in the College of Education on enrollment activities

Involvement in service-learning projects with Fairmont Elementary School District, Lockport, IL

Co-facilitated Ideation event to develop ideas to support increased enrollment in undergraduate and graduate programs in the Lewis University College of Education

Co-facilitated ongoing enrollment growth initiatives from the Ideation event

Developed a yearlong plan for cyclical marketing outreach goals and activities for August 2014 implementation within the cooperation with Marketing, Graduate Admissions, and College of Education staff

Coordinated updated websites for the College of Education programs with the Marketing Department

Coordinated print publications regarding the College of Education programs with Marketing

Coordinated publicity and program promotion with Marketing, including Press releases noting undergraduate and graduate honors and graduations as well as other noteworthy achievements of Lewis University College of Education faculty and students

Participated in outreach programs to support many school districts, including Homewood Flossmoor High School District 233, Joliet Elementary District 86, Joliet High School District 204, and Cicero Unity Junior High School District during the 2013-2014 school year

Completed assignments and duties as assigned by the Dean of the College of Education

Participant in Lasallian education series June 2013

Consolidated High School District 230, Orland Park, IL | 1979 – 2009

Director of Special Services – Victor J. Andrew High School | 1996-2009

Responsible for all levels of services for 330 Special Education Students, budget, scheduling for 25 certified staff, and 27 aides service 330 students

Developed service/intervention model and curriculum for all classes taught, facilitate/support 50+ sections of co-taught classes, state standard-based curriculum development of resource and instructional and multi-needs programs Developed a multi-needs program for 40 students, coordinating over 30 staff members
Member of the Parent Advisory, School Improvement Options Committee, and Future Committee

District Administrative Program Support Services | 1995-1996


Facilitated Pupil Personnel and staff development models Reviewed curriculum development, in-services administration, and teaching staff in Choice Theory/Quality School Model Instructor Ben Franklin school Special Services’ Counselor | 1977-1995


Responsible for counseling scheduling of all Special Services students 1977-1995

Developed in-services and workshops with department/building personnel on a variety of student service topics administration, member of the Futures Community Curriculum Committee, Advisory Committee, Chaired Self Esteem Committee, and the Student Assistance Committee

Developed a proposal to create a Building Student Assistance Coordinator position

Coordinated Andrew High School Title I Freshman program for 16 years.

Facilitated the development of curriculum for all District 230 Title I programs

Counselor/Football Coach Lincoln-Way High School, New Lenox, IL | 1977-1979

US History Teacher/Counselor/Coach Marian Catholic High School, Chicago Heights, IL | 1973-1977

US History Teacher/Football and Track Coach Plano High School, Plano, IL | 1972-1973
University of St Francis | 2015 -Present
Adjunct Professor. Collège of Education, Ed.D. program, Educational Leadership
Classes taught Organizational Dynamics and Change Theory and Overview of Stewardship and Leadership

Lewis University | 2000-2009
Adjunct Professor in Educational Leadership
Classes taught – School Law, Administrative Practicum and Internship, Ethical Leadership and Classroom Management for Counselors

Governors State University | 2000
Adjunct Professor in Education
Class taught Educational Psychology

Chicago State University | 1998-2002
Adjunct Professor in Special Education
Courses taught Parent Relations, Characteristics, and Method for Teaching Students with Learning Disabilities

South Suburban College | 1996 -1998
Courses taught: Survey of Exceptional Students, Introduction to Child Care Services
Aunt Martha’s Youth Services | 1976-1980
Volunteer Counselor

South Suburban Council on Alcoholism | 1980-1982
Volunteer Counselor

William Glasser Institute | 1992-2005
Certified in Reality Therapy
Certified Basic Week Instructor

Ingalls Hospital, Harvey, IL | 1983-1988
Diagnostician/Family Therapist on an Adolescent Chemical Dependency Unit performing diagnostics, therapy, family education and intervention services, Liaison to Private Insurance Careers

Iron Oaks Outdoor Education Center | 1990-2000
Certified Outdoor Education Trainer

Parkview Christian Church | 2017-Present
Volunteer Coach, Presenter

FUSE Business Training | 2019-Present
Director of Coaching
Nominee, Illinois State University Education Hall of Fame | 1992

State of Illinois – Those Who Excel Award | 1991

District 230 Teacher of the Year Award (The only Counselor in school district history) | 1990

Andrew High School Teacher of the Year Award | 1990
John Maxwell Team

Illinois Alliance of Administrators of Special Education

Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development

Council for Exceptional Children

Learning Disabilities Association

Phi Delta Kappa
The role of learning in customer service -Joliet Rotary | 2020

Customer Service Joliet Chamber of Commerce | 2019

Your leadership Journey Gwendolyn Sterk and the Family Law Group | 2019 – 2020

Finding your Why and you Avatar Client, Mary Kay Cosmetics Sales Team | 2018

Your Entrepreneurship journey, Building Hope for the Future | 2018

Checkers to Chess; The Changing Leadership Picture; Overview of Leadership, Servant Leadership and Coaching Joliet Chamber of Commerce | 2018

Matteson Police Department Leadership Team Servant Leadership | 2018

Servant Leadership co-presenter | 2018

The Leader you are today. The Leader you will become. The Great Iceberg Theory of Leadership Communication Operation Snowball large group Presentation | 2017

Coach Excellence School training co-facilitator. Madison Wisc. | 2017

Knowing your Why and Goal Setting Mary Kay Cosmetics | 2017 – 2018

The Role of Coaching in a school setting, University of St Francis | 2016

Blended Learning Online Collaborations University of St Francis | 2014, 2015, 2016

Online /Blended Instruction Certification Lewis University | 2013

Fairmont School Literacy night | 2013

Fairmont School Literacy night | 2012

District 230 Substitute Teaching Training | August 2008

District 230 New Teacher Orientations Special Education Policy/Practices | August 2006, 2007 and 2008

District 230 Teacher Aide Training Communication; Team Building & Problem Solving | April 2008

Homewood Flossmoor Operation Snowball – problem-solving | November 2004, 2006

Trainer and Consultant for Glasser Institute serving District 230

Administration | August 1995 – May 1998

Parent Institute Choice Theory/Reality Therapy | 1995

Rockford Public Schools – Quality Schools Topics | 1992

Cincinnati Public Schools | 1990

Parent Education Ingalls Memorial Hospital | 1983-1988

Five days a week social media series on leadership concepts | 2019 – Present

Network Marketing, Monthly contributor | 2017 -Present

Weekly contributor, Fuse Business Training on Leadership | 2020

Building Hope for the future presentation on Entrepreneurship

Podcast Building Hope for the Future Structuring Your Time During Shutdown

Sterk Family Law Guest Blogger “Real Listening“, “What is needed for productive school meetings?” and “Be the voice above the noise”

Homewood Flossmoor Star January 2004

Guest Opinion, “Zero Tolerance is an Impractical Discipline Model”