Meet ICCEFA's Executive Board
Dr. Katherine Schuster, President
Dr. April Zawlocki, Past President
Dr. Karen Ladendorf, President-Elect
Email: iccefa@gmail.com
Dr. Katherine Schuster is a Distinguished Professor of Education at Oakton College in Des Plaines, IL. She was hired in 2003 to build Oakton’s Education Program. Prior to Oakton, Dr. Schuster taught undergraduate and graduate courses for three years at Northeastern Illinois University in the Educational Foundations
Email: iccefa@gmail.com
Dr. Katherine Schuster is a Distinguished Professor of Education at Oakton College in Des Plaines, IL. She was hired in 2003 to build Oakton’s Education Program. Prior to Oakton, Dr. Schuster taught undergraduate and graduate courses for three years at Northeastern Illinois University in the Educational Foundations department. She has also previously taught Foundations courses as an adjunct at Loyola and Roosevelt Universities. She received her PhD in Comparative Education in the Cultural Foundations of Education program from Loyola University – Chicago in 2001. She completed her masters in Counseling and Student Affairs at the University of Minnesota – Mankato in 1993. Katherine also serves as the Global Studies Coordinator for Oakton and is passionate about encouraging community college students to study abroad. She loves traveling internationally, most recently to Ghana and Togo on a 5-week Fulbright-Hays grant, singing, running, and yoga.
Dr. Karen Ladendorf, President-Elect
Dr. April Zawlocki, Past President
Dr. Karen Ladendorf, President-Elect
Dr. Karen Ladendorf is an Assistant Professor of Education and Chair of the Education Department at College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn, IL. She teaches foundations of education, instructional technology integration, special education, and instructional psychology courses. She also coordinates preserve teacher clinical placements throughout t
Dr. Karen Ladendorf is an Assistant Professor of Education and Chair of the Education Department at College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn, IL. She teaches foundations of education, instructional technology integration, special education, and instructional psychology courses. She also coordinates preserve teacher clinical placements throughout the Chicago area and is the Kappa Delta Pi Honor Society college advisor. Karen holds a Masters of Arts in Educational Leadership and a Masters of Arts in Educational Technology. She earned her Ph.D. in Instructional Technology from Northern Illinois University. Her research focused on remote learning experiences with elementary students and bringing the younger student voice to the forefront of research. Karen spent 20 years in the K-12 setting as a teacher, instructional coach, professional development provider, curriculum writer, and Director of Innovation and Technology. Karen lives in the Glen Ellyn area with her husband, two daughters, and three dogs.
Dr. April Zawlocki, Past President
Dr. April Zawlocki, Past President
Dr. April Zawlocki, Past President
Dr. April Zawlocki is a Professor of Education at College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn, IL. She has served in numerous roles in her 17 years in education, including being a middle school ELA teacher, a high school Title One teacher, and, for the last 9 years, a professor in higher education. She completed her undergraduate work at Illinois Sta
Dr. April Zawlocki is a Professor of Education at College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn, IL. She has served in numerous roles in her 17 years in education, including being a middle school ELA teacher, a high school Title One teacher, and, for the last 9 years, a professor in higher education. She completed her undergraduate work at Illinois State as a Middle Level Teacher Education major, her masters at North Central College in Educational Leadership and Administration, and, most recently, her doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis in Curriculum Leadership at Northern Illinois University. April has a passion for developing and providing equitable access to education to students so they may pursue careers in the field of Education.
Currently Vacant, Secretary
Dr. Erin Sagaskie, Treasurer
Dr. April Zawlocki, Past President
Dr. Erin Sagaskie, Treasurer
Dr. Erin Sagaskie, Treasurer
Dr. Erin Sagaskie, Treasurer
Dr. Erin Sagaskie is an Instructor of Education and Mathematics at John A. Logan College in Carterville, IL. She teaches Introduction to Education, Human Growth, Development and Learning, Schooling in a Diverse Society, Introduction to Special Education, Emerging Technologies in K–12 Education, and a variety of mathematics courses. Erin s
Dr. Erin Sagaskie is an Instructor of Education and Mathematics at John A. Logan College in Carterville, IL. She teaches Introduction to Education, Human Growth, Development and Learning, Schooling in a Diverse Society, Introduction to Special Education, Emerging Technologies in K–12 Education, and a variety of mathematics courses. Erin serves as the program lead for Teacher Education and supports dual credit partnerships across the region.
She earned her Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis in Mathematics Education from Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Her research explores alternative approaches to mathematical problem solving, mathematical affect, and high school models that support whole‑child development and student pathways.
Prior to her full‑time role in higher education, Erin spent over two decades teaching high school mathematics and contributing to curriculum and policy efforts, including work with the Charles A. Dana Center, the Illinois Transitional Math Portability Panel, and the Gates Foundation’s High School Math Pathways initiative. She is also a 2023–2024 Teach Plus Illinois Teaching Policy Fellow.
Erin is passionate about fostering academic belonging and helping students see themselves as capable learners. She currently lives in Carbondale, IL with her husband, son, and three dogs.