STEM Advisory Board Members

Hub: Southwestern Community College

PI: Lindsay Stoaks, Southwestern Community College, Creston

Chairperson: Stephanie Lane, Green Hills AEA, Creston

• Terry Torneton, Iowa State University Extension, Atlantic
• Janell Leinen, Nishnabotna Valley REC, Harlan
• Dr. Jane Hall Chaillie, Red Oak Community School District, Red Oak
• Kathy Somers, A.M. Cohron & Son, Inc., Atlantic
• Deb Sprecker, Woodbine Mainstreet Program
• Kristen Sheffield, Earlham CSD, Earlham
• Denise Hoag, Council Bluffs CSD, Council Bluffs

Members

Denise Hoag

Denise Hoag has been a teacher at Thomas Jefferson High School in Council Bluffs since 2006. There, she teaches Computer Science courses such as Computer Science Principles, Intro to Java Programming, Cyber Security, Intro to C++ Programming, and Intro to Computer Science. She previously worked for an insurance company as a PL/SQL programmer and is also an Air Force Reserve Veteran.

Kristin Sheffield

With over twenty years in education, Kristin Sheffield currently serves as the Director of Teaching & Learning at Earlham CSD in Earlham, Iowa. She is also a mom to three school-aged students in the Earlham district.

Misty Gray

Misty Gray has been with the State Library since 2013. She is the District Consultant for the Southwest Region.

Kathy Somers

Kathy Somers represents business and industry, along with the local government. She currently serves as the Cass County Auditor and previously worked at A.M. Cohron & Son, Inc., a bridge construction company, as the HR & EEO Office/Safety Coordinator. Kathy also served on the Atlantic City Council for 12 years.

Lindsay Stoaks

Lindsay Stoaks serves as vice president of instruction at Southwestern Community College. In her role, Stoaks provides leadership in strategic and operational planning for the instructional division of the college. Stoaks has been with Southwestern since 2010.

Terry Torneten

Terry Torneten of Harlan is an ISU Extension and Outreach Regional Extension Education Director currently serving the counties of Audubon, Crawford, Harrison, and Shelby. Building networks and partnering to implement learning opportunities for youth, families, farmers, and community leaders is a key component of his job.

Deb Sprecker

Deb Sprecker guides downtown revitalization and economic development, working with community leaders, small businesses, city government, education, and industry. Her background includes grant writing for community development, education, and business, as well as media writing and editing. Sprecker also directs a private foundation serving children and families in crisis.

Janell Leinen

Janell Leinen is the Communications Specialist for Nishnabotna Valley Rural Electric Cooperative in Harlan. For Nishnabotna, Janell helps with economic development and member engagement in Southwest Iowa to spur growth and improve the quality of life in our rural communities. Additionally, Janell serves as the legislative liaison for Nishnabotna Valley REC and advocates in Des Moines and DC for the voice of rural Iowans. Janell has her Master of Science in Exercise Physiology from Georgia State University, so she also works part-time at Peterson Family Wellness Center in Harlan to provide health and fitness opportunities to residents in the surrounding area. Janell and her husband Jeff farm in southwest Iowa and have four children.

Stephanie Lane (Board Chair)

For the past 13 years, Stephanie Lane has served school districts in Southwest Iowa as a Digital Learning Consultant for Green Hills Area Education Agency. She is also the Co-Founder/Facilitator of the Iowa Authentic Learning Network. Stephanie works to build capacity in helping educators shift traditional instructional practices to 21st-century approaches including personalized and student-centered learning pathways. She is passionate about building capacity in schools to support more authentic and future-ready learning experiences.