News Release: ITEEA Introduces 21st Century Leadership Academy Class of 2025-26

ITEEA is pleased and excited to announce the newest cohort of its 21st Century Leadership Academy! This talented group is set to lead the way in technology and engineering education. Join us in welcoming and supporting these future leaders.

ITEEA's 21st Century Leadership Academy (21CLA) was established in 2006 as an initiative to facilitate leadership development within ITEEA and the technology and engineering education profession. The goal is to create tomorrow's most successful and respected technology and engineering leaders, consultants, and strategic thinkers.

The 21CLA empowers dedicated educators to develop new knowledge and skills and become more effective leaders in the technology and engineering profession. Past Academy participants have included graduate students; early career university faculty members; elementary, middle, and high school teachers; and supervisors and administrators. Since its formation, the 21CLA has provided over 100 educators the opportunity to network with colleagues and peers, connect with and learn from established leaders, and participate in online and face-to-face leadership development activities.

Learn More About ITEEA's 21st Century Leadership Academy

Congratulations to the following individuals who were selected from a very competitive pool of applicants to comprise the 2025-2026 cohort!

Troy Blunier

Troy Blunier is a former secondary technology and engineering teacher. Now in his 19th year of teaching, he has been at Illinois State University in the Engineering Technology sequence for seven years. He loves hands-on learning and problem solving, where students are challenged to innovate and discover through adversity. Outside the classroom, Troy is working on curriculum, teaching Sunday school, and pursuing an EdD in curriculum and instruction. In his personal life, he loves to fish, travel, and spend time with his family.

Zach Glennon

Zach Glennon is a Technology Education teacher at a 6-12 school in Moultonborough New Hampshire. He is a member of ITEEA's Elementary STEM Council and Vice President of Communications for the Secondary STEM Council. Additionally, he will assume the role of ITEEA Elections Chair in April. He enjoys playing board games and video games, when he is not out and about enjoying the beauty of the nature in Central New Hampshire.

Elizabeth Larson

Elizabeth Larson is a doctoral candidate at Virginia Tech University in the Integrative STEM Education program and a dedicated STEM educator at Margaret Beeks Elementary School in Blacksburg, Virginia. With 15 years of experience teaching elementary students, she has demonstrated a commitment to fostering innovative, hands-on learning experiences that inspire young minds to explore STEM.

Hannah Lloyd

Hannah Lloyd is a high school engineering and woodshop teacher who is passionate about advancing technology and engineering education. As a PhD student in Career and Technical Education at Utah State University, her research focuses on fostering belonging and motivation in women engineering students through early exposure to STEM. A graduate of Brigham Young University, Hannah aspires to be a leader in innovative curriculum development and advocacy for diversity and equity in technical education.

Meg Swecker

Meg Swecker is the Coordinator of Technology Integration for Roanoke County Public Schools (VA) With 39 years of experience in education, she has dedicated much of her career to supporting teachers in both elementary and secondary schools. Meg specializes in helping educators seamlessly integrate technology into their teaching practices to enhance student learning. Meg is a recognized leader in her field, frequently presenting at regional, state, and national conferences. In 2009, she received the Virginia Educational Technology Leadership Award for her contributions to the integration of technology in education. Additionally, Meg was honored as the 2023 Virginia Technology and Engineering Education Association (VTEEA) Elementary School Teacher of the Year, and in 2024, she was awarded ITEEA's Teacher Excellence Award. Through her commitment to educational technology, Meg continues to empower teachers and students alike to embrace the potential of technology in the classroom.

Briana Trager

Briana Trager is a doctoral student at North Carolina State University pursuing a PhD in Teacher Education and Learning Sciences, specializing in elementary science and engineering education. As part of her academic journey, she teaches undergraduate courses on science and engineering methods for elementary preservice teachers and contributes to various STEM education research projects working with K-12 students and pre-service teachers. Briana's background includes experience as a fifth grade teacher at a STEM-certified elementary school and as a K-12 STEM coordinator and Science Director for a school district in Missouri. Her work combines practical teaching experience with academic research, positioning her to make significant contributions to the field of elementary STEM education.

“Being a part of ITEEA's 21st Century Leadership Academy was a transformative experience that fueled my passion for STEM education. The insights gained and connections created make me excited for what is next to come.”

Chase Rohan

STEM Specialist

2024-25 Cohort Member

Click to learn more about ITEEA's 21st Century Leadership Academy

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