Stephanie Bernoteit

Dr. Stephanie Bernoteit serves as Executive Deputy Director at the Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE). She oversees the agency's regulatory and consumer protection work with approximately 450 postsecondary institutions and is responsible fo the agency's initiatives to promote postsecondary student success. Stephanie collaboratively leads a statewide effort to enact a competency-based system of educator preparation, professional development, and credentialing in the field of early childhood education in Illinois. She is co-author and editor of publications on the subject, including, Advancing the Illinois Early Childhood Education Workforce: A Model College and Career Pathway (Bernoteit, Holt, & Kirchhoff, 2017) and Voices from the Field: Collaborative Innovations in Early Childhood Educator Preparation (Bernoteit, Darragh Ernst, & Latham, 2016). Dr. Bernoteit serves on the board of directors of the Competency-Based Education Network.

Prior to joining the IBHE, Stephanie Bernoteit worked at Illinois State University as executive director for alumni relations and co-director of the School of Education's National Board Resource Center. A National Board Certified Teacher in Early Childhood from 1996-2016, Stephanie spent several years at the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards as staff liaison to higher education. She also worked as an early childhood and elementary classroom teacher in the West Des Moines Community School District. Stephanie holds a doctorate in education from Illinois State University, a graduate certificate in non-profit leadership from Georgetown University, a master's degree in education from Drake University, and a bachelor's degree in elementary education with an emphasis in early childhood from Northwest Missouri State University.