Colleen Bergren joined NIET in 2020 serving schools and districts as a senior specialist for Indiana. As a former Indiana TAP principal she has a passion for supporting instructional leaders who impact teacher excellence. Through her work as a district leader in Illinois, she developed an appreciation for the varying needs within a district and encourages collective efficacy to drive student success.    

During Colleen's tenure as an educator and leader, she served in numerous roles supporting and leading pre-K-12 educators and undergraduate students in rural, urban, and suburban areas.     

Achieving her bachelor's degree in political science at Purdue University, Colleen changed paths and began her career as a seventh and eighth grade social studies teacher upon completion of the Urban Teachers Education Program. Following her passion for leadership and instruction, Colleen continued her education at DePaul University, Indiana University, and Indiana State University focusing on secondary education, educational leadership, special education and district leadership including an educational specialist degree.