Colleen Bergren is the Midwest Regional Director for the National Institute for Excellence in Teaching (NIET). She partners with school and district leaders to strengthen instructional systems, develop teacher and school leadership, and improve educator effectiveness through sustainable practices that increase student achievement. With more than two decades of experience in public education, Colleen believes that great schools are built by developing great leaders and that meaningful, lasting improvement occurs when teacher leaders are empowered alongside school and district administrators to impact student learning.

Colleen is passionate about helping educators create the structures, processes, and professional learning that make complex work more manageable and sustainable. She enjoys coaching leaders, asking thoughtful questions, and collaborating with teams to develop solutions using evidence based research that strengthen instruction and build leadership capacity. Having served as a teacher, assistant principal, principal, Director of Student Services, Assistant Superintendent, and an NIET Senior Specialist, Colleen understands the realities school and district leaders face because she has walked in their shoes. She believes that strong partnerships and effective systems allow educators to focus on what matters most, improving teaching and learning for every student.

Prior to joining NIET as Midwest Regional Director, Colleen served as Assistant Superintendent for the School Town of Munster, where she led districtwide initiatives focused on curriculum development, instructional excellence, assessment systems, leadership development, and continuous school improvement. She also previously served as an NIET Senior Specialist, partnering with districts to implement research-based instructional practices and leadership systems that strengthened educator effectiveness and student achievement. This breadth of experience provides her with a unique perspective on the opportunities and challenges educators encounter at every level of the education system.

Colleen earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Purdue University, a Master of Science in Secondary Education from Indiana University Northwest, an Educational Leadership certification from DePaul University, and an Educational Specialist degree from Indiana State University.