EFE Round Table for the IBEA Fall Conference

Meet Your Facilitators

Nick Elder Nick Elder has been the Director of the Education for Employment (EFE) System #330 K-12 career and technical education (CTE) cooperative since 2012. As Director, Nick provides regional administration for CTE programs and initiatives at 14 school districts in Champaign, Ford, Piatt, and Douglas Counties, and serves as Director of the Early College and Career Academy (ECCA). Nick led the effort to create ECCA, a partnership with Parkland College to offer a regional dual credit CTE academy for high school juniors and seniors. Prior to 2012, Nick taught Business and Cooperative Education courses at GCMS High School in Gibson City and Rock Falls High School in Rock Falls. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in education from Illinois State University and a Master’s degree in Educational Administration from Eastern Illinois I come from a vocational background growing up on a grain & livestock farm. I spent 16 years in the classroom teaching Vocational Agriculture at Wethersfield High School, Kewanee. I was also the FFA Advisor where my students participated in numerous Career Development Events. In 2011 I assumed the roll of System Director for the Peoria Educational Region For Employment and Career Training (PERFECT) EFE #300. During my tenure as System Director, I held leadership roles with the Illinois Association of Career and Technical Education (IACTE) serving as 2 nd Vice President; 1 st Vice President; President; and Past President from 2014-2018. I was System Director Leadership Council (SDLC) Chairman 2015-1016, and EFE Region 3 Chair 2014-1016, & 2023-2024. Prior to teaching I worked outside of education for the Illinois Ag. Association as the Farm Bureau Manager for Stark County. I earned my Bachelor’s Degree, in Ag. Education, from Southern Illinois University in 1987, and a Masters Degree from Southern Illinois University in 2000. Tera started her career as a special education and work-study instructor at Pontiac Township High School and the Livingston Area Career Center as a proud graduate from Illinois State University. She went on to be the coordinator for the special education department and special populations. After serving 14 years in these roles and receiving her Master’s in Education Administration from Eastern Illinois University she moved to an administrative role. For the last 16 years she has been the Director of the Livingston Area Education for Employment (LAEFE) #380 and the Livingston Area Career Center. She oversees the career and technical (CTE) programs for the 6 schools in her region and runs the Career Center with 8 schools and 16 programs. Christopher C. Kendall Tera Graves