Thomas Metcalf Laboratory School welcomes Dr. Carmen Bergmann ’94, M.S. 04, Ed.D ‘20, as the interim principal effective July 1, 2023. Bergmann brings extensive experience in the classroom, administration, and education consulting. She will serve in the interim principal role for one year.

“Dr. Bergmann is an experienced educator, administrator, and decision maker with strong communication skills,” said Dr. Anthony Jones, director of the Laboratory Schools. “I look forward to her leadership over the next year as she helps Metcalf continue to move forward with our mission to provide a model school in which excellence in educational theory and practice thrives.”

Bergmann has more than 25 years of experience in education. She served as an elementary classroom teacher for eleven years, nine years as an elementary principal and three years as the district curriculum coordinator in Unit 5, and two years as an assistant superintendent for Regional Office of Education (ROE) #17. Her focus areas while she worked at the ROE were in the areas of professional development and school improvement. Recently she was an international consultant and worked with schools and districts in the US, Canada, UK, Australia, Scandinavia, and Japan to clarify their vision for learning and build internal support to realize their vision.

“I’m so excited to be part of the Metcalf team and community and to get to know the students, families, and staff,” said Bergmann. “Metcalf faculty associates have a strong commitment to student learning and that is an extreme passion of mine, so this is going to be a really fun school year.”

Bergmann earned a bachelor’s in elementary education, a master’s in educational administration, a superintendent certificate, and a doctorate in education all at Illinois State.

“Beginning this role at Metcalf has felt like coming home,” said Bergmann. “I spent my childhood here as my dad was a professor at ISU and then I spent 13 years learning on campus, plus played on the women’s softball team.”