Topic: Teachers College
April 29, 2015
Vince Bertram is a business and education leader, a best-selling author, and currently serves as president and CEO of Project Lead The Way.
Vince Bertram, president and CEO of Project Lead The Way (PLTW), will deliver the address at Ball State University Teachers College annual Spring Commencement at noon on Saturday, May 2, on the Fine Arts Terrace.
Bertram, ’91 MAE ’98 EdS ’01 EdD ’06, joined PLTW in June 2011. Since that time, the organization — the nation’s leading provider of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) programs — has grown to reach more than 6,500 schools nationwide. Bertram will speak on the important work of teaching in the 21st century and the new graduates’ ability to prepare students with the necessary skills in an increasingly global economy.
“Our students, faculty and staff are honored to call Vince Bertram one of our own,” said John Jacobson, dean of Teachers College. “His willingness to share his experiences and expertise is the perfect last piece of perspective we can provide to our graduates as they get ready to do the critical work of preparing young people to be tomorrow’s leaders.”
In November 2014, Bertram became a New York Times best-selling author with his book, “One Nation Under Taught: Solving America’s Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math Crisis.” Prior to joining PLTW, Bertram was superintendent of Evansville Vanderburgh School Corp., Indiana’s third-largest urban school district, where he led unprecedented efforts to improve student achievement, community collaboration and operational efficiency.
Bertram holds additional degrees and certifications from Harvard University, the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology – Sloan School of Management.
He is a member of the Indiana Education Roundtable and has held numerous leadership roles, including serving on the Clinton Global Initiative STEM Working Group and chairing the National Council for National Honor Society as well as serving as director for several nonprofit boards. Bertram was named a Distinguished Hoosier by former Gov. Mitch Daniels, and his peers at the Harvard Graduate School of Education honored him with the Intellectual Contributions/Faculty Tribute Award for his contributions to intellectual life at the Harvard Graduate School of Education.