OUR FACILITATORS

Darlene von Behren, EdD

Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A.

• Leadership coaching
• Intercultural communications
• Instructional and professional development design

PL work
Darlene von Behren, EdD, is an assistant superintendent in the Illinois school system. Her academic studies introduced her to intercultural communications and Personal Leadership, and she has included this knowledge in her career ever since.

She has presented Personal Leadership through full-day programs to schools, senior administration staff, principals, teachers and support staff. She has also presented at many state-level conferences and pre-conferences, and at the national level.

With an interest in professional development that facilitates creative, meaningful change through personal insights, she uses PL when she coaches education leaders in their career development.

Using the Intercultural Development Inventory in public education for the first time, Darlene’s 2015 dissertation demonstrated the profound impact of intercultural training in developing the intercultural competence of new teachers. She has been an internationally qualified administrator of the Inventory since 2012.

Other work
Darlene has worked in education her entire career. She has taught at all levels in both alternative and adult education.  She has experience in facilitating and coaching education leaders and teachers, and in bridging understanding with indigenous and minority populations.

For the past 20 years, Darlene has held senior leadership positions in public education administration in both Canada and the United States. Her success, commitment and innovative leadership style have been recognized with awards in both countries. In November 2011, she was selected as an education delegate to China.

Darlene believes in a collaborative environment, and forges positive relationships with all employees and union groups as she encourages community and international partnerships with education. She facilitated “sister” schools with China for her school districts in both British Columbia and Illinois. The sister schools have a combined purpose: to share cultural differences and instructional design.

She is also an author, and has written articles focusing on the changing work environment of the 21st century for professional organizations such as the American Association of School Personnel Administrators and the Illinois Association of Business Officials.

Personal background
Darlene is a dual US-Canadian citizen, and her cultural background is First Nations and French Canadian. All this means she definitely has first-hand experience of intercultural communications.

Presently she and her husband divide their time between Chicago, Illinois, and Molokai, Hawaii, in the U.S., and Harrison Hot Springs in British Columbia, Canada.

Academic
Darlene completed a doctorate in education leadership at Western Illinois University with a focus in intercultural communications.  She has also earned a superintendence certification for Illinois, and a Master’s of Public Administration at Brigham Young University.

Other interests
Darlene and her husband enjoy sharing time with great friends, hiking, kayaking, walking on beaches and enjoying nature. She also enjoys traveling and, while in China, spent a further 18 days traveling and exploring the Chinese culture.