To strengthen pathways from the classroom to college, careers, and beyond, Regional Opportunity Initiatives (ROI) is pleased to announce the fifth cohort of its Career Coaching Fellowship. This cohort brings together expertise from counseling, teaching, and work‑based learning, and includes twenty‑three individuals from across the Indiana Uplands during the 2026–2027 academic year.
This year‑long fellowship is designed to strengthen regionally relevant career connections and build clear, articulated pathways to high‑opportunity, high‑wage jobs across the region. Throughout the program, fellows participate in professional development, engage with regional employers, and deepen their understanding of postsecondary and career options they can use to help students plan for what comes next.
Throughout the year, fellows participate in monthly professional development, connect with regional and statewide partners, and build relationships with employers and community organizations. Together, the cohort forms an active regional career coaching network that models evidence‑based practices across the Indiana Uplands. Fellows will also receive a $1,000 stipend and supporting resources upon successful completion of the fellowship year.
ROI Career Coaching Fellowship – Cohort 5
| First Name | Last Name | Organization | Counties |
| Jeremy | Adams | Washington Community Schools | Daviess |
| Carol | Brown | Brown County Schools | Brown |
| Tabitha | Burton | Bloomfield School District | Greene |
| Amanda | Buchta | Washington Community Schools | Daviess |
| Stephanie | Carnegie | Monroe County Community Schools | Monroe |
| Kerri | Dilger | Southeast Dubois County School Corporation | Dubois |
| Adeline | Gaither | Greater Jasper Consolidated Schools | Dubois |
| Amie | Jahn | North Lawrence Community Schools | Lawrence |
| Abby | Kennedy | Greater Jasper Consolidated Schools | Dubois |
| Krista | Kirk | Mitchell Community Schools | Lawrence |
| Catherine | Laydon | North Lawrence Community Schools | Lawrence |
| Errin | Layer | North Lawrence Community Schools | Lawrence |
| Andrea | McIntosh | Mitchell Community Schools | Lawrence |
| Tiffany | Maxey | Greater Jasper Consolidated Schools | Dubois |
| Kevin | Schipp | Greater Jasper Consolidated Schools | Dubois |
| Maggi | Snack | North Lawrence Community Schools | Lawrence |
| Jessica | Siegelin | Richland‑Bean Blossom Community School Corporation | Monroe |
| Jennifer | Stahl | West Washington School Corporation | Washington |
| Jordan | Wilson | Greater Jasper Consolidated Schools | Dubois |
| Career Coach | Loogootee Community Schools | Martin | |
| Career Coach | Monroe County Community School Corporation | Monroe | |
| Counselor | Loogootee Community Schools | Martin | |
| Preparation for College and Career Teacher | Mitchell Community Schools | Lawrence |
With support from the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE), ROI is able to welcome additional fellows, further expanding the impact across the Indiana Uplands. ROI was among 21 organizations statewide awarded IDOE funding for January 2026-June 2027 to advance meaningful career coaching opportunities across Indiana.
“ROI is grateful for the Indiana Department of Education’s continued investment in career coaching in the Indiana Uplands region,” said Michi McClaine, ROI Vice President of Talent Development. “By working alongside K–12 schools, postsecondary partners, and employers throughout the region, we are creating meaningful, real‑world career connections for students. This support allows us to expand access to those opportunities and better equip students to make informed postsecondary and career decisions.”
With the addition of the fifth cohort, ROI’s Career Coaching Fellowship has now reached 102 fellows since the program began. Together, these educators and career‑connected learning professionals form a growing regional community of practice spanning all 11 counties of the Indiana Uplands, strengthening career coaching capacity and quality throughout the region.
McClaine emphasized that long‑term regional growth depends on developing and retaining a skilled workforce.
“It’s our responsibility to help students connect their interests and talents to the many incredible opportunities available in the Uplands,” she said. “Career coaches play a critical role by serving as connectors and using innovative, research‑driven practices in their schools. The goal of the fellowship is to increase the number of students who pursue and complete meaningful pathways leading to postsecondary education, continued training, or high‑opportunity employment in the Indiana Uplands.”
“This fifth cohort represents another strong step forward for the fellowship,” McClaine added. “We are proud to bring together a diverse group of professionals who are positioned to positively influence thousands of students across the region.”
Read more about ROI’s Career Coaching Fellowship:
https://regionalopportunityinc.org/career-coaching-fellowship/
About Regional Opportunity Initiatives
Regional Opportunity Initiatives (ROI) is a nonprofit organization with a mission to advance economic and community prosperity in the 11 counties of the Indiana Uplands (Brown, Crawford, Daviess, Dubois, Greene, Lawrence, Martin, Monroe, Orange, Owen, and Washington counties). ROI is growing potential and possibility through a focus on advanced industry sectors, regionalism, transformative school and workforce redesign, and placemaking strategies. To learn more about ROI’s programs, visit https://regionalopportunityinc.org/.