Education Matters

"Education Matters" co-host Guida Brown serves as the Community Relations Consultant for US Drug Testing Laboratories in Des Plaines, Illinois, and as an adjunct member of the faculty at Concordia University, UW-Parkside, and Gateway Technical College. She has also taught at Carthage College.

Having earned a bachelor’s degree in Journalism from Marquette University and a master’s degree in Management from Cardinal Stritch University, Brown made the nonprofit sector in Kenosha County her career. She was the Executive Director of the Hope Council on Alcohol & Other Drug Abuse, Inc., for over 13 years, resigning that position in June 2022. Prior to her tenure at the Hope Council, she worked as the Director of Human Resources and Training at AM Community Credit Union and Executive Director at Women and Children’s Horizons.

Brown is certified by the State of Wisconsin as a Substance Abuse Counselor, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder trainer, and Intoxicated Driver Program Assessor.

“Education Matters” co-host Dr. Jonathan Shailor (Ph.D., University of Massachusetts at Amherst) is a Full Professor of Communication at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside, where he directs the Certificate Program in Conflict Analysis and Resolution. His teaching, research, creative activity, and community service focus on the creation of better social worlds through better communication. Jonathan is a leader in prison education, and the founder/director of Wisconsin’s widely acclaimed Shakespeare Prison Project. He is author of Empowerment in Dispute Mediation: A Critical Analysis of Communication, and editor of Performing New Lives: Prison Theatre.

“Education Matters” co-host Dr. Karin Sconzert has lived and taught in five states (IN, NJ, IL, PA, and WI) at every level from pre-K through graduate school and is currently Professor of Education at Carthage College in Kenosha. She has also served as an adult literacy tutor, an educational researcher, a theatrical costume designer, and a library trustee. Dr. Sconzert is a member of the New Books Podcast Network, where she interviews authors of new academic books in education. She holds a Ph.D. in Educational Policy and the History of Education from the University of Chicago, and a B.A. in History from Lawrence University in Appleton. She is a proud graduate of Green Bay Area Public Schools.

“Education Matters” co-host Stephanie Sklba is Vice-President of Community and Government Relations at Gateway Technical College. Stephanie is a life-long Racinian who graduated from UW-Parkside.

“Education Matters” co-host Dr. Steve Brown received his Ph.D. from Iowa State University in Educational Leadership. His academic areas of specialization include educational law and ethics, social justice, and educational research and statistics. Other academic degrees include: B.S. in Broadcast Journalism from The University of Florida and an M.A. in Instructional Media and Library Science from The University of South Florida.

Steve has also been a high school teacher, principal, and district-level administrator. He was a tenured full professor at Northeastern Illinois University from 1989-2012. He also served as program coordinator of the Educational Leadership program for 8 years and 2 years as Department Chair. In addition, Steve also served as Special Assistant to the University President for 2 years His teaching areas include graduate educational leadership courses in the M.A. programs

Steve was also an Associate Professor for 4 years at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh. Since 2016, Steve is an elected member of the Salem School Board.

He is also the co-founder, of the 30-time award winning WGTD Public Radio Theater, now in its 18th season.