CCCTEC Administrative Staff

Dr. Denise Jonas

Denise Jonas is the Director for Career and Technical Education for the Cass County Career and Technical Education Virtual Center serving Central Cass, Fargo, Northern Cass, and West Fargo Public Schools. Denise values career education! She believes career education is critical to build and retain our future workforces as it engages students through real-world lens, providing career awareness, exploration, and preparation. Her mantra is, "The Right Student, in the Right Pathway, for the Right Reasons." Denise strives to work with schools, teachers, businesses, colleges, and community organizations so all students can cultivate their talents. Denise has worked in banking and government, and in education as a middle school, high school, and post-secondary IT teacher, support technician, assistant principal, principal, and CTE director. She holds bachelor degrees in Business Administration and Business Education, a Masters in Career & Technical Education (CTE), and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership.

Ryan Pierce

Ryan Pierce is the curriculum facilitator for the Cass County Career and Technical Education Center. Instruction and support of career and technical education has been his career focus since his start in education. As a life-long learner, he has received a BS in Industrial Technology and MEd in Instructional Design Technology from the University of North Dakota and his MEd in Educational Leadership from NDSU. Since 2001, Ryan has worked for Fargo Public Schools as a Vocational/Technical and Engineering instructor teaching construction, graphics, and engineering courses. He has also served as the curriculum facilitator for CTE since 2014 working with all CTE curricular areas on developing standards based curriculum and non-traditional/distance learning opportunities for students. Aside from education, Ryan has been involved in the construction, transportation and agriculture industries owning businesses in these areas over the last 20 years. Ryan’s goal is to create opportunity in all CTE areas for all students.

Shanda Cool

Shanda Cool is the Business Partner Liaison and Work-Based Learning Coordinator for the Cass County Career and Technical Education Consortium. Shanda brings over 29 years of diverse experience in business, healthcare management, entrepreneurship, and public service to her role at C3 Tec. She is passionate about building strong partnerships between local businesses, CTE educators, and students across Cass County. Her work focuses on creating meaningful career exploration and work-based learning opportunities that prepare students for success in today’s workforce. Before joining C3 Tec, Shanda served as a Business Development Advisor for Cash-Wa Distributing and held leadership roles in the culinary industry, including Executive Chef for the Governor and First Family of North Dakota, Owner and CEO of Sweet & Flour Patisserie Inc. and an Agricultural Lender and Crop Insurance Agent in the banking industry. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Health Services and Business Administration from Minnesota State University Moorhead and a Chef’s Diploma from Le Cordon Bleu in San Francisco, CA.

Shanda’s commitment to connecting education and industry ensures that students in West Fargo, Fargo, Central Cass, and Northern Cass have access to high-quality, career-ready experiences that strengthen the local talent pipeline.

Wanda Stenerson

Wanda Stenerson is the CTE Administrative Assistant for West Fargo Public Schools and the Cass County CTE Center network. Wanda holds her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Valley City State University and has worked with children from infant to 8^th grade. She operated an in-home daycare and then transitioned as an elementary teacher in Montana and North Dakota, also completing roles in California as an elementary special education para-educator. Wanda has spent most of her teaching experience with Bureau of Indian Education schools, including her recent role as a middle school ELA teacher at the Circle of Nations School in Wahpeton.  Wanda looks forward to a new role in the world of education as administrative assistant for CTE.

Idette Graham

Idette Graham has worked for the Fargo Public School District since August 2008.  Prior to that she worked for the Grand Forks School system for eight years.  Currently she is the secretary of Teaching and Learning for the Fargo Public Schools.  In this position, she is the administrative assistant for Dr. Denise Jonas, CTE Director for Fargo Public Schools and Jodell Teiken, Director of Standards Based Education for Fargo Public Schools.  Idette holds a Bachelor Degree in Business from North Dakota State University.