Alina Morelli Baima is the Director of Education and Professional Learning at the North Cook Intermediate Service Center (NCISC), a role she assumed in July 2024. Her career in education began with teaching adults at Cook County Jail, where she focused on English language acquisition, GED preparation, and essential skills. Over the years, Alina has served in various capacities, including a decade as an Instructional Coach in Township High School District 211. During this time, she also taught special education and co-taught biology at Schaumburg High School. In addition to her teaching duties, she served as Assistant Department Chairperson of Special Education for five years and contributed significantly to school improvement and educator efficacy committees. Alina’s dedication to education was recognized when her Instructional Development Team received a nomination for a Those Who Excel Award in 2019, and she was honored as a Nominee for Illinois Teacher of the Year in 2015.

Alina holds a Bachelor's degree in Political Science from DePaul University and a Master’s degree in Special Education from Northeastern Illinois University. She also has endorsements in Spanish, EL, and bilingual education. Alina’s professional journey reflects a deep commitment to fostering spaces that encourage educators to grow, develop, and thrive.

Alina aspires to inspire before she expires and believes that her superpower lies in cultivating and supporting environments that empower people. She is a 2023 HP Teaching Fellow, an active member of instructional technology and coaching communities, and served on the Disney II Magnet School's Local School Council in Chicago Public Schools for four years. Her vision of education places the learner at the center of every decision, from design choice to assessment, and includes a focus on growing educators’ skills and competencies in melding research into practice, crafting captivating learning experiences, fostering culturally responsive practices, championing differentiation, honoring learner variability, and making learning both relevant and joyous. Her ultimate goal is to guide educators in crafting experiences that resonate deeply and inspire growth in those they lead.