Say "Hello" to the Team
Our staff members are committed to building strong relationships with parents of young children with disabilities and the professionals who serve them. STAR NET Region II has been providing high-quality training and resources to the early childhood special education community for over 25 years. We work together to give professionals and parents information they can trust.
Kathy Slattery, Project Director
Kathy Slattery is the Project Director and a ECSE Professional Development Specialist for STAR NET Region II. She has been involved in the field of Special Education, Early Childhood Special Education and Early Intervention for over 25 years as a classroom teacher, Early Intervention Provider, Parent Support Coordinator and as a technical assistance provider at STAR NET. Kathy has presented at the local, state and national level on topics related to supporting young children with disabilities and their families. In addition, Kathy has been a volunteer State Coordinator for the Selective Mutism Group for nine years. Kathy participates on several state level committees including Early Childhood LRE Stakeholders and the Stakeholders Committee for Early Childhood Outcomes.
Email: kslattery@cntrmail.org
Call: 224-366-8574
Adelicia Brienzo, Project Director
Currently, as the Project Director for STAR NET Region VI, Adelicia is committed to fostering inclusive and equitable learning environments. She has served on several boards and committees, including BabyTALK, Birth to Five IL Region 1BC, and the Illinois Division of Early Childhood (IDEC). Additionally, she is an ISBE Educational Surrogate and a certified SEED facilitator, reflecting her deep commitment to the educational community and the diverse needs of all students.
Nancy Kind, ECSE Professional Development Specialist
Nancy Kind is an ECSE Professional Development Specialist consultant. She has been involved in the field of Special Education, Early Childhood Education, Early Intervention and Early Childhood Special Education as a classroom teacher and administrator for over 33 years. Over her career, Nancy has been a presenter for many regional workshops, state and national conferences regarding key topics in Early Childhood Special Education. Nancy has participated in many state level committees including Early Childhood LRE Stakeholders and the Stakeholders Committee for Early Childhood Outcomes.
Email: nkind@cntrmail.org
Laurel Mateyka, ECSE Professional Development Specialist
Laurel Mateyka serves as an Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) Professional Development Specialist for STAR NET Regions II and VI. A seasoned educational leader, she brings a wealth of experience spanning early childhood through secondary education. Her areas of expertise include developmentally appropriate practices, program design and administration, and continuous quality improvement—all anchored in a strong, equity-driven results orientation.
Before joining STAR NET, Laurel served as the Principal of P.H. Miller Elementary School in Plano, Illinois. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Secondary Mathematics Education with a minor in Psychology from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, a Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Olivet Nazarene University, and a Certificate in Educational Leadership from Aurora University.
Laurel is also the Founder and CEO of the Plano Area Alliance Supporting Student Success (PAASSS) early childhood collaboration, where she leads transformative efforts in the early childhood landscape. Her work centers on building collaborative partnerships with community organizations, family child care providers, and healthcare professionals to ensure that families across diverse settings receive holistic, high-quality services. Her approach is grounded in responsive community engagement and a steadfast commitment to equity.
She has presented at several Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) conferences and is featured in the ISBE KIDS Training Video and WIDA Focus Bulletin, where she shares insights from her work as an early childhood leader.
A tireless advocate for young children and families, Laurel believes that equitable access to inclusive early care and education is the key to unlocking opportunity and long-term success for all Illinois communities.
Gina Musielski, ECSE Family Professional Development Specialist
Gina Musielski is the Early Childhood Special Education Family Professional Development Specialist for STAR NET Region II. For more than 20 years Gina has worked in the field of family engagement, training, and support. As the parent of an adult child with a developmental disability, Gina draws on both her personal and professional experience in all of her work. In addition to regularly presenting workshops for early childhood families on a variety of topics including special education and parent rights, Gina has presented for professionals in early education and care, and at state and local conferences, on topics relating to family engagement, special education, parent rights and transition. Gina is active on the Early Intervention to Early Childhood ISBE/DHS Transition Guidance Committee, and is involved in training and resource development for parents of young children with special needs on topics relating to transition, IEPs, parent rights and advocacy.
Email: gmusielski@cntrmail.org
Call: 224-366-8571
Sharon Sprague, ECSE Professional Development Specialist
Sharon Sprague is an ECSE Professional Development Specialist for STAR NET Region II. Sharon has worked in the field of Education, Early Childhood Education, and Special Education as a classroom teacher and administrator for over 25 years. She most recently was the Director of Early Childhood programs at the Joseph E. Hill Early Education Center for School District 65 in Evanston, IL. Sharon holds a doctorate in Urban Educational Leadership from the University of Illinois at Chicago and a Master’s of Science in Early Childhood Education from The Erikson Institute. Previously, Sharon has been a presenter for Illinois State Board of Education conferences, and a trainer and coach for school professionals in issues pertaining to Early Childhood Education and Special Education.
Email: ssprague@cntrmail.org
Call: 224-366-8576
Katie Suchy, ECSE Professional Development Specialist
Katie Suchy is an ECSE Professional Development Specialist for STAR NET Region II. Katie holds a bachelor's degree from Iowa State University where she double majored in child, adult, and family services, and linguistics with an emphasis on communication disorders and a minor in psychology. Katie has worked in the field of Early Childhood in a variety of roles in the classroom and as an Administrator for Head Start where she partnered with the local school districts to support students and families in the community. In addition to training for STAR NET, Katie is a certified CLASS observer, and CDA Professional Development Specialist.
Email: ksuchy@cntrmail.org
Call: 224-366-8575
Seana Thomas, Project Manager
Seana joined the STAR NET Region II staff in 2007 as an Administrative Assistant and Data Entry Specialist. Seana coordinates the STAR NET registration process for workshops and works with the team in the development of the Region II Training Calendar.
Email: sthomas@cntrmail.org
Call: 224-366-8573