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
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
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.
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