Presenters

Amanda Abruzino is in her 7th year working at the John Schroder Early Childhood Center in Lombard as an Early Childhood Special Education teacher in a blended classroom. She strives to create a classroom environment in which children of all abilities have an equal opportunity to learn and be successful. Amanda believes in the importance of enthusiasm and motivation in the classroom. She creates hands-on activities and interactive lesson plans for different learning preferences. Education is constantly changing and she is changing with it! Teaching allows her to inspire her students and their families to have fun while they are learning in the classroom or remotely!

Amanda has a Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood and a minor in Special Education and a Master’s Degree in Teacher Leadership from Elmhurst College. She also has an English Language Learners endorsement.

Savannah Bays has worked as an Early Childhood educator for 2.5 years. She is currently an Early Childhood Special Education teacher in a blended and bilingual classroom at the John Schroder Early Childhood Center. She is passionate about supporting language learners and their families by encouraging family involvement, implementing strategies, and adapting materials to best meet the needs of her students.

Savannah has a Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood and Special Education at the University of Wisconsin, Whitewater, with an endorsement in English as a Second Language. She is currently working towards her bilingual licensure. In her spare time, she enjoys running, yoga, and spending time with her family.

Kimberly Bryze, Ph.D., OTR/L is the Program Director and Associate Professor of the Occupational Therapy Program at Midwestern University in Downers Grove, IL. She received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Special Education from Bradley University, Bachelor and Master Degrees in Occupational Therapy as well as her Doctoral Degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago. In her Occupational Therapy practice, Dr. Bryze has worked with children and adults with developmental, learning, and behavioral disabilities in early intervention and school settings. Her research and clinical interests include collaboration between teachers and therapists, schoolwork performance of students with autism spectrum disorders, and the effect of sensory processing dysfunction on occupational performance.

Dr. Julie Causton is founder and CEO of Inclusive Schooling, and is a former Professor AT Syracuse University. She is an educational consultant and works with administrators, teachers, paraprofessionals and families to help them improve inclusive practices.

Alina Celeste Hevia and Hamlet Meneses are both Parents’ Choice Silver Award Winners for their bilingual music. Alina has taught early childhood music and arts classes and conducted workshops for educators on Early Literacy, STEAM Integration and Classroom Management internationally since 2008.

Pat Chamberlain works as a consultant with school districts and agencies on issues related to optimizing the educational opportunities for young culturally and linguistically diverse children and their families. Her most recent projects include working as the co-director of the EC Award for Excellence Project for Linguistically and Culturally Responsive Practices with OECD, developing an EC ESL/Bilingual Credential with INCCRRA, chairing community collaboration organization and working with B-3rd Grade Continuity Project for ISU.

Dr. Paul Thomas Clements is a forensic psychiatric clinical specialist, a Certified Gang Specialist, and Certified in Danger Assessment. Clements has provided consultation for EMT’s, Child Protective Agency personnel, trauma/emergency nurses, psychiatric providers, hospital systems, and and even corporate executives - each regarding vulnerability risk assessment, bullying, and decreasing the number of violent incidents in the home and the workplace. Clements has three textbooks: Violence against women: Contemporary examination of intimate partner violence, Mental health issues in child maltreatment, and Nursing approach to the evaluation of child maltreatment. Additionally, he has numerous peer review publications and conference presentations regarding stress, trauma, violence and aggression, coping after a violent death, safety promotion, and exposure to interpersonal violence and crime. His most recent publications in print and soon to be published are "When your child is found dead", and soon to be published is "Why did my dad kill my mom?" and "When your child is missing and presumed dead"?

More recently, Clements spent time in Bolivia, working with provincial judges, prosecutors and forensic psychologists regarding enhanced assessment and intervention with children victimized by sexual aggression and other forms of violence.

Clements holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Forensic Psychiatric Nursing from The University of Pennsylvania with research that has examined the traumatic presentations and behaviors of children exposed to the homicide of a family member. Clements was inducted as a Distinguished Fellow in the International Association of Forensic Nurses in 2002, and was an inaugural Associate Editor of the Journal of Forensic Nursing from 2005-2012

Doreen Comings, Ph. D., CCC-SLP/L has been a Speech-Language Pathologist at Madison Early Childhood Education Center (MECEC) in Elmhurst District 205 since 2005. She previously worked at the Elementary and Middle School level for District 205. She currently serves children in blended early childhood classrooms who have a wide variety of speech and language needs and disorders. She is a proponent of integrated push-in services in the classroom and primarily uses a classroom based model to serve her students. Doreen has also served as an adjunct professor at Northern Illinois University and has taught courses in Language Development (COMD 403, LTCY 403x), Early Childhood Language Disorders (COMD 603), and Assessment of Language Disorders (COMD 475). She received her Master’s degree from Miami University and her Ph.D. from Northern Illinois University.

Julianne Confalonieri, MS CCC, BCS-F is a certified speech and language pathologist specializing in the evaluation and treatment of children and adults who stutter. In 2000, Julianne became a member of the initial cadre of Board Certified Fluency Specialists. Since 1990, she has owned Speech and Fluency Services, LLC, a private practice dedicated to serving children and their families as well as adults who stutter.

Shannon Cribaro Director of Early Childhood Education for Mannheim School District 83 for the past 5 years. Shannon has 25 years in education. She has previously been an Administrator for Valley View School District 365 U, SASED, and Cicero District 99. Shannon is currently working on her doctorate at NLU. She has a CAS in Educational Leadership from Lewis University, Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction, & Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood / Special Education at Elmhurst College. Shannon has previously presented on Early Childhood topics at IAASE, Triple III, Illinois Council of Exceptional Children, and Sharing a Vision.

Deidre is a Speech Language Pathologist with 18 years of experience specializing in language acquisition and AAC in the early childhood setting. She presents frequently around the country and offers an enthusiastic and practical approach to working with young minimally verbal students. Utilizing play, music, art and sensory experiences; Deidre embeds functional communication throughout her student’s entire day. She developed the core vocabulary curriculum “Power Words 16” which is used in Barrington CUSD #220.

Brigid Finucane, writer, educator, and visual artist, has worked as an early childhood music teacher since 1995 while continuing her lifelong research into cross-cultural music, dances, and music and literacy for the early childhood classroom. Brigid also presents on integrating music into the early childhood classroom and seasonal and science songs for circle time. Her primary objective is to share the joy of singing and music making, while helping others become confident, creative musical beings.

Elizabeth Frisbie has worked with young children and their families and teachers since 1988 as a psychotherapist, early childhood mental health consultant, family support specialist, and teacher. She holds Master’s degrees in clinical child/family psychology and education and has earned the Credential in Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health. Elizabeth’s specialties include social emotional learning, building resiliency in at-risk children and staff, trauma-informed practice and supporting children with challenging behaviors.

Mariana Glusman, MD, has dedicated her career to decreasing health and educational disparities among low income children. She is an associate professor of pediatrics at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine and an attending pediatrician at Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Uptown clinic where, for the past 25 years, she has cared for a diverse, multilingual, medically complex, underserved patient population. She completed her undergraduate studies at Brown University, medical school at the University of Chicago, and her pediatric residency at Children’s Memorial, now Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago. She is the immediate past president of the Illinois Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (ICAAP) and co-chairs ICAAP’s anti-bias and anti-racism taskforce. She is also a member of the executive committee of the National AAP Council on Early Childhood, as well as a member of the AAP Section on Minority Health, Equity and Inclusion. She is nationally recognized for her work with Reach Out and Read (ROR), a program that partners with pediatricians to promote early literacy development, and is currently serving as medical director of ROR Illinois, representing and supporting 130 ROR sites throughout the state, and training medical providers regionally on literacy promotion in pediatrics. She is also a founding member of Bilingualism Matters Chicago, a consortium of universities with the aims of sharing perspectives on bilingual education and the bilingual experience, and combating myths about bilingual language development.
Dr. Glusman is the author of I Love You Like Sunshine: How Everyday Play and Bedtime Stories Grow Love Connections and Brainpower, a book for newborns and their caregivers, with more than 100,000 copies in distribution in hospitals, clinics, libraries, and community programs nationwide.
 

Barb Golik is the principal of the Early Learning Center in District 63. She has been with the district in this role for the last 5 years and in the field of education for 17 years. Barb started my career as an early childhood teacher with ECDEC before moving on to be a first grade teacher in Mt. Prospect. She also spent time as a reading specialist prior to becoming a principal. Barb is passionate about the world of early childhood and strive to provide a nurturing, invitige and play based environment for all students.

Alyssa Gorecki has worked as an Early Childhood educator for two years. She currently works at the John Schroder Early Childhood Center in Lombard as an Early Childhood Special Education teacher in a blended classroom. She strives to create a classroom environment in which children of all abilities have an equal opportunity to learn and be successful.

Alyssa has a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Elmhurst College and a Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education and Special Education from University of Illinois at Chicago. She also has an English Language Learners endorsement.

Evelyn Polk Green is the STARNET Region V Project Director. She has been involved in early childhood education for over 30 years, working as a teacher assistant, classroom teacher, resource specialist, coach and administrator. A graduate of National Louis and Northern Illinois Universities, Evelyn is active in child and adult mental health advocacy. She serves as a member of the Network on Children’s Mental Health Research funded by the MacArthur Foundation and is a past board member and National President of both the Attention Deficit Disorder Association (ADDA) and CHADD (Children and Adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder).

Beginning her career in Chicago Public School preschools, Kira Hamann, Ed.D. is a veteran early childhood educator and instructional assistant professor at Illinois State University. With a doctorate in Teaching and Learning from ISU, a master’s degree in ECE from the Erikson Institute in Chicago, and her EC teaching degree from ISU, Kira’s research focuses on teacher preparation, classroom management and community building, and new teacher mentorship. She is a certified Positive Discipline Parent & Teacher Educator and leads professional development in the areas of teaching social-emotional skills, problem-solving, co-teaching, teacher identity development, and building family and classroom communities.

Linda Housewright served as a prekindergarten director/teacher in the Dallas City CUSD #336 for over 25 years. Her classroom was chosen by ISBE as the only long-distance virtual learning site statewide for Western Illinois University for 4 years, during this time she served as an adjunct professor and advisor for the Early Childhood department. Linda has served on committees for ISBE Early Learning Standards, Portfolio and the Governor’s office in the area of reading. Linda has provided trainings and webinars for ISBE/Illinois Resource Center-ECC in the areas of curriculum, assessment, learning environment, self-regulation, and ECERS. She has also presented at NAEYC conventions in New York, Chicago, and California.

Linda was one of the creators of the Illinois Early Childhood model classroom, and a training site. She has also received an ISBE “Those Who Excel” 2001 award for meritorious service.

After helping develop the ISBE Curriculum Coaching project and coaching more than 50 teachers to compliance and high ECERS scores she is now working as an independent early childhood consultant.

She is the coauthor of Challenging Behavior in Young Children: Understanding, Preventing, and Responding Effectively (now in its 4th edition); Challenging Behavior in Elementary and Middle School, and is now working on a text for the NAEYC on the leadership role when there is a child with challenging behavior at the school or childcare center. She has an M.A. from McGill University in Educational Administration and Policy Studies and has taught at Acadia University in Wolfville, Nova Scotia, and Concordia University and College Marie-Victorin in Montreal, Canada, and presented workshops, keynote speeches, and webinars on challenging behavior throughout the world. Barbara acted as chief consultant for Facing the Challenge, an instructional DVD based on Challenging Behavior in Young Children (produced by the Devereux Center for Resilient Children), and also for Mr. Rogers’ Family Communications. Recently she has given webinars on leadership and on supporting children, families, and staff returning to school and childcare during the COVID-19 pandemic. She has over 30 years experience in early childhood education

Julie Kallenbach, Ed.D, facilitates projects in Early Childhood (Birth to Third Grade). Focus and research interests are developmentally appropriate practice, play-based learning, authentic assessment, birth to third grade continuity, and project management to support positive outcomes for children and teachers. Her work roles have included presenter for NAEYC, CSEP at ISU, Birth to Third Continuity Project, Implementation Consultant and Coach for ISBE on the KIDS project, Director of Early Learning Initiatives in Elgin School District U-46, principal, special education supervisor, diagnostician and teacher.

Nancy Kind is an Early Childhood Educational 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.

Dr. Paula Kluth is a consultant, author, advocate, and independent scholar who works with teachers and families to provide inclusive opportunities for students with disabilities and to create more responsive and engaging schooling experiences for all learners. Paula is a former special educator who has served as a classroom teacher and inclusion facilitator. Her professional interests include Universal Design for Learning, co-teaching, and inclusive schooling.

She is the author or co-author of more than 15 books including "Don't We Already Do Inclusion?": 100 Ways to Improve Schools for All, “You’re Going to Love This Kid”: Teaching Students with Autism in Inclusive Classrooms, Universal Design Daily, and "A Land We Can Share": Teaching Literacy to Students with Autism. Paula is also the director of a documentary film titled “We Thought You’d Never Ask”: Voices of People with Autism.

Cathy Koch, MA, CCC-SLP/L is a licensed Speech-Language Pathologist. She recently retired from Elmhurst District 205 at the Madison Early Childhood Center, where she worked for over 15 years. Cathy has a special love of preschoolers and has focused her practice on working with them and their families for most of her 25+ year career. She has worked in a variety of settings including a clinical rehabilitation center, a large special education cooperative, early intervention, and as a clinical supervisor. Additionally, she holds a Masters Degree in Early Childhood Education.

Ann Kremer is the Director of Early CHOICES LRE, working to increase inclusive opportunities for preschool children with disabilities. Ann came to the field of inclusive practices as a parent of a child with Down Syndrome who wanted to include her son in regular preschool. Ann started out as an elementary school teacher but completed her Masters in early childhood. She also has experience as a Developmental Therapist in Early Intervention. Through her work, Ann has done presentations for many regional and national conferences as well as facilitated districts to plan for inclusion. Ann has participated on many state level committees, leading the Early Childhood LRE Stakeholders, and participating in the Stakeholders Committee for Early Childhood Outcomes, and the ISBE/DHS Transition Guidance Committee.

Toni W. Linder consults and presents nationally and internationally on the role of play in assessment, intervention and curriculum. Dr. Linder is Professor Emerita at the Mortgridge College of Education at the University of Denver, Colorado. She has authored books on transdisciplinary play-based assessment (TPBA) and intervention (TPBI). Toni is currently advising a game company on how to modify games for children with special needs, is helping to develop a technology app for grandparents to play with their young grandchildren online, and is working with a team of professionals on the development of TPBA3, which will be an online version.

Mike grew up roaming Iowa river bottoms and oak highlands. He ran off to the Rockies to study outdoor education with NOLS and Outward Bound after graduating from the University of Iowa's College of Education. Since, he has taught in bounteous biomes and repurposed utility rooms for far flung school districts, non-profits and universities. He currently lives and teaches science in Eagle, CO, where he and his wife have founded a middle school focused on experiential education.

Caroline Maguire, M.Ed., ACCG, PCC, is a leader in social skills development. She founded a SEL training methodology for adults, parents, clinicians and academic professionals on how to develop critical social, emotional and behavioral skills. She is the author of Why Will No One Play With Me, a handbook on how to communicate social skills training. She earned her undergraduate degree from Trinity College and her Masters of Education and Early Childhood Development from Lesley University. She is the director of the only Coach Training program accredited by the International Coach Federation (ICF) The Fundamentals of ADHD Coaching for Families.

Jackie graduated from University of Illinois in Chicago with a bachelors in Psychology and a Masters in Speech Language Pathology from Northern Illinois University. For the past 11 years, she has worked in a number of settings including: schools, skilled nursing facilities as well as in  homes as a certified Early Intervention therapist in the city and western suburbs of Chicago. Her interest and focus has been working primarily in the school setting, ages ranging pre-school to high school aged.  Currently, she is at the Mannheim Early Childhood center having the privilege to provide speech therapy services to the bilingual blended classrooms as well as a structured classroom setting for students with more complex needs. Over the years of providing Early Intervention services as well as being in the pre-school setting, she has enjoyed working so closely with the families, building those relationships and aiding the transition from home therapy to school based therapy. 

Monique Marshall is a committed Diversity, Equity and Anti-racism consultant. A 30 year veteran Elementary school teacher, Monique holds a Masters degree from Bank Street graduate school. She has presented at the NAIS sponsored POCC, the Across Colors Conference, PEN (Progressive Educators Network), CES (Coalition of Essential Schools), The Young Child Expo & Conference, and in preschools, elementary schools and colleges. Her workshops focus specifically on anti-bias, anti-racist, diversity, equity and inclusion work with young children.

Peg Mazeika has worked in the field of education for over 25 years, most of it working with children with ASD. She has worked in both regular and special education classrooms working with Early Childhood through High School students as an educator and as a behavior management specialist. Peg has served as a consultant to the IL Autism Project and to many school districts across the state of Illinois and Wisconsin as well as a member of the Professional Advisory Committee of the Illinois Autism Society.

Jac McBride is an Early Childhood Resource Specialist for STAR NET Region II. She has a master’s degree in Education of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and served as a special education educator for 20 years as a preschool teacher and Early Intervention provider. For the past 15 years, Jac has held various special education administrator roles from supervising preschool programs to Director of Special Education in the suburbs of Chicago.

Sherial McKinney, M.S. Ed., has taught and worked in the field of early childhood education for over 35 years. She has taught Early Childhood Special Education in a self-contained setting and in a blended program with Pre-K at Risk/Preschool for All students as well as teaching Kindergarten, Title I Reading and Math for grades K-8, and in a federally funded child care program. In addition, she has worked with STAR NET Regions I and III as a full-time and part-time Early Childhood Resource Specialist. From her work with Title I students on math skills, she continued taking graduate courses in Math Education at Western Illinois University and has focused on math for young children.

Alina Celeste Hevia and Hamlet Meneses are both Parents’ Choice Silver Award Winners for their bilingual music. Hamlet has provided bilingual programs through arts and music in the Chicagoland area since 2001, and was also an expert reviewer for the Illinois Early Learning Standards Kindergarten Project Team in 2006.

Danielle Merkel has a master's degree in Early Childhood Special Education from Mills College in Oakland, California, and recently finished my ESL Endorsement through National Louis University. She has been teaching since 2003 and joined the East Maine School District 63 and First Steps Preschool Program in 2019. During her teaching career, she has worked in self-contained classrooms for children with Autism, inclusive classrooms for children of all abilities, and provided support as a resource teacher to teachers and children in community-based preschools.

Linda Merry is an Occupational Therapist with over 34 years’ experience working with individuals with a variety of abilities. As a senior therapist at Easter Seal DuPage and the Fox Valley Region, she understands the long term impact of impairments and designing intervention which supports individuals’ participation across environments. She has extensive experience treating children with a variety of developmental challenges, specializing in children with cerebral palsy, hypotonia, brachial plexus and autism. Linda’s long list of continuing education certifications and training includes the 8 week Neuro-Developmental Treatment and Advanced Baby Course, Sensory Integration, cognitive-behavioral approaches, autism, kinesiotaping, splinting and casting. Linda is a State of Illinois Early Intervention evaluator and therapist. She has provided professional presentations and student lectures on a variety of topics. She has been a consultant to several school systems including a residential program for children with vision and hearing impairments.

Jill Molli has the uncanny ability to help people laugh and learn at the same time. Her past position in a Title 1 elementary school offered her opportunities to apply Dr. Bailey’s Conscious Discipline in a school setting and her family offers her constant real-life experiences to share with her audiences. Jill was selected as a Loving Guidance Associate because of her no-nonsense ability to get to the heart of a situation and her commitment to living Loving Guidance principles at school and at home. Jill began her teaching career in a behavior disabilities classroom, moved into a regular third grade classroom and then completed her requirements as a Guidance Counselor. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education, a Master’s in Counseling, and over 15 years’ experience working with children who have behavior problems.

Gina Musielski is the Family Resource Specialist for STAR NET Region II, and has worked as a parent and family resource and support specialist since 1999. As the parent of a child with a developmental disability, Gina draws on both her personal and professional experience in all of her training presentations. She has presented at state and local conferences, for parent groups, early intervention, childcare, and education professionals on a variety of topics relating to special education and parent rights. Active on state level committees such as ISBE/DHS Transition Guidance Committee and Early Childhood LRE Stakeholders committee, Gina is involved in training and resource development for parents of young children with special needs on topics such as transition, IEPs, LRE, parent rights and advocacy.

Shannon Myers is an occupational therapy student, expecting to receive her doctorate in occupational therapy May 2021 from Midwestern University. She has a passion for working with children of various ages in the school environment and supporting both parents and teachers to help children engage in the things that are important to them. She will be working at the Aurora Public Schools in Colorado with PK-8th grade in the upcoming school year.

Kim O’Neill has worked in the field of Early Childhood Education for the past 20 years. She is currently the Learning Commons Leader at Ann Reid Early Childhood in Naperville School District 203. In addition, Kim is the Assistant Director for the Early Childhood ESY and PFA summer learning program. Prior to her appointment as the LC Leader, she worked 9 years as an Early Childhood Special Education teacher.

Kim has a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education with an emphasis in Special Education from Monmouth College and a Master’s Degree from Erikson Institute in Early Childhood Development with a specialization in Infant Studies. In 2012, Kim obtained her School Administrative Certificate through Concordia University.

Kim fosters a positive and nurturing learning environment, where all students are successful. She is a highly dedicated and collaborative educator, who loves reading to children and bringing stories to life.

Kim lives in Naperville with her husband and five children and is a proud member of the Naperville community.

Emily Paine has been a school based physical therapist since 2004 and has worked in the early childhood setting for 8 years. She earned her Master of Physical Therapy degree in 2000. She is also a mother to three active boys.

Cathryn Parent has worked as an Early Childhood Educator for the past 6 years. She is currently an Early Childhood Educator in a blended classroom at Ann Reid Early Childhood Center in District 203. She is passionate about ensuring students with unique learning needs are provided access to learning content.

Cathryn has a Bachelor’s Degree focusing on special education and family health with an endorsement in early childhood education and a Master’s Degree in Special Education with an emphasis in Severe and Multiple Disabilities from the University of New Mexico.

Cathryn lives with her husband in Aurora and has spent the summer learning to sail on her new sailboat.

Dr. Kristie Pretti-Frontczak is a nationally known speaker on topics related to developing emotional intelligence in young children, reclaiming children's right to learn through play and reimagining more inclusive classrooms. She has written six textbooks, two workbooks, and the AEPS curricular system. She is a past President of IDEC.

Emily Reilly, Assistant Project Director with STAR NET Regions I and III, is a proven leader with 18 years of experience in early care and education. Emily has served in a variety of leadership roles in the field including master teacher, associate director, college instructor, trainer, Illinois AEYC Regional Delegate and Co-Chair for the Illinois Division of Early Childhood's Sharing A Vision conference. Emily presents on a variety of topics including curriculum, assessment, supporting young children's social-emotional development, inclusion and reflective practice. In her spare time, she enjoys running, yoga and spending time with family.

Katie Reinesto works as a Blended Preschool For All teacher for South Berwyn School District 100. Katie has worked in the field of education for the last 15 years in several roles including a Preschool For All Teacher, Preschool For All Teaching Assistant and a Reading Interventionist for Grades K-5. She has been teaching preschool remotely since March 2020. Katie holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from Lewis University and a Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education from Erikson Institute. While working with her current Preschool For All Program, her team received the ExceleRate Illinois Award of Excellence for Inclusion of Children with Special Needs. Katie strives to create a caring and nurturing play-based learning environment that supports students at their developmental level while fostering strong family connections. She is a dedicated educator who loves to incorporate yoga and other SEL practices into her teaching.

Anni K. Reinking is a former professor and current education consultant located in Illinois. She specializes in early childhood education and multicultural education. She currently provides training in topics focused on poverty, trauma, multicultural education, and developmentally appropriate practice.

Alyssa Roge-Jimenez is a Preschool for All Expansion Teacher for Berwyn South School District 100. She has been in the education field for 15 years in several roles including teaching, administration and coaching. Alyssa has a Bachelor’s Degree from Northern Illinois University in Early Childhood Education. She has a Master’s Degree from Northeastern Illinois University in Early Childhood Special Education. She recently completed a second Master’s Degree from Concordia University Chicago in Curriculum and Instruction. Some of her passions include using project approach-based learning with her students and environmental design of preschool classrooms.

Emily Ropars has worked in the field of early childhood education for 20 years. She holds a developmental therapy credential and a type 04 with a special education endorsement. Emily has worked in all early childhood environments as a teacher, coach and administrator: lab preschool, child care, Head Start, and private schools. She currently is an LRE Specialist for Early CHOICES.

Celine Rosati Skertich is a physical therapist with over 35 years’ experience empowering families and individuals living with disabilities to achieve their maximum potential. She is certified by the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties in pediatrics, currently a senior therapist at Easter Seals DuPage, and a State of Illinois Early Intervention evaluator and therapist – she has completed both the 8 week Neuro-Developmental Treatment and Advanced Baby certifications. Celine has provided therapy services for patients from infancy through adulthood, managing complex medical clients and enabling participation across environments. She has lectured and taught continuing education courses on a variety of topics, is a published researcher, a clinical instructor, mentor and coach.

Ron Roybal works at the University of Denver. His responsibilities have included the LEAP USA and LEAP Outreach projects, the Professional Development in Autism project, the Colorado Autism Project, TACSEI and CSEFEL. He presents at national challenging behavior conferences and professional development / staff development days around the country. Trainings include building relationships, classroom organization and management strategies, social emotional teaching strategies and understanding and reducing challenging behaviors. Prior to being an educational consultant, Ron was a teacher in an early childhood inclusive classroom for students diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder and typically developing students. His extensive experience in inclusive classroom settings as a teacher and coach for children with special needs and children at risk or with challenging behaviors bring a unique perspective as a trainer and coach.

Ann Sam, PhD, is an advanced research scientist at Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Her research and professional development interests are rooted in her direct experience as a public-school teacher working in preschool and kindergarten classrooms with students with autism. The primary goal of Dr. Sam's work is to increase awareness and use of evidence-based interventions and resources designed to improve outcomes for students with autism.

Cristina Sanchez-Lopez is an Education Specialist at the Illinois Resource Center (IRC). She collaborates with educators in the US and Canada on the ELL/LD interface; middle school mathematics; literacy across the content areas; parental engagement, and supporting Pre-K educators who serve Multilingual Learners (MLs). Prior to coming to the IRC, Cristina taught at the elementary, middle school and university levels in the US and Mexico. She is co-author of the book: Special Education Considerations for English Language Learners: Delivering a Continuum of Services. (Caslon Publishing, 2007), and a volume in the Oxford University Press Focus on the Language Classroom series: Focus on Special Educational Needs (October, 2018). Cristina and her husband have raised their daughter bilingually.

Pam Shaw is currently the Director of Special Education in Riverside Elementary School District 96. She has been in education for 27 years starting her career as a special education teacher. For the past 14 years Pam has been a special education administrator, with eight of those years supervising early childhood programs in two large west suburban unit school districts. She serves on the Early Childhood Transition Guidance Committee, providing professional development in the state on IDEA Transition from Part C to Part B services. She attended Northern Illinois University earning a B.S. in Special Education and Elementary Education. She attended North Central College and received a M.A. in Educational Administration, later obtaining her special education director endorsement.

Keena L. Sims, Project Manager for the Early Intervention Training Program at the University of Illinois in Champaign Urbana, began working in the Early Intervention Program as a Credentialed Lead Service Coordinator and Developmental Therapist in 2000. As a Project Manager for the EI Training Program, Sims oversees the Credit Request process, Interpreter and Translator Project, as well as takes on a lead role in the Child and Family Outcomes projects. Mrs. Sims leads the effort of surveying all families exiting the Illinois Early Intervention Program annually, to help improve services provided to Illinois children and their families. Mrs. Sims is a graduate of Michigan State University with a background in social services specializing in Family and Community Services. She has more than 25 years of professional experiences ranging from helping children and families facing issues of homelessness, domestic violence and providing high quality services to children with special needs. Mrs. Sims is a Grand Rapids, Michigan native, and currently lives in Illinois with her husband and their three children.

Kathy Slattery is the Project Director and a Resource 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.

Jessica Steinbrenner is a certified speech-language pathologist and an advanced research scientist at UNC-Chapel Hill. Her research focused primarily on school-based and community-based supports and interventions for individuals on the autism spectrum. She has worked from the preschool through young adult age range and currently has a grant that is adapting a professional development model for preschool teams serving children with autism.

Dubbed "the Pied Piper of children's music", "Miss Carole" Stephens is a nationally renowned music specialist. Her cross-curricular music and guidance techniques instantly invite all audiences from the youngest child to the oldest adult to join in singing, dancing and rhythmic movement. Miss Carole focuses on the how, why, and what behind music and movement to teach classroom management techniques that really work, brain research that supports active music involvement, and developmentally appropriate music and movement activities children love!

Katie Suchy is an Early Childhood Resource 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. She has a strong background with Head Start, is a certified CLASS observer, GOLD reliable, and CDA Professional Development Specialist.

Laycee Thigpen is an early childhood professional. She focuses her work on equity, diversity, and inclusion. She is working on her Masters degree in educational leadership with a focus on equity and diversity in school buildings. Ms. Thigpen has been a classroom teacher in Head Start, an adjunct professor at Southern Illinois University, and a early childhood educator coach in East St. Louis.

Amanda Thompson is the Director of Early Childhood for Berwyn South D100. She has been in the field for 21 years and has served as a Preschool for All teacher and an inclusion facilitator. Amanda has her BS in Early Childhood Education from Butler University and a MS in Special Education from Dominican University. She is currently pursuing a doctoral program in Early Childhood Education from Concordia University.

Doug Tynan has served on State of Delaware and federal HHS advisory boards on health care reform, early childhood programs and Head Start. He also helped to develop the Behavior Consultation Clinic for preschool children at AI duPont Hospital. He was a founding co-editor of Clinical Practice in Pediatric Psychology. His work has focused on the coordination of health, mental health, education, and social services for children.

Dana Winters, Ph.D., is the faculty and academic director of the Fred Rogers Center for Early Learning and Children’s Media at Saint Vincent College, and the co-creator of the Simple Interactions approach to support children, families, and their helpers. She frequently delivers keynote presentations and workshops across states and countries to describe and affirm the essential, relational practices of professionals who serve children, youth, and their families. She has led numerous federal, state, and foundation grants in early childhood education, family engagement, and statewide training and technical assistance.