The Early Childhood Community Focus Group acts as an advisory forum for the planning, coordination and feedback of training initiatives among regional programs and agencies. Voluntary members of this group include parents and professionals from various counties being served by our regions. We wish to acknowledge the following members for their time and expertise to serve on our Focus Group for grant year 2007-2008.
| Community Focus Group Members |
| NAME |
POSITION |
AGENCY |
CITY |
| Dana Ashby |
Administrator |
Morton Community Unit 709 |
Morton |
| Cecelia Benelli |
College Faculty |
WIU, Department of Curriculum and Instruction |
Macomb |
| Beth Bowen |
Administrator |
Regional Office of Education #8 |
Freeport |
| Chet Brandt |
Project Director |
Illinois Early Childhood Intervention Clearinghouse |
Springfield |
| Jamie Capitelli |
Family Member |
Child and Family Connections 14 |
Peoria |
| Kitty Cecil |
Family Educator |
Partners in Parenting |
Galesburg |
| Polly Claeys |
Speech Language Pathologist |
Independent Provide SLP |
Charleston |
| Letha Clark |
|
STARNET Regions I & III |
Macomb |
| Ann Curtis |
Director & Teacher |
WIU Infant and Preschool Center |
Macomb |
| Julie Cotter |
Program Supervisor |
Livingston County Special Services Unit |
Pontiac |
| Gladys Davis |
College Faculty |
Danville Area Community College |
Danville |
| Elva DeLuna |
EC Education Manager |
Illinois Migrant Head Start Project |
Springfield |
| Rob Derry |
Project Manager |
Provider Connections |
Macomb |
| Maria Dominguez |
Project Coordinator |
Illinois MEES |
Princeville |
| Sharon Doubet |
DOS Student/Research Assistant |
University of Illinois Department of Special Education |
Farmington |
| Ann Erickson |
Family Educator |
Jacksonville SD 117 / Early Years Program |
Jacksonville |
| Barb Fink |
Independent Consultant |
Self Employed |
Oakwood |
| Judy Flanders |
College Faculty |
Lincoln Land Community College |
Springfield |
| Sandy Ginther |
Family/EC Resource Specialist |
STARNET Regions I & III |
Bloomington |
| Maria Hadley |
Early Childhood Resource Specialist |
STARNET Regions I & III |
Normal |
| Mary Ann Hale |
Early Childhood Teacher |
Knox Warren Special Education District |
Galesburg |
| Mandie Hall |
Resource Coordinator |
STARNET Regions I & III |
Macomb |
| Keri Hartwig |
Family Educator |
Crittenton Centers |
Chillicothe |
| Kay Henderson |
Early Childhood Division Administrator |
Illinois State Board of Education |
Springfield |
| Joyce Johanson |
Associate Director |
Center for Best Practices in Early Childhood Education |
Macomb |
| Jodi Knapp |
Early Childhood Resource Specialist |
STARNET Regions I & III |
Washington |
| Char Knudten |
Early Childhood Teacher |
Lee County Special Education Association |
Rock Falls |
| Michael Langendorf |
Social Worker |
Vermillion Association for Special Education |
Urbana |
| Joan Leff |
Project Coordinator |
STARNET Regions I & III |
Roscoe |
| Maury Lyon |
Administrator |
Galesburg School District #-205/Bright Futures Preschool |
Galesburg |
| Kate McGruder |
Project Coordinator |
Early Beginnings |
Macomb |
| Sherial McKinney |
Early Childhood Special Education Teacher |
Rushville Industry CUSD #5 |
Macomb |
| Dawn Michaud |
Administrator |
Special Education Association of Peoria County |
Bartonville |
| Cindy Moore |
Transition Coordinator |
Four Rivers |
Jacksonville |
| Gail Olson |
Administrator |
Hearing and Vision Connections |
Jacksonville |
| Pat Paul |
Early Childhood Teacher |
Springfield School District #186 |
Springfield |
| Pamela Reising Rechner |
Principal Consultant - Division of Early Childhood |
Illinois State Board of Education |
Springfield |
| Linda Robinson |
|
STARNET Regions I & III |
Macomb |
| Nancy Romine |
Coordinator |
West Central Illinois Special Education Cooperative |
Macomb |
| Julie Schuckman |
|
Quindy SD 172 / Early Childood and Family Center |
Quincy |
| Jodi Scott |
|
Regional Office of Education 27 Hendersen Mercer Warren |
Monmouth |
| Connie Shugart |
Assistant Project Coordinator |
STARNET Regions I & III |
Chattam |
| Rose Slaght |
Family Resource Specialist |
STARNET Regions I & III |
South Beloit |
| Mary Smith |
Family Resource Specialist |
STARNET Regions I & III |
Winchester |
| Stephanie Stichter |
RN - Child Care Nurse Consultant |
Healthy Child Care Illinois |
Morrison |
| Paula Thoele |
Administrator |
West Carrol CUSD 314 / Carroll County Early Childhood Steps |
Savanna |
| Sandy Valentine |
Family Member |
Illinois Autism PPD Training and Technical Assistance Project |
East Peoria |
| Sharon Warning |
Family Member |
West Central Child Care Connection |
Quincy |
| Carol Weisheit |
Early Childhood Resource Specialist |
STARNET Regions I & III |
Normal |
| Maureen Whalen |
Administrator |
Woodford County Special Education Association |
Peoria |
| Pam Womack |
Executive Director |
Child Care Resource and Referral Network |
Bloomington |
| Carrie Woodside |
Early Intervention Resource Assistant/
Parent Liaison |
Provider Connections |
Macomb |
STARNET Northwest Region I and Central Region III
