Presenters

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.

Becky Handler, Resource Specialist: Becky Handler has her B.S. and a M.S. in speech language pathology. Her past work experience includes team teaching Kindergarten children with severe communication disorders, consulting and an inclusion facilitator in a school district. She has extensive experience consulting and mentoring in early childhood and elementary classrooms, day care sites and Head Start programs. She is a trainer of trainers for, Portfolios, ECERS-3, IELDS and ELS.

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.

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.

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.

Dr. Lynas is a clinical psychologist and anxiety specialist who values and implements evidence-based treatments in her practice, and enjoys spreading awareness and education about anxiety. She received her doctorate in clinical psychology from Palo Alto University in CA, completed her clinical internship at Northwestern University Medical School’s Stone Institute of Psychiatry, and her post-doctoral fellowship at Shared Vision Psychological Services, treating both children and adults. Motivated by her passion to help children and families coping with selective mutism, Dr. Lynas founded Advanced Therapeutic Solutions, which houses the Selective Mutism Program and aims to provide appropriate and effective selective mutism treatment. With the launch of Adventure Camp in 2011, Dr. Lynas became the first in the nation to replicate Dr. Steven Kurtz’s Brave Buddies Selective Mutism intensive program, making this innovative treatment available in the Chicago area for the first time. Later renamed Advanced Therapeutic Solutions for Anxiety (ATSA), Dr. Lynas has broadened her clinic to serve those coping with anxieties and phobias as well as behavioral issues. Dr. Lynas provides parent training, teacher training, doctoral-level practicum clinician training, and specialist consultation/supervision to therapists who seek to learn how to treat selective mutism, as well as running Adventure Camp yearly.

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.

Danielle Merkel has a master's degree in Early Childhood Special Education from Mills College in Oakland, California, and an ESL Endorsement from National Louis University.  She has taught since 2003 and joined the East Maine School District 63 and Early Learning Center 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.

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.

Jennifer Rosinia is an Occupational Therapist and Child Development Specialist. A master clinician and a gifted teacher, Dr. Rosinia has taken a stand for the body specifically the ways in which the neurobiological systems impact relationships, development, and learning. Areas of specialization include sensory processing, the stress response system, adverse childhood experiences and the ways in which experiences in and with nature impact development. Dr. Rosinia is on faculty at the Erikson Institute. Jennifer has a growing national reputation as a powerful speaker and consultant. Dr. Rosinia brings a healthy balance of humor, passion, and expertise to all of her presentations. She is the president of Kid Links Unlimited, Incorporated a company whose mission is to link theory to practice, parents with professionals and kids with their optimal potential.

 

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.

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 an Early Childhood Special Education 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 twelve years. Kathy participates on several state level committees including Early Childhood LRE Stakeholders and the Stakeholders Committee for Early Childhood Outcomes.

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.

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.