Region 21
Franklin, Johnson, Massac, Williamson

Region 21 Reports

Using a Collective Impact Model, between September 2022 and June 2023, we led our Action and Family Councils through data discussions to identify gaps and barriers for children and families. We coordinated focus groups, interviews, and surveys to gather input from community members across the Region. We are eager to share with you our key findings, regional strengths, family- and community-identified needs, and recommendations for how to make our Region’s Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) programs more accessible and equitable to children, families, and ECEC providers.

Recognizing we could not talk with every community member in the Region prior to completing our report, this summer and fall our Team worked with our Action and Family Councils to share the report’s findings throughout the Region, keeping with our mission to capture as much input as possible. Additional community feedback has been captured in the Addendum file below, released in November 2023.

 

Action Council Members

  • Nicholas Mott, Child Advocate, Parent/Family Member Representative 

  • Phillip Hosfeldt, Child Advocate, Parent/Family Member Representative 

  • Barbara (BJ) Timmons, Ms BJs Hair Haven, Owner 

  • Barbara Green, Family Child Care Provider, Owner 

  • Candace Lewis, Yellow Brick Road Learning Adventure, Owner 

  • Christina Manchen, Man-Tra-Con, Program Manager 

  • Claire Davis, Unity Christian School, PreK Director 

  • Edrica McDowell, Centerstone, Community Services Manager 

  • Jennifer Parks, Southern Seven Health Department, Director 

  • Johna Schullian, Regional Office of Education #21, McKinney Vento Homeless Liaison 

  • Lee Eklund, Malones Early Learning Center, Director & Owner 

  • Mary Beth Long, SIH Memorial Hospital- Carbondale, Registered Nurse Clinical Case Manager 

  • Missy Brown, John A Logan CCR&R, Director 

  • Nancy Gulley, Southern Region Early Childhood, Pre-K Teacher 

  • Pamela Thrash, Southern Region Early Childhood, Southern Region Early Childhood Family Educator 

  • Rebecca Guest, Vienna High School, Dean of Instruction 

  • Sherri Buchanan, JAMP Special Education Services, Occupational Therapist 

  • Teale Betts, Shawnee Community College, Coordinator of High School Partnerships and Pathways 

  • Terance Henry, Small Business Solutions, Business Owner/ Workforce Development Board 

  • Tiffany Williams, Heartland Coca Cola, Market Development Manager 

Family Council Members

  • Amanda Holbrook, Metropolis (Massac County) 

  • Amanda Shoemaker, Vienna (Johnson County) 

  • Amy Cocuyo, Benton (Franklin County) 

  • Ashley Scott, Metropolis (Massac County) 

  • Beth Ward, Marion (Williamson County) 

  • Emily Crowell, West Frankfort (Franklin County) 

  • Emmalee McPheron, Vienna (Johnson County) 

  • Faithe Allen, Metropolis (Massac County) 

  • Karen Beach, Metropolis (Massac County) 

  • Katelin Inman, West Frankfort (Franklin County) 

  • Lisa Skeate, Carterville (Williamson County) 

  • Misty Browning, Makanda (Jackson County) 

  • Rose Arvieux, Vienna (Johnson County) 

  • Serina Longeman, Belknap (Massac County) 

  • Stephanie Caudle, Benton (Franklin County) 

  • Theresa Bush, Grantsburg (Johnson County) 

Meet Your Regional Team!

Tonya Frehner

Tonya Frehner (she/her) is the Regional Council Manager for Region 21. She previously served as the Executive Director for the Illinois Association for the Education of Young Children (Illinois AEYC) for 17 years. In this role, she collaborated with the Illinois AEYC Board of Directors to lead the statewide affiliate in their policy, professional development, and accreditation efforts and worked closely with the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). Prior, Tonya served as the Vice President of Operations for Jobs for Illinois Graduates, running field operations, overseeing program development, assisting over 90 schools with grant budgeting and compliance, and playing a vital role in the restoration of state appropriations. She brings 20+ years of nonprofit educational/community/policy leadership experience to this position.

Tonya was appointed to the Illinois Early Learning Council in 2021 and serves on the Governing Board for Johnson County 2000. She holds a master’s degree in Education from Southern Illinois University and is a lifelong resident of Southern Illinois. She lives in Vienna with her husband, Greg and their son, Knox.

 

Chelsi Diles

Chelsi Diles (she/her) is the Family & Community Engagement Specialist for Region 21. She has an Associates of Applied Science degree in Early Childhood Education, as well as a Family Services Credential. She worked as a child care teacher in her hometown for five years while in college and stayed on full-time after graduating. Chelsi then accepted a position as a teacher for the Southern Seven Head Start, where she has been employed for the last 15 years working as an Early Head Start home-based teacher at the Ullin site, and then as a Parent Coordinator at the Metropolis site.  

Chelsi has worked diligently to form partnerships within Massac County so together they can provide resources to meet the needs of the children and their families. She has a passion for forming new relationships and assisting others. Chelsi is married with five children and resides in Vienna, Illinois. She loves to travel and go on family outings. 

 

Rebecca Holcomb

Rebecca (Becca) Holcomb (she/her) is the Region 21 Administrative Support. Becca worked for eight years for Illinois’ Early Intervention Program (Child and Family Connections #24), first as Administrative Support and later transitioning into a Service Coordinator for the lower nine counties. Becca also previously served as a Parent Liaison, supporting families in the community, and forming play groups to encourage families to work together and know they are not alone. She was an active member of the Local Interagency Council (LIC) in which parents, representatives from schools, child care facilities, and community agencies met quarterly to ensure the needs of the community were being met.

Becca holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and has received numerous continued early childhood education hours. She finds it rewarding to assist families and looks forward to gaining many new relationships through Birth to Five Illinois. Becca has three children and resides in Vienna. She enjoys spending time with her family and friends.

Contact Tonya Frehner

Please fill out the form below to contact Tonya. Your message will go directly to her inbox. You may also reach her at (309) 270 5464.