Region 32
Iroquois, Kankakee

Region 32 Reports

Early Childhood Regional Needs Assessment highlights data and stories from community members across the Region and includes strengths, family- and community-identified needs, and recommendations for how to make our local Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) services more accessible and equitable. 

Addendum includes additional community feedback captured as our Regional Team and Action and Family Councils shared our initial report’s findings throughout the Region.  

NEW Action Plan is a living community document that focuses on the top priorities from our Region’s initial ECEC needs assessment. Council members developed Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound (SMART) goals for each recommendation and plans and timelines to fulfill them. 

 

Action Council Members

  • Erin Goldenstein, Child Advocate, Parent/Family Member Representative 

  • Holly Knupp, Child Advocate, Parent/Family Member Representative 

  • Amanda Chorak, Olivet Nazarene University, Assistant Professor of Education 

  • Carolyn Short, Iroquois County Community Unit School District, Pre-K Principal & Curriculum Director 

  • Chrissy Nojd, Kankakee Community College, Director of Early Childhood Success 

  • Christine Johnston, St. George School District, Principal 

  • Cindi Schimmelpfennig, Kankakee First Church of the Nazarene, Children's Pastor 

  • Cindy Luzeniecki, Child & Family Connections, LIC Coordinator 

  • James Duggan, Bourbonnais School District, Assistant Superintendent 

  • Lovice Brinkman, Early Intervention, Service Coordinator 

  • Marquita Cox, Early Head Start & CCR&R, Director 

  • Mary Self, Project Sun, Consultant  

  • Mary Tillery, Mary's Little Lambs Early Learning Center, Director & Owner 

  • Pamela Powell, Kankakee School District, Director of Early Childhood Education 

  • Penny Greenlee, Kankakee Area YMCA, Senior Program Director 

  • Rebecca Graham, Kankakee School District, Supervisor & Parent Educator for First Taste 

  • Rebecca Kroiss, CCR&R, Staff 

  • Rhonda Showers, Peoples Church, Director of Mental Health Network & Family Liaison    

  • Rita Armstrong, CCR&R, Executive Director 

  • Rosemary Pistorius, TheraPlay, Consultant 

  • S. Newcomb Mowrer, Child Care Resource Service, Resource Professional 

  • Sheree Sykes, Catholic Charities Early Education, Staff 

  • Theodis Pace, NAACP of Kankakee County, President 

Family Council Members

  • Ali Denault, Bourbonnais (Kankakee County)

  • Alison Chandler, Kankakee (Kankakee County) 

  • Ami Kring, St. Anne (Kankakee County) 

  • Ashley Chappell, Bourbonnais (Kankakee County) 

  • Brenda Mohr, Bourbonnais (Kankakee County) 

  • Cheme Williams, Kankakee (Kankakee County) 

  • Coen Clark, Kankakee (Kankakee County) 

  • Danielle Norton, Clifton (Iroquois County) 

  • Hailey Siegel, Watseka (Iroquois County) 

  • Jazmine Mancha, Bradley (Kankakee County) 

  • Kasira Potts, Kankakee (Kankakee County) 

  • Maria Orozco, Kankakee (Kankakee County) 

  • Natasha Ashford, Bourbonnais (Kankakee County) 

  • Sarah Gowler, Bourbonnais (Kankakee County)

  • Summer Hodge, Pembroke Township (Kankakee County) 

  • Tahlia Guimond, Chebanse (Iroquois County) 

  • Teage Drinnon, Momence (Kankakee County) 

Meet Your Regional Team!

Liz Gibson

Elizabeth (Liz) A. Gibson (she/her) is the Regional Manager for Region 32. Liz has spent the last 15 years working in the public school system focusing on Early Childhood and Elementary Education. Her prior experiences include classroom teaching, working as a District Learning Partner/Coach, and serving as Assistant Principal and Director of Early Childhood Education. Liz brings experience with state and federal grants including Head Start, Preschool for All, Preschool for All Expansion, and Prevention Initiative. She also serves on many local and state councils and organizations in her area. She has a servant's heart and continues to advocate for the needs of parents, students, and family units. 

Liz holds a Bachelor of Art in Elementary Education from Olivet Nazarene University. She also holds a master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction and a second master's degree in School Improvement Leadership (Type 75) from Olivet Nazarene University. Liz is married to her college sweetheart and has one daughter (7). When Liz is not spending time with her family and friends or serving local organizations, she is very involved in her church and assists weekly in the Church Nursery. Liz enjoys entertaining friends, cooking and listening to educational podcasts. 

 

Kennilyn Hickory

Kennilyn Hickory (she/her) is the Family & Community Engagement Specialist for Region 32. Over the last 33 years, Kennilyn has worked in almost every aspect of early childhood education. She began her career as a paraprofessional and over time worked as a home-based teacher, classroom teacher, family support specialist, and most recently as an administrator for family support and engagement. Kennilyn has worked with many preschool organizations within her local community and has supported families during parent meetings, policy council meetings, and community events. Kennilyn brings with her to this role pre-existing relationships with the local health department, school districts, food banks, housing authorities, and many more community organizations. 

In her free time, Kennilyn and her husband love to travel to dirt tracks to watch racing. They also enjoy relaxing on weekends at their cabin and boating with their grandkids. Kennilyn is a lifelong resident of Momence, Illinois. She has three adult children and seven grandchildren.   

 

Suzy Berrones

Suzy Berrones (she/her) is the Administrative Support for Region 32. She is a lifelong resident of Kankakee County. Suzy graduated from Momence High School and then worked in the Momence School District Preschool for All Program as a Bilingual Aide. She has over 15 years of administrative and customer service experience. 

Suzy is excited to work with Birth to Five Illinois, helping the families and children in her community. Outside of work, she likes to spend time with her dog child, Torreto, and two nieces. 

Contact Liz Gibson

Please fill out the form below to contact Liz. Your message will go directly to her inbox. You may also reach her at (309) 393-2539.

 

Región 32
Iroquois, Kankakee

Informes de la Región 32

La Evaluación de necesidades regionales de la primera infancia destaca datos e historias de miembros de la comunidad en toda la región e incluye fortalezas, necesidades identificadas por la familia y la comunidad, y recomendaciones sobre cómo hacer que nuestros servicios locales de educación y atención de la primera infancia (ECEC) sean más accesibles y equitativos. 

La Adenda incluyen comentarios adicionales de la comunidad capturados cuando nuestro Equipo Regional y los Comités de Acción y Familiar compartieron las conclusiones de nuestro informe inicial en toda la región.

El NUEVO Plan de acción es un documento comunitario vivo que se centra en las principales prioridades de la evaluación inicial de necesidades de ECEC de nuestra región. Los miembros del consejo desarrollaron metas específicas, mensurables, alcanzables, relevantes y con plazos determinados (SMART) para cada recomendación y planes y cronogramas para cumplirlas.  

 

Miembros del Comité de Acción

  • Erin Goldenstein, Child Advocate, Parent/Family Member Representative 

  • Holly Knupp, Child Advocate, Parent/Family Member Representative 

  • Amanda Chorak, Olivet Nazarene University, Assistant Professor of Education 

  • Carolyn Short, Iroquois County Community Unit School District, Pre-K Principal & Curriculum Director 

  • Chrissy Nojd, Kankakee Community College, Director of Early Childhood Success 

  • Christine Johnston, St. George School District, Principal 

  • Cindi Schimmelpfennig, Kankakee First Church of the Nazarene, Children's Pastor 

  • Cindy Luzeniecki, Child & Family Connections, LIC Coordinator 

  • James Duggan, Bourbonnais School District, Assistant Superintendent 

  • Lovice Brinkman, Early Intervention, Service Coordinator 

  • Marquita Cox, Early Head Start & CCR&R, Director 

  • Mary Self, Project Sun, Consultant  

  • Mary Tillery, Mary's Little Lambs Early Learning Center, Director & Owner 

  • Pamela Powell, Kankakee School District, Director of Early Childhood Education 

  • Penny Greenlee, Kankakee Area YMCA, Senior Program Director 

  • Rebecca Graham, Kankakee School District, Supervisor & Parent Educator for First Taste 

  • Rebecca Kroiss, CCR&R, Staff 

  • Rhonda Showers, Peoples Church, Director of Mental Health Network & Family Liaison    

  • Rita Armstrong, CCR&R, Executive Director 

  • Rosemary Pistorius, TheraPlay, Consultant 

  • S. Newcomb Mowrer, Child Care Resource Service, Resource Professional 

  • Sheree Sykes, Catholic Charities Early Education, Staff 

  • Theodis Pace, NAACP of Kankakee County, President 

Miembros del Comité Familiar

  • Ali Denault, Bourbonnais (Kankakee County)

  • Alison Chandler, Kankakee (Kankakee County) 

  • Ami Kring, St. Anne (Kankakee County) 

  • Ashley Chappell, Bourbonnais (Kankakee County) 

  • Brenda Mohr, Bourbonnais (Kankakee County) 

  • Cheme Williams, Kankakee (Kankakee County) 

  • Coen Clark, Kankakee (Kankakee County) 

  • Danielle Norton, Clifton (Iroquois County) 

  • Hailey Siegel, Watseka (Iroquois County) 

  • Jazmine Mancha, Bradley (Kankakee County) 

  • Kasira Potts, Kankakee (Kankakee County) 

  • Maria Orozco, Kankakee (Kankakee County) 

  • Natasha Ashford, Bourbonnais (Kankakee County) 

  • Sarah Gowler, Bourbonnais (Kankakee County)

  • Summer Hodge, Pembroke Township (Kankakee County) 

  • Tahlia Guimond, Chebanse (Iroquois County) 

  • Teage Drinnon, Momence (Kankakee County) 

¡Conozca a tu equipo regional!

Liz Gibson

Elizabeth (Liz) A. Gibson (ella/la) es la Gerente Regional de la Región 32. Liz ha pasado los últimos 15 años trabajando en el sistema de escuelas públicas enfocándose en la educación infantil y primaria. Sus experiencias anteriores incluyen la enseñanza en el salón de clases, el trabajo como socia/entrenadora de aprendizaje del distrito y el cargo de subdirectora escolar  y directora de educación de la primera infancia. Liz aporta experiencia con subvenciones estatales y federales, incluidas Head Start, Preschool for All, Preschool for All Expansion y Prevention Initiative. También sirve en muchos consejos y organizaciones locales y estatales en su área. Ella tiene un corazón de servicio y continúa abogando por las necesidades de las familias y estudiantes.

Liz tiene una licenciatura en educación primaria de la Universidad Olivet Nazarene. También tiene una maestría en currículo e instrucción y una segunda maestría en Liderazgo para el Mejoramiento Escolar (Tipo 75) de la Universidad Olivet Nazarene. Liz está casada con su amor de la universidad y tiene una hija (7). Cuando Liz no está pasando tiempo con su familia y amistades o sirviendo a organizaciones locales, está muy involucrada en su iglesia y asiste semanalmente en la guardería de la iglesia. Liz disfruta de pasar tiempo con amistades, cocinar y escuchar podcasts educativos.

 

Kennilyn Hickory

Kennilyn Hickory (ella/la) es la Especialista en Participación Familiar y Comunitaria de la Región 32. Durante los últimos 33 años, Kennilyn ha trabajado en casi todos los aspectos de la educación infantil. Comenzó su carrera como paraprofesional y con el tiempo trabajó como maestra en el hogar, maestra de salón de clases, especialista en apoyo familiar y, más recientemente, como administradora de apoyo y participación familiar. Kennilyn ha trabajado con muchas organizaciones preescolares dentro de su comunidad local y ha apoyado a las familias durante las reuniones de padres, las reuniones del consejo de políticas y los eventos comunitarios. Kennilyn trae consigo a esta función relaciones preexistentes con el departamento de salud local, los distritos escolares, los bancos de alimentos, las autoridades de vivienda y muchas más organizaciones comunitarias.

En su tiempo libre, a Kennilyn y a su esposo les encanta viajar a pistas de tierra para ver carreras. También disfrutan relajarse los fines de semana en su cabaña y navegar con sus nietos. Kennilyn ha vivido toda su vida en Momence, Illinois. Tiene tres hijos adultos y siete nietos. 

 

Suzy Berrones

Suzy Berrones (ella) es el Asistente Administrativo de la Región 32. Ha sido residente de toda la vida del condado de Kankakee. Suzy se graduó de Momence High School y luego trabajó en el Programa Preescolar para Todos del Distrito Escolar de Momence como asistente bilingüe. Tiene más de 15 años de experiencia administrativa y de servicio al cliente. 

Suzy está entusiasmada de trabajar con Birth to Five Illinois, ayudando a las familias y a los niños de su comunidad. Fuera del trabajo, le gusta pasar tiempo con su hijo perro, Torreto, y sus dos sobrinas. 

Contacta a Liz Gibson

Por favor, complete el siguiente formulario para ponerse en contacto con Liz. Su mensaje irá directamente a su buzón de correo electrónico. También puede comunicarse con ella al (309) 393-2539.