Region 33
Henderson, Knox, Mercer, Warren

In partnership with The Village Early Childhood Collaboration

 

Region 33 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.

a map of Illinois with Region 33 highlighted in blue
 

Action Council Members

  • Gorette Kupa, Child Advocate, Parent/Family Member Representative 

  • Miranda Gullberg, Child Advocate, Parent/Family Member Representative 

  • Amy Fullerton, Regional Office of Education #33, Director of Early Childhood Preschool 

  • Amy Gipe, Regional Office of Education #33, Family Educator Supervisor, Prenatal-3 

  • Anthony Law, Carl Sandburg College, Director of Diversity and Equity 

  • Emily Henry, Regional Office of Education #33, Assistant Director of EC/Preschool 

  • Erin Brown-Powell, Knox County YMCA, Senior Program Director 

  • Jodi Scott, Regional Office of Education #33, Superintendent 

  • Joshua Gibb, Galesburg Community Foundation, CEO 

  • Kathryn Ringberg, OSF Medical Group, Family Nurse Practitioner 

  • Kyle McEwen, Mercer County Better Together, Executive Director 

  • Lisa Medina-Foshay, Regional Office of Education #33, Early Childhood Preschool Behavioral Health Consultant 

  • Malia Owens, Home Child Care Network & Skip-A-Long Community Services, Owner 

  • Michael Levis, CCR&R, CCAP Eligibility Specialist 

  • Pam Gaither, Galesburg Area Chamber of Commerce, Executive Director 

  • Peter Schwartzman, City of Galesburg, Mayor 

  • Rhonda Hillyer, Regional Office of Education #33, EC Community Systems Coordinator 

  • Sabrina Wilson, Eagle View Health Systems, Community Healthcare Worker/Grant Coordinator 

  • Scott Rasso, Galesburg CUSD #205, Coordinator of English Language Learner 

  • Tara Case, Regional Office of Education #33, Director of Family Services Prenatal-3 

Family Council Members

  • David Pagan, Galesburg (Knox County) 

  • Jenny Dowsey, Galesburg (Knox County) 

  • Jessica Alvarado, Galesburg (Knox County) 

  • Jessica Burrell, Carman (Henderson County) 

  • Kimberly Magee-Barton, Galesburg (Knox County) 

  • Leann Courson, Knoxville (Knox County) 

  • Marie Laure Lamare, Galesburg (Knox County) 

  • Tracy Crump, Knoxville (Knox County) 

Meet Your Regional Team!

Picture of Roy Van Meter, a light skinned person with a gray beard smiling from the shoulders up. Roy is wearing black eyeglasses with a black blazer and a white button up underneath with a blue tie.

Roy Van Meter

Roy Van Meter (he/him) is the Regional Council Manager for Region 33. He has passionately championed Illinois children of all ages for over 30 years in the roles of public school teacher and administrator. Through servant leadership and community engagement, he advocates for equity in excellence regardless of zip code. Roy's core belief is “through collaboration WE achieve excellence.” 

Roy earned a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education from Western Illinois University and a Master of Arts in School Improvement Leadership from Olivet Nazarene University. He lives near Galesburg, Illinois and enjoys combining outdoor pursuits with his love for history, cultural travel, and music. 

 
Photo of Jim Walters smiling from the torso up. Jim has dark short hair and is wearing a grey long sleeved shirt with eyeglasses.

Jim Walters

Jim Walters (he/him) is the Family & Community Engagement Specialist for Region 33. Jim has been a non-profit professional for 30 years. He has provided direct services to adults with disabilities, survivors of violence, people experiencing homelessness, and families seeking affordable housing. Jim has a bachelor's degree from Illinois State University and a master’s degree from Eastern Illinois University. He and his family reside in rural Knox county.  

 

Stephanie Burkhardt

Stephanie Burkhardt (she/her) is the Region 33 Administrative Support. Stephanie was born and raised in Illinois. She has over 20 years of experience working in education at Carl Sandburg College as an Office Manager. Prior, she held an Administrative Support position with the local health department for three years. Stephanie has held many roles that enable her to be a vital part of the Birth to Five Illinois Team. She enjoys improving lives through education and community and is excited for this opportunity to increase equity and access for all.

Stephanie has her associate degree from Carl Sandburg College. In her downtime, she enjoys spending as much time with her family as possible.

Contact Roy Van Meter

Please fill out the form below to contact Roy. Your message will go directly to his inbox. You may also reach him at (309) 866-3104.