About Me

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I'm a parent of 5 children, three grandchildren, and an aunt to my amazing nieces and nephews. I have worked with children and families for over 30 years.  We are a military family that retired after 20 years. My husband then followed me here to Illinois where we call home. I've been a Department of Defense employee with the Air Force    since 1995 in 2 countries and 3 states.  I worked as a Director of Child and Youth Programs for 24 years until I found my other calling in the Exceptional Family Member Program as a non-medical case manager for military connected families that have a family member with a disability, medical diagnosis, or educational support plan. I was able to retire 12 years early in 2025 so that I could pursue my Doctorate in Special Education and devote more time to Educational Advocacy for families.  

     I have three children with neurodiverse disabilities. I'm a certified Life Coach through ICF, and I've taken special education and advocacy courses (see list below). I volunteer as an Educational Advocate with Family Matters,  the Parent Training Center for the State of IL, and I'm an Educational Surrogate for students that do not have parents to advocate for them in Special Education across the State of IL. I am a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA). I am an adoptive and former foster parent of 11 children. We decided to stop fostering when we adopted our daughter so that we could give our full attention to her and her needs. I graduated from the LEND Program through the University of IL in Chicago in 2022. I have been a member of the St. Clair Co Junior Service Club since 2014. I'm passionate about advocating for DIEA (Diversity, Inclusion, Equity, and Accessibility) for all. I believe everyone should be included in all that we do. Inclusion shouldn't be an afterthought, ever. Inclusion isn't a one size fits all. We should embrace diversity for its beauty in all that it has to teach us and allow it to open opportunities for inclusion in ways that we never saw possible.  

Education - Certifications/Trainings - Community Involvement 

Doctorate, Special Education

Liberty University, VA

(In progress)

Master, Business Administration (2013)

Concordia University, St. Paul, MN 

Bachelors of Art, Child Development (2008)  

Concordia University, St. Paul, MN 

Associate, Early Childhood Education (1997) Central Texas College, RAF Mildenhall, UK   

US Institute of Diplomacy and Human Rights Consultant Training – Nov 2022

FACES - Educational Advocacy Boot Camp 

International Coaching Federation (ICF) Life Coach Certification - 2022

Mascoutah Middle School PTO Treasurer   SY 2022/2023/2024

Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND) https://www.illinoislend.org/ 

Interdisciplinary Graduate level Training Program, University of IL, Chicago – 2022

Special Education Parent Support Group Leader - Cornerstone Christian Church Shiloh iL

Friends of Military Families Private Org - President 2022-2024, Vice President 2019-2021

Founded, Inclusive Expectations nfp - 2022

Grief Recovery Method Specialist Facilitator 

Scott AFB EFMP One Stop Implementation Project Coordinator 

Community Action Team (CAT) Member (Moody AFB, Langley AFB, Scott AFB)

Court Appointed Support Advocate (CASA) Volunteer for St. Clair/Madison/Bond Co 

Association for Financial Counseling & Planning Education (AFCPE) National Disability Institute (NDI) 

Financial Inclusion Essentials Course

Illinois State Board of Education Parent Surrogate

Attends Individualized Education Plan (IEP) Meetings for students that are homeless or placed in residential programs

IEP Master Coach Training 

Community Organizing and Family (COFI) Advocacy Training 

Illinois Action for Children Family Advocacy Committee Member Governor’s Early Learning Council

Meals on Wheels Junior Service Club Route Coordinator and Volunteer 

American Red Cross Babysitter Trainer 

American Red Cross CPR and First Aid Trainer 

IL Parent Training Center – Family Matters - Educational Advocate Volunteer and Board Member 2023- present

ARC Advocacy Training

St. Clair Co. Junior Service Club Director

Soup Bus Coordinator for St. Clair County Junior Service Club/East St. Louis location

Cornerstone Christian Church Youth Volunteer – Vacation Bible School & Awana 

Special Olympics Coaches Certification

Illinois Boys and Girls Clubs (BGCA) Programming Committee Member

Chief Professional Officer of the Year BGCA, State of Illinois - 2014

Inducted into St. Clair County Jr. Service Club – 2014 to present

St. Clair County 4-H Advisory Council

Council on Accreditation –first accredited program in Air Force (AF) Youth Programs 

Youth Program received United Way (UW) Volunteer Certification – Scott AFB 

Youth Program received Illinois Boys and Girls Clubs Program of the Year – 2011, 2012, 2014

Foster Parent of the Month 

Specialized Licensed Foster Parent State of Illinois for children with Special Needs

Hampton Roads Chamber Leadership Institute Graduate 

Project Coordinator  - Community Needs Assessment Langley AFB

Conducted on-site technical advice to local Child & School Age Programs

National After School Association (NAA) -Accreditation Endorser 

Air Force Civilian Manager of the Year 

National Association Youth Sports Administrators Certification

National Parks and Rec Playground Inspector 

Excellence in Youth Sports Award National Alliance for Youth Sports (Moody AFB Youth Sports)

AF Youth Collaboration Project – Moody AFB 

(Family Advocacy/Youth Programs/Cooperative Extension)