Quick Links

• Region 1-B-B Media Coverage

• Region 1-B-B Facebook Group

• Past Council Meeting Notes

• View Regional Data Report (IECAM)

• Frequently Asked Questions

Action Council Members

• Ana Guevara, Love Grows Here Daycare Inc., Home Child Care Provider

• Bob Spatz, Spatz LLC, Consultant/Contractor

• Chelsea Guillen, University of Illinois, EITP, EI Ombudsman

• Cindy Matias, Lyons School District #103, Lead Parent Educator/Supervisor

• Cynthia Arias, Child Advocate, Parent/Family Member Representative

• Diane Schoenheider, West 40, Early Childhood Learning Specialist

• Elizabeth (Liz) Bethell, Child & Family Connections, Suburban Access Inc., LIC Coordinator

• Emily Norman, Pilgrim Nursery School, Director

• Hunter Stuckemeyer, Triton College, Early Childhood Education Faculty

• Kanella Maniatis, Illinois Action for Children, Program Manager, Enhanced Referral Programs

• Lovey Kaur, Ellie Mental Health, Clinic Director

• Nancy Dorfman Schwartz, Hephzibah Children's Association, Chief Operating Officer

• Nathaniel George Booker, Village of Maywood, Mayor

• Precious Porras, Dominican University, Vice President for Justice, Equity & Inclusion

• Rosalind Banks, School District #88 Bellwood, Director of Student Services and Special Education

• Tameakah Gant, Little Newtons, Teacher

• Vanessa Vicens, Child Advocate, Parent/Family Member Representative

• Vivian Palicki, Early Learning Solutions and Advocacy/BeLoved Family Coalition, Early Childhood Advocacy Consultant/Managing Director 

Family Council Members

• Betsy Feliciano-Martinez, Franklin Park (Cook County)

• Collin Boltz, Oak Park (Cook County)

• Desiree Johnson, Bellwood (Cook County)

• Edith Chavez-Garcia, Lyons (Cook County)

• Heather Stokes, Elmwood Park (Cook County)

• Juana Avila, Cicero (Cook County)

• Jukselin Nuñez, Northlake (Cook County)

• Monique Griffith, LaGrange (Cook County)

• Nissme Fierro, Melrose Park (Cook County)

• Roxanna Avila, Harwood Heights (Cook County)

• Viridiana Romo Macias, Cicero (Cook County)  

Tiffany Draine

Tiffany Draine (she/her) is the Regional Manager for Region 1-B-B (Cook West). Tiffany has enjoyed making a difference in the lives of young children and their families while serving in the field of Early Childhood Education for 20 years in a variety of settings, including community preschools, public schools, nonprofit organizations, and most recently in the parks and recreation sector as a Program Coordinator for the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) Licensed Child Care and Education Programs and Camps for the City of Evanston.

Tiffany grew up in Oak Park, Illinois, and is a wife and mother to two children. She obtained her Bachelor of Arts and Sciences degrees in Psychology and Early Childhood Education from National Louis University, where she also earned her Type 04 teaching certification. She returned to National Louis University to obtain her graduate degree in Early Childhood Administration. Tiffany spends her spare time cheering on her children at their basketball games, cooking, tufting rugs, and doing DIY projects around her home.

Lucero Robles

Lucero Robles (she/her/ella) is the Family & Community Engagement Specialist for Region 1-B-B (Cook West). Originally from Zacatecas, Mexico, Lucero has harnessed her experience as a daughter of immigrant parents to elevate underserved communities through network-building and outreach. As a first-generation college graduate who grew up in a family with limited access to financial resources, Lucero has seen firsthand how education and equitable services can change lives.

Lucero is a champion for children and families with over seven years of service to the Early Head Start and Head Start community, five years of which she spent working to increase federal investment in Early Childhood Education through grant proposal development. Lucero is dedicated to transforming communities through family advocacy, parent leadership, and community engagement. She strives to empower parents and families with knowledge and resources to support their children’s healthy development.

Victoria Pearson

Victoria Pearson (she/her) is the Region 1-B-B (Cook West) Administrative Support. Victoria is a Chicago native who received her bachelor's degree in Social Welfare from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Victoria has spent much of her career working in various educational arenas. She has been a youth development leader, long-term substitute, and a Home Visiting Specialist. It brings Victoria great joy to share knowledge and information about resources to assist families with improving their quality of life. Through Victoria's direct work with families of young children, she has learned how vital quality, sustainable, and affordable child care is for families.  

In Victoria's spare time, she enjoys cooking and crafting her skills in the kitchen, as well as traveling and getting to visit new places throughout the world. 

Enlaces

• Cobertura de prensa de la Región 1-B-B (inglés)

• Región 1-B-B: Grupo de Facebook (inglés)

• Notas de las últimas reuniones del Comité (inglés)

• Ver Informe de Datos Regionales (IECAM) (inglés)

• Preguntas Frecuentes

Miembros del Comité de Acción

• Ana Guevara, Love Grows Here Daycare Inc., Home Child Care Provider

• Bob Spatz, Spatz LLC, Consultant/Contractor

• Chelsea Guillen, University of Illinois, EITP, EI Ombudsman

• Cindy Matias, Lyons School District #103, Lead Parent Educator/Supervisor

• Cynthia Arias, Child Advocate, Parent/Family Member Representative

• Diane Schoenheider, West 40, Early Childhood Learning Specialist

• Elizabeth (Liz) Bethell, Child & Family Connections, Suburban Access Inc., LIC Coordinator

• Emily Norman, Pilgrim Nursery School, Director

• Hunter Stuckemeyer, Triton College, Early Childhood Education Faculty

• Kanella Maniatis, Illinois Action for Children, Program Manager, Enhanced Referral Programs

• Lovey Kaur, Ellie Mental Health, Clinic Director

• Nancy Dorfman Schwartz, Hephzibah Children's Association, Chief Operating Officer

• Nathaniel George Booker, Village of Maywood, Mayor

• Precious Porras, Dominican University, Vice President for Justice, Equity & Inclusion

• Rosalind Banks, School District #88 Bellwood, Director of Student Services and Special Education

• Tameakah Gant, Little Newtons, Teacher

• Vanessa Vicens, Child Advocate, Parent/Family Member Representative

• Vivian Palicki, Early Learning Solutions and Advocacy/BeLoved Family Coalition, Early Childhood Advocacy Consultant/Managing Director

Miembros del Comité Familiar

• Betsy Feliciano-Martinez, Franklin Park (Cook County)

• Collin Boltz, Oak Park (Cook County)

• Desiree Johnson, Bellwood (Cook County)

• Edith Chavez-Garcia, Lyons (Cook County)

• Heather Stokes, Elmwood Park (Cook County)

• Juana Avila, Cicero (Cook County)

• Jukselin Nuñez, Northlake (Cook County)

• Monique Griffith, LaGrange (Cook County)

• Nissme Fierro, Melrose Park (Cook County)

• Roxanna Avila, Harwood Heights (Cook County)

• Viridiana Romo Macias, Cicero (Cook County)  

Tiffany Draine

Tiffany Draine (ella/la) es la Gerente Regional de la Región 1-B-B (Cook West). Por 20 años, Tiffany ha disfrutado impactar a las vidas de familias y sus menores mientras se desempeña en el ámbito de la Educación de la Primera Infancia en una variedad de entornos, incluyendo programas preescolares comunitarios, escuelas públicas, organizaciones sin fines de lucro y, más recientemente, en el sector de parques y recreación como Coordinadora de Programación de Cuidado Infantil y Programas de Educación y Campamento licenciados del Departamento de Servicios para Menores y Familias (DCFS, por sus siglas en inglés) para la Ciudad de Evanston.

Tiffany creció en Oak Park, Illinois, y es esposa y madre de dos hijos. Obtuvo su Licenciatura en Psicología y Educación de la Primera Infancia de la Universidad Nacional Louis, donde también obtuvo su certificación de enseñanza Tipo 04. Regresó a la Universidad Nacional Louis para obtener su título de posgrado en Administración de Educación de la Primera Infancia. Tiffany pasa su tiempo libre animando a sus hijos en sus juegos de baloncesto, cocinando, haciendo alfombras y haciendo proyectos de bricolaje en su casa.

Lucero Robles

Lucero Robles (ella/la) es la Especialista en Participación Familiar y Comunitaria de la Región 1-B-B (Cook West). Originaria de Zacatecas, México, Lucero ha aprovechado su experiencia como hija de padres inmigrantes para promover el desarrollo de las comunidades marginadas a través de la creación de redes y la divulgación. Como graduada universitaria de primera generación que creció en una familia de bajos ingresos, Lucero ha visto de primera mano cómo la educación y los servicios equitativos pueden cambiar vidas.

Lucero es una defensora de los niños y las familias con más de siete años de experiencia en el servicio a la comunidad de Early Head Start y Head Start, cinco de los cuales dedicó a trabajar para aumentar la inversión federal en la educación de la primera infancia a través del desarrollo de propuestas de subvenciones. Lucero se dedica a transformar comunidades a través de la defensa de la familia, el liderazgo de los padres y la participación comunitaria. Se esfuerza por capacitar a los padres y las familias con conocimientos y recursos para apoyar el desarrollo saludable de sus hijos. Lucero pasa su tiempo libre con su familia y ve crecer felices a sus cuatro hermosas sobrinas y su sobrino.

Victoria Pearson

Victoria Pearson (ella/la) es el Asistente Administrativo de la Región 1-B-B (Cook Oeste). Victoria es originaria de Chicago y recibió de licenciatura en Asistencia Social en la Universidad de Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Victoria ha pasado gran parte de su carrera trabajando en diversos ámbitos educativos. Ha sido líder de desarrollo juvenil, sustituta de largo plazo y especialista en visitas a domicilio. Victoria disfruta compartiendo conocimientos e información sobre recursos para ayudar a las familias a mejorar su calidad de vida. A través del trabajo directo de Victoria con familias de niños pequeños, ha aprendido lo vital que es para las familias un cuidado infantil de calidad, sostenible y asequible.

En su tiempo libre, Victoria disfruta cocinando y desarrollando sus habilidades en la cocina, así como viajando y conociendo nuevos lugares en todo el mundo.