Quick Links

• Region 44 Media Coverage

• Region 44 Facebook Group

• Past Council Meeting Notes

• View Regional Data Report

• Frequently Asked Questions

Action Council Members 

• Courtney Carnehl, Northern Illinois Parents, Owner

• Denise Sowder, Child Advocate, Parent/Family Member Representative

• Donna Emmons, Illinois Head Start Association, Associate Head Start State Collaboration Director

• Elena Galarza, Community Health Partnership, Outreach Coordinator

• Elyse Sereyka, Options & Advocacy, Helping Us Grow Program Manager

• Jessica Elliott, Child Advocate, Parent/Family Member Representative

• Kim Lamz, Community Coordinated Child Care (4-C), Resource and Referral Director

• Kristin Baldwin, Woodstock District #200 Parent Initiative, Birth to Three Program, Program Director

• Mary Frese, DCFS Office of Early Childhood Project, Home Visiting Specialist for Northern Region

• Maureen McMurrough, Community Coordinated Child Care (4-C), EC Workforce Support Consultant

• Sara Zielinski, HLC Therapy Group, Director of Occupational Therapy Services

• Shari Figueroa, Head Start, Mental Health and Disabilities Manager for McHenry County

• Stephanie Ritter, Head Start, Crystal Lake Site Director

• Susan Beckman, Options & Advocacy, Child & Family Connections #25 Program Manager

• Theresa Meshes, McHenry County Government, County Board Member

• Tiffany Valekma, Options & Advocacy, Autism Resource Center Program Manager

• Tina Karaway, The National Alliance on Mental Health of McHenry County (NAMI MCH), Service Supervisor/Sr. Mental Health Advocate

• Zach Heindl, WIC, Program Coordinator

Family Council Members

• Amanda Pett, Crystal Lake (McHenry County)

• Amber Ravenscroft, Wonder Lake (McHenry County)

• Anna Siegel, Lake in the Hills (McHenry County)

• Aurora Scarpaci, Huntley (McHenry County)

• Brittany Henricks, Woodstock (McHenry County)

• Danielle Trepanier, Crystal Lake (McHenry County)

• Epiphany Vasquez-Holmes, Richmond (McHenry County)

• Jessica Brennan, Huntley (McHenry County)

• Jessica Sadler, Crystal Lake (McHenry County)

• Karli Rekuc, Lake in the Hills (McHenry County)

• Madison Wekony, Woodstock (McHenry County)

• Natalie Starosta, Algonquin (McHenry County)

• Simon Pedersen, Union (McHenry County)

Nicole Bach

Nicole Bach (she/her) is the Regional Council Manager for Region 44. Nicole has been working in the field of Early Childhood Education since 1998 and received her associate’s degree from McHenry County College, where she majored in Early Childhood Education. Nicole worked in a child care center for over 18 years, where she started out as an Assistant Teacher and worked her way up into different roles, ending her time there as the Center Director. Nicole received her bachelor's degree from Columbia College where she double majored in Management and Human Resource Management. Her most recent employment was with the Child Care Resource and Referral Agency in McHenry County where she worked with Family Child Care Providers on opening and maintaining their business. In this role, she also helped parents find quality child care and did outreach in the community.

Nicole has three children and one stepdaughter. She enjoys working out; you will find her at her gym nearly every day. She is also an avid reader and almost always has a book on her. Nicole also enjoys volunteer work and has volunteered with Relay for Life, Bright Spaces, Hope Takes Action, and her church.

Kristine Cozzi

Kristine Cozzi (she/her) is the Family & Community Engagement Specialist for Region 44. Kristine has worked in the social services, public health, and nonprofit sectors for 20+ years, serving as a volunteer coordinator, physician liaison, family case manager, service coordinator, and family educator for clients from birth to age 99.  Most recently, Kristine served as a family educator for the ARC (Autism Resource Center) program of McHenry County. She helped families navigate a new Autism diagnosis by connecting them with supports and resources. Kristine has a son on the Autism Spectrum, so it has been a passion of hers to help other families who are new to the diagnosis.

Kristine was born and raised in Illinois and currently lives in Woodstock. She obtained her bachelor's degree from Western Illinois University with a major in Family Consumer Science and a minor in Psychology. Kristine is married, has two sons, a step-daughter, and a Shih Tzu, who is like a kid. Kristine loves to spend time with her family and doggy!

Michelle Pineda

Michelle Pineda (she/her) is the Administrative Support for Region 44. She holds a bachelor's degree in Education from Illinois State University and has worked as a high school science teacher. Throughout her career as a teacher, Michelle demonstrated a strong commitment to creating an inclusive and supportive learning environment for all students. Her passion for equitable education has led her to volunteer at children's discovery centers, alternative school programs, and local high schools where she has positively impacted numerous students. Outside of work, Michelle enjoys crafting and spending time with her family and friends. 

Enlaces

• Cobertura de prensa de la Región 44 (inglés)

• Región 44: Grupo de Facebook (inglés)

• Notas de las últimas reuniones del Comité (inglés)

• Ver Informe de Datos Regionales (inglés)

• Preguntas Frecuentes

Miembros del Comité de Acción

• Courtney Carnehl, Northern Illinois Parents, Owner

• Denise Sowder, Child Advocate, Parent/Family Member Representative

• Donna Emmons, Illinois Head Start Association, Associate Head Start State Collaboration Director

• Elena Galarza, Community Health Partnership, Outreach Coordinator

• Elyse Sereyka, Options & Advocacy, Helping Us Grow Program Manager

• Jessica Elliott, Child Advocate, Parent/Family Member Representative

• Kim Lamz, Community Coordinated Child Care (4-C), Resource and Referral Director

• Kristin Baldwin, Woodstock District #200 Parent Initiative, Birth to Three Program, Program Director

• Mary Frese, DCFS Office of Early Childhood Project, Home Visiting Specialist for Northern Region

• Maureen McMurrough, Community Coordinated Child Care (4-C), EC Workforce Support Consultant

• Sara Zielinski, HLC Therapy Group, Director of Occupational Therapy Services

• Shari Figueroa, Head Start, Mental Health and Disabilities Manager for McHenry County

• Stephanie Ritter, Head Start, Crystal Lake Site Director

• Susan Beckman, Options & Advocacy, Child & Family Connections #25 Program Manager

• Theresa Meshes, McHenry County Government, County Board Member

• Tiffany Valekma, Options & Advocacy, Autism Resource Center Program Manager

• Tina Karaway, The National Alliance on Mental Health of McHenry County (NAMI MCH), Service Supervisor/Sr. Mental Health Advocate

• Zach Heindl, WIC, Program Coordinator

Miembros del Comité Familiar

• Amanda Pett, Crystal Lake (McHenry County)

• Amber Ravenscroft, Wonder Lake (McHenry County)

• Anna Siegel, Lake in the Hills (McHenry County)

• Aurora Scarpaci, Huntley (McHenry County)

• Brittany Henricks, Woodstock (McHenry County)

• Danielle Trepanier, Crystal Lake (McHenry County)

• Epiphany Vasquez-Holmes, Richmond (McHenry County)

• Jessica Brennan, Huntley (McHenry County)

• Jessica Sadler, Crystal Lake (McHenry County)

• Karli Rekuc, Lake in the Hills (McHenry County)

• Madison Wekony, Woodstock (McHenry County)

• Natalie Starosta, Algonquin (McHenry County)

• Simon Pedersen, Union (McHenry County)

Nicole Bach

Nicole Bach (ella/la) es la directora del comité regional para la Región 44. Nicole ha estado trabajando en el campo de la educación de la primera infancia desde 1998 y recibió su título técnico de McHenry County College, donde se especializó en Educación Infantil Temprana. Nicole trabajó en un centro de cuidado infantil durante más de 18 años, donde comenzó como profesora asistente y fue ascendiendo en diferentes puestos, terminando su estancia ahí como directora del centro.

Nicole recibió su licenciatura de Columbia College, donde obtuvo una doble especialización en Administración y Administración de Recursos Humanos. Su empleo más reciente fue con la agencia Child Care Resource and Referral en el condado de McHenry, donde trabajó con proveedores de cuidado infantil familiar en la apertura y el mantenimiento de sus negocios. En este puesto, también ayudó a los padres a encontrar atención infantil de calidad y realizó actividades de extensión comunitaria.

Nicole tiene tres hijos y una hijastra. Nicole disfruta de hacer ejercicio; la encontrarás en el gimnasio casi todos los días. También es una ávida lectora y casi siempre tiene un libro con ella. Nicole también disfruta del trabajo de voluntariado y ha sido voluntaria en Relay for Life, Bright Spaces, Hope Takes Action y en su iglesia.

Kristine Cozzi

Kristine Cozzi (ella/la) es la Especialista en Participación Familiar y Comunitaria de la Región 44. Kristine ha trabajado en los sectores de servicios sociales, salud pública y organizaciones sin fines de lucro durante más de 20 años, sirviendo como coordinadora voluntaria, enlace médico, administradora de casos familiares, coordinadora de servicios y educadora familiar para clientes desde los primeros meses hasta los 99 años. Más recientemente, Kristine se desempeñó como educadora familiar para el programa ARC (Centro de recursos para el autismo) del condado de McHenry. Ayudaba a las familias a navegar nuevos diagnósticos de autismo conectándolos con apoyos y recursos. Kristine tiene un hijo en el espectro autista, por lo que ha sido una de sus pasiones ayudar a otras familias han recibido un diagnóstico por primera vez.

Kristine nació y creció en Illinois y actualmente vive en Woodstock. Obtuvo su licenciatura de la Universidad del Oeste de Illinois con una especialización en Ciencias del Consumidor Familiar y una especialización secundaria en Psicología. Kristine está casada, tiene dos hijos, una hijastra y un Shih Tzu, que es como un niño. ¡A Kristine le encanta pasar tiempo con su familia y su perrito!

Michelle Pineda

Michelle Pineda (ella/la) es el Asistente Administrativo de la Región 44. Tiene una licenciatura en Educación de la Universidad Estatal de Illinois y ha trabajado como profesora de ciencias en una escuela secundaria. A lo largo de su carrera como profesora, Michelle demostró un fuerte compromiso con la creación de un entorno de aprendizaje inclusivo y de apoyo para todos los estudiantes. Su pasión por la educación equitativa la ha llevado a trabajar como voluntaria en centros de descubrimiento para niños, programas de escuelas alternativas y escuelas secundarias locales, donde ha tenido un impacto positivo en numerosos estudiantes. Fuera del trabajo, Michelle disfruta haciendo manualidades y pasando tiempo con su familia y amigos.