Region 50
St. Clair
Region 50 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.
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.
NEW Early Childhood Needs Assessment: Focus on Mental & Behavioral Health features stories from families and ECEC providers about the challenges and successes they have accessing Mental and Behavioral Health services.
Action Council Members
Chinita M King, Child Advocate, Parent/Family Member Representative
Sylvia Nunn, Child Advocate, Parent/Family Member Representative
Aimee Hart, Uni-Pres KinderCottage, Executive Director
Audrey Gonzalez, Untangled Minds PLLC, Owner & Therapist
Carolyn Jason, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Head Start, Program Director
Emily Alvarez, NORC at the University of Chicago, Senior Research Scientist
Gina Harding, O'Fallon CCSD #90, Director of Early Learning
Gina Ruther, Self-Employed, Early Childhood Education Consultant
Janice Moenster, Brightpoint, Director of Early Learning Programs
Jaqueline Chacon, University of Illinois at Chicago Division of Specialized Care for Children, Bilingual Enrollment Assistant
Jessica Seger, Mascoutah School MSD #19, Special Education & Preschool for All Coordinator
Kaelin Richardson, Greater East St. Louis Early Learning Partnership, Network Manager
Makisha Binns, Child Care Provider, Owner
Nicole Warren, Caregiver Connections & Centerstone, Infant Early Childhood Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant
Shameka C Brown, ACB Education Consulting LLC, Infant Early Childhood Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant
Shamyra Brown, Erikson Institute, Home Visiting Specialist
Wendy Williams, Head Start, State Collaboration Director
Family Council Members
Cassandra Staal, O'Fallon
Katie Manno, Belleville
Krystin Hobbs, Freeburg
Linda Eiland, Alorton
Megan Burgess, O'Fallon
Misti Johnson, Belleville
Roberta Johnson, E St Louis
Shalese Bruya, O'Fallon
FY24 Action Council Notes
FY24 Workgroup Notes
FY24 Family Council Notes
Meet Your Regional Team!
Stephanie Herling
Stephanie Herling (she/her) is the Regional Council Manager for Region 50. Stephanie has over 20 years of early childhood experience. She previously worked for STAR NET, where she acted as the Resource Specialist for 38 counties in Southern Illinois. Stephanie holds a bachelor’s degree in Child and Family Studies with a minor in Sociology. She currently serves as the President of the Illinois Association of the Education of Young Children (Illinois AEYC). Stephanie also participates in multiple state-driven initiatives and continually holds professional memberships in the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC), Division for Early Childhood (DEC), Illinois AEYC, and the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).
Chrystal Anthony-Sims
Chrystal Anthony-Sims (she/her) is the Family & Community Engagement Specialist for Region 50. She has built her career in various roles within the Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) field. Chrystal has over 25 years of experience in direct center-based care. She worked for a few years as a Disabilities Coordinator in the Migrant Head Start Program, and spent several years supervising a team of Family Engagement staff within the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) Head Start/Early Head Start Program.
Chrystal earned her Bachelor of Science degree, working full time as a SIUE Head Start/Early Head Start teaching staff, while participating in the SIUE EChOS Program designed to focus on the advancement of individuals who are already working.
Madeline Graham
Madeline Graham (she/her) is the Region 50 Administrative Support. Madeline earned a B.S. in Political Science from Missouri State University and an M.A in Middle Eastern Studies from Tel Aviv University in Israel. After moving back to St. Clair County in 2021, she worked for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), serving the greater St. Louis area. Most recently, she worked for the St. Clair County Regional Office of Education where she collaborated with educators, families, and administrators across the county.
Madeline is excited to work with children and families in her community in St. Clair County. In her free time, she likes to play with her dog, Billy, read, and play bingo several times per week.
Contact Stephanie Herling
Please fill out the form below to contact Stephanie. Your message will go directly to her inbox. You may also reach her at (618) 825-3929 or (309) 270-5657.