Region 51
Menard, Sangamon
Region 51 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
Ashley Reynolds, Child Advocate, Parent/Family Member Representative
LeAnn Bell, Child Advocate, Parent/Family Member Representative
Kayla Miller, Community Child Care Connection CCR&R, Quality Service Manager
Connie Shugart, STARNET Regions 1 & III, Project Director
Debbie Tisckos, Sangamon County Department of Public Health, Director of Maternal and Child Health Services
Elizabeth Lerch, Camelot Care Center, Regional Director
Harold Pursey, Springfield Urban League, Inc., Head Start/Early Head Start Director
Jamar Scott, Springfield Public Schools #186, Chief Equity & School Improvement Officer
Jaylashawn Dildy, The Baby Fold, Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant
Katie Estes, Tri-City School District, Preschool for All Teacher and Parent Educator
Kendra Day, Memorial Behavioral Health, Community Engagement
Lajewell White, CATER Learning Experience, Owner
Lakeisha Purchase, City of Springfield & LKP Consulting LLC, Ward 5 Alderwoman
Laura Pickrell, Riverton School District Birth to Three, Program Director
Laurie Rhodes, Lincoln Land Child Development Center & Preschool for All Expansion, Director
Lindsay Sleade, Family Partnership with SIU School of Medicine, Nurse/Program Coordinator
Megan Reynolds, United Way of Central Illinois & Rotary Club, Director of Donor Engagement & President-Elect
Mitch Baker, Illinois Assistive Technology Program, ICC Coordinator
Savannah Wilken, State Police, Office Associate
Shelly Roat, University of Illinois Chicago's Division of Specialized Care for Children, Assistant Director of Operations Core & Connect Care Programs
Tiffani Saunders, Illinois Department of Public Health & Chatham School District, Minority Health Division Chief & School Board President
Tracie Sampson, New Salem Children's Center II, Inc. & Lincoln Land Community College, Director & Owner & Professor of Early Childhood Education
Family Council Members
Amethyst Hamm, Springfield (Sangamon County)
Antoinette Bidlingmaier, Petersburg (Menard County)
Bushra Ali, Chatham (Sangamon County)
Elizabeth Haynes, Springfield (Sangamon County)
Gail Waddell, Athens (Menard County)
Hillary Kelly, Petersburg (Menard County)
Kesha Harris, New Berlin (Sangamon County)
Lissett Felix, Springfield (Sangamon County)
Megan Loberg-Simmering, Petersburg (Menard County)
Michelle McAnarney, Springfield (Sangamon County)
Mindy Parks, Riverton (Sangamon County)
Monique Nally, Riverton (Sangamon County)
Sara Trine, Springfield (Sangamon County)
Tanika Jones, Springfield (Sangamon County)
FY24 Action Council Notes
FY24 Workgroup Notes
FY24 Family Council Notes
Meet Your Regional Team!
Ashley Earles
Ashley Earles (she/her) is the Regional Council Manger for Region 51. She comes with more than 14 years of experience developing relationships and sharing stories to promote and assist nonprofit organizations. Ashley spent over 10 years in the early childhood field teaching in the classroom and providing professional development training to other early childhood professionals. One of her proudest moments was receiving the UIC Specialized Care for Children 2017 Champion for Children and Illinois AEYC 2017 Children’s Champion awards. Ashley volunteers for Safe Families as a Family Friend, Leadership Council Member, and Church Engagement Speaker, serves as the President of the Tri-City Youth Sports League, and coaches her daughter's 8U softball team. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Social Work from the University of Illinois at Springfield.
Ashley was born in Naples, Italy, and grew up in Rushville, Illinois; she moved to the Springfield area in 2007. She has been married to her husband, Drew, for almost 10 years and has two daughters, Ena (8) and Emmie (2). They live on a family farm raising cows, goats, and chickens. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, baking, and cooking with her daughters, while also enjoying Christmas music and movies all year long.
Amanda DeFord
Amanda DeFord (she/her) is the Family & Community Engagement Specialist for Region 51. She has worked in the early childhood field for 10+ years. Her professional journey has allowed her to work directly with children, parents and caregivers, and organizations that support and advocate for early childhood programs and services, as well as for children and families with special needs. Amanda has played an active role on the Capitol Area Chapter of the Illinois Association for the Education of Young Children (ILAEYC) and also on the Autism Support of Central Illinois Board of Directors.
Amanda holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology, a master’s degree in Education, and is a Registered Behavior Technician and a Certified Nutrition Coach. She lives in central Illinois with her husband, Adam; three children, Casey, Colin, and Ireland; and two fur babies. Amanda enjoys a great cup of coffee, live music and theatre, trying new recipes, 90’s music, and going on Jeep adventures with her family.
Amber Walters
Amber Walters (she/her) is the Region 51 Administrative Support. She has 20 years of experience in an education setting, 12 years of which were in an Early Childhood Education program; she also served for several years as a Kindergarten Readiness Coordinator/home visitor in the Sangamon County area.
Amber has a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education from Illinois State University and a Master’s degree in Elementary Reading from NOVA Southeastern University. She currently resides in Springfield with her husband, Adam, and daughter, Addaley. She enjoys time boating and spending time with family and friends.
Contact Ashley Earles
Please fill out the form below to contact Ashley. Your message will go directly to her inbox. You may also reach her at (309) 393-2545.