EARLY CHILDHOOD TODAY: Preparing Lifelong Learners
March 8, 2017
Presenter Information
FAMILIES FACING CHALLENGES
Robyn DiPietro-Wells, Kimberly A. Hile, Misty Krippel
Hours: 1.5
Early Intervention: 1 INT, 0.5 WWF
Objectives: 1. Participants will examine their preconceptions of families experiencing challenging
situations.
2. Participants will develop a better understanding of circumstances faced by military
families and others.
3. Participants will learn strategies to build relationships with families and support
children in their programs.
Presenters:
Robyn DiPietro-Wells is a media and webinar coordination specialist for the Military Families Learning Network
(MFLN). She works to produce professional development through various forms of online media for the Family
Development Early Intervention concentration area of the MFLN. She is passionate about empowering parents
to be advocates for their children, educating individuals on the unique needs of military families and children
and ensuring that all military families and professionals know of the resources and opportunities available to
them and their children whether they are typical developing or experiencing developmental delays.
Kimberly Hile is a doctoral candidate at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a concentration in
early childhood special education. Her research interests focus on personnel preparation and exploring how
early childhood professionals are trained to support families of young children with special needs. She is the
Project Coordinator for the Preparing Culturally Responsive Early Intervention/Early Childhood Special
Education Personnel project and works with the Military Families Learning Network. She is an active member
of the Council for Exceptional Children Division of Early Childhood, the National Association for the Education of
Young Children, Zero to Three and is a Project BLEND fellow.
Misty Krippel is a student at the University of Illinois, studying Early Childhood and Special Education. She
currently works with the Military Families Learning Network (MFLN) Early Intervention concentration area
through the University of Illinois Traineeship program. She also works at the Urbana School District with the CU
Early Development. She is passionate about empowering parents and families to have purposeful play and to
have fun, to know and understand the community resources and to be confident parents.
Description:
Families of young children facing significant challenges such as military deployment, incarceration, addiction,
or homelessness are more likely to face mental illness, income insecurity and unstable schedules. Early
childhood professionals may need support to understand, respect and meet the needs of these unique families.
This workshop will guide professionals as they examine their preconceptions of families experiencing
challenging situations, develop a better understanding of circumstances encountered by these families and
learn effective strategies to build relationships with families and support children in their programs.
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READ ME A STORY, HELP ME GROW
Robyn DiPietro-Wells, Kimberly A. Hile, Misty Krippel
Hours: 1.5
Early Intervention: 1 INT, 0.5 WWF
Objectives: 1. Participants will discover a variety of children’s books that help military children and
families cope with their unique experiences.
2. Participants will learn how to use books as a basis for supporting the social emotional
development of young children.
3. Participants will explore strategies and activities surrounding children’s books and how
they can create their own activities.
Presenters:
Robyn DiPietro-Wells is a media and webinar coordination specialist for the Military Families Learning Network
(MFLN). She works to produce professional development through various forms of online media for the Family
Development Early Intervention concentration area of the MFLN. She is passionate about empowering parents
to be advocates for their children, educating individuals on the unique needs of military families and children
and ensuring that all military families and professionals know of the resources and opportunities available to
them and their children whether they are typical developing or experiencing developmental delays.
Kimberly Hile is a doctoral candidate at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a concentration in
early childhood special education. Her research interests focus on personnel preparation and exploring how
early childhood professionals are trained to support families of young children with special needs. She is the
Project Coordinator for the Preparing Culturally Responsive Early Intervention/Early Childhood Special
Education Personnel project and works with the Military Families Learning Network. She is an active member
of the Council for Exceptional Children Division of Early Childhood, the National Association for the Education of
Young Children, Zero to Three and is a Project BLEND fellow.
Misty Krippel is a student at the University of Illinois, studying Early Childhood and Special Education. She
currently works with the Military Families Learning Network (MFLN) Early Intervention concentration area
through the University of Illinois Traineeship program. She also works at the Urbana School District with the CU
Early Development. She is passionate about empowering parents and families to have purposeful play and to
have fun, to know and understand the community resources and to be confident parents.
Description:
What can teachers use to support families and children facing situations like military deployment, PTSD and
loss? In this workshop early childhood providers will learn how to use children’s books as a basis for supporting
young children’s social emotional development. Examples of books and numerous activities to extend the
content presented in the books will be shared as well as strategies that professionals can utilize to create their
own activities to extend the social emotional content presented in children’s books.
PREPARING LIFELONG LEARNERS: THE PYRAMID MODEL IN ACTION!
Sharon Doubet
Hours: 3.0
Early Intervention: 3.0 INT
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Objectives: 1. Attendees will learn about the Pyramid Model for supporting the social and emotional
competence in infants and young children.
2. Attendees will learn strategies to use when guiding young children’s social emotional
learning. The topics include: building relationships, designing environments, teaching
social and emotional skills and individualizing supports for children with consistent
challenging behaviors.
Presenter:
Sharon Doubet is an Associate Professor in the Department of Special Education at Illinois State University.
Sharon has worked in various positions in the early childhood field; such as paraprofessional, teacher, parent
liaison, program director, professional development coordinator, coach and professor. Sharon has been
involved in research and dissemination on social emotional development, curriculum and assessment,
professional development and support for parents and early childhood educators.
Description:
The Pyramid Model for supporting the social and emotional competence in infants and young children is a
framework developed for you! The pyramid-shaped design of this framework is structured to help you focus on
research-based practical strategies to use in your important work. Many real-world examples will be discussed
and you will leave this session with your personal plan of action. One size does not fit all!
HIGH QUALITY INCLUSIVE EXPERIENCES FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS
Sandy Ginther, Emily Ropars
Hours: 1.5
Early Intervention: 0.75 INT
Objectives: 1. Understand the indicators of high quality inclusion via the Inclusive Classroom Profile.
2. Learn to embed activities and experiences for children with special needs in your
classroom.
Presenters:
Sandy Ginther, over the last 25 years, has been employed with the state’s Project Choices, directed countywide
Early Intervention Programs, served as an Early Intervention Statewide Trainer, an Early Childhood and Family
Resource Specialist and is currently an LRE specialist for Early Choices.
Emily Ropars has worked in the field of early childhood education for 20 years. She worked as a developmental
therapist and holds a type 04 with a special education endorsement. Emily has worked in all early childhood
environments as a teacher, coach and administrator, lab preschool, child care, Head Start and private schools.
She is currently an LRE Specialist for Early Choices.
Description:
Using activities and engaging conversations, participants will gain an increased understanding of what high
quality inclusion looks like. In addition, attendees will become familiar with embedding inclusive experiences in
their classrooms.
INCLUSIVE SOLUTIONS
Ron Gonser, Lisa Hansberger
Hours: 1.5
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Objectives: 1. Discuss potential barriers within inclusive 3-5 year old classrooms.
2. Participants will take away potential problem solving ideas to specific barriers within
their home district/program.
Presenters:
Ron Gonser has been involved in education programs since 1981. He has been involved in 0-5 programs since
1987 and working with the State Pre-K grant programs since 1992 serving as Coordinator of Pre-Programs in
District 159 and for the past 11 years has been Principal of Fulton Elementary and Coordinator of Pre-K
programming for Tinley Park District 146. He has presented at STAR NET round table discussions regarding
blended programs and is an advocate for full inclusion of students in the regular education programs for
students of all ages.
Lisa Hansberger has been teaching for 15 years in CCSD 146 as both a Blended EC/Pre-K teacher and an LBS.
Lisa has a Bachelor’s of Music in Music Therapy from Ohio University and a Master’s of Science in Special
Education from Florida State University. She also has her ESL endorsement as well as a specialty in Autism. Ms.
Hansberger was in her second year of teaching when CCSD 146 blended their Early Childhood and Pre-K
programs. Currently she is the CCSD 146 district teacher leader for the blended Early Learning team.
AUTISM IN THE CLASSROOM: IT’S ALL ABOUT SUCCESS!
Lori Grzelak, Laura Bivona, Sabrina J. McNeal
Hours: 1.5
Objectives: 1. Participants will be able to identify and describe basic characteristics of autism.
2. Participants will be able to describe how the use of visual supports can lead to student
success.
Presenters:
Lori Grzelak has a BA in both communication disorders and psychology and a MSEd in Special Education from
Chicago State University. She has worked for 15 years as a teacher of students with special needs. The bulk of
those years were in early childhood classrooms in a special education cooperative. Lori eventually moved into
the general education environment, co-teaching and self-contained/resource instruction. She has organized
and taught a Social Thinking-based classroom for students with autism in a middle school setting. Currently
she is a Learning Partner in Kankakee School District 111 with a focus on students with special needs. Lori
provides guidance on structured teaching, picture exchange communication systems, classroom management,
Unique Learning Systems and more! Lori is married with three children and three grandchildren.
Laura Bivona holds an undergraduate degree from Illinois State University and a Master’s degree in Early
Childhood Education from St. Xavier University. Laura has worked in the field of early childhood education for
19 years. She has taught cross category classrooms comprised of 3 to 5 year olds, as well as a
kindergarten/first grade class. Laura worked as a Developmental Therapist for 4 years conducting in-home
therapy. She currently works as a Special Education Co-Teacher in the Pre-School for All program at Mark
Twain Elementary School in Kankakee, Illinois. Laura is married with two daughters and a son.
Sabrina J. McNeal is married with two children and two step-sons. She graduated from Illinois State University
with a Bachelor’s Degree in Special Education and worked as a Child Care Worker for an agency called
Kaleidoscope in Bloomington-Normal. Sabrina obtained a Master’s Degree in Multi-categorical Special
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Education from Governor’s State University. She began working as a special education teacher for District 111
in Kankakee, Illinois. Currently Sabrina is teaching students with multiple handicaps, including autism, grades
4th – 6th. Sabrina recently completed a Master’s Degree in Autism Spectrum Disorders at Grand Canyon
University. She has taught in numerous summer school programs for general education students and students
with special needs from 3rd – 12th grade. This is Sabrina’s 17th year teaching students with special needs.
Description:
This workshop will provide a brief review of autism as seen under the DSM 5 guidelines. Strategies for working
successfully with students who have autism will be shared. Participants will learn about visual supports,
schedules, classroom set up, structure and more! Information will be shared by three special educators with
almost 50 years of teaching experience. Perspectives will be shared on working with students in the general
education, as well as in a self-contained environment. Strategies discussed can be useful in a variety of
settings, including home and day care.
EFFECTIVE COMPONENTS OF A HIGH-QUALITY EARLY CHILDHOOD BILINGUAL/ESL PROGRAM
Sergio Hernandez
Hours: 1.5
Early Intervention: 0.75 WWF
Objectives: 1. Participants will have a general understanding of ISBE rules and regulations regarding
services for English Learners in Preschool for All programs.
2. Participants will attain knowledge of culturally and linguistically appropriate
curriculum, early childhood environments and teacher-student interaction approaches
and practices.
Presenter:
Sergio Hernandez has over 12 years of experience as a PreK-8 bilingual/English as a Second Language (ESL)
educator. He is also a community advocate for early childhood services, having served as an Illinois Early
Childhood Fellow at Voices for Illinois Children. Mr. Hernandez has a deep knowledge of both state and local
education regulations in his current work as a Principal Consultant with the Illinois State Board of Education’s
Early Childhood Division. Mr. Hernandez is a husband and a father to 3 rambunctious boys.
Description:
This presentation will focus on the high quality components of an effective bilingual/ESL Pre-K program utilizing
Excelerate as well as WIDA Early Childhood standards. We will cover culturally and linguistically appropriate
approaches to best service English Learners and their families.
CHILD TRAUMA & RESILIENCE
Shawntae Jones
Hours: 1.5
Early Intervention: 1 ATY, 0.5 INT
Objectives: 1. Learn about the nature and prevalence of trauma and its impact on development and
functioning.
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2. Explore ways to make our work environments more trauma-informed in order to avoid
re-traumatization.
Presenter:
Shawntae Jones is a forensic interviewer at Chicago Children’s Advocacy Center and has conducted over 1000
forensic interviews. She holds a master’s degree in Counseling Psychology, with a concentration in community
counseling. Shawntae’s graduate and professional training has centered on providing services to children and
families, with a special focus on underserved populations impacted by abuse, violence and loss. She also
provides training and consultation on secondary and vicarious trauma. Shawntae has experience in a variety of
settings, including hospitals, schools, community mental health centers and outpatient and residential
treatment facilities.
Description:
Traumatic experiences can have a lasting adverse impact on a child’s functioning and well-being; however,
healing is possible. Resilience can be developed and nurtured. Our response to child trauma survivors can
either re-traumatize or strengthen their ability to cope with adversity and adapt to change. This presentation
will include discussion of the nature of trauma and an exploration of trauma-informed strategies to help
children on the road to resilience.
PLAY FOR ALL: EMPOWERING CHILDREN WITH TECH TOOLS
Jessica Kubacki
Hours: 1.5
Early Intervention: 1.5 INT
Objectives: 1. Workshop participants will be able to understand and share the new American
Academy of Pediatrics screen time guidelines to parents.
2. Workshop participants will learn the latest research and gain an understanding of
how to use technology tools to facilitate socialization through play-based activities
with young children.
Presenter:
Jessica Kubacki is a graduate student at Erikson Institute. She is working towards a masters in Child
Development with a specialization in working with children who have special needs. Jessica interns at the
Technology in Early Childhood Center (TEC) at Erikson as well as the Kohl Children’s Museum. She is currently a
Graduate Assistant for Town Square IL and respite caregiver. Jessica graduated from Illinois State University
with a degree in Family and Consumer Sciences and is a certified secondary education teacher. She has worked
as a signing assistant for NSSED and has volunteered on the Child Life team at Rush University Medical Center.
Description:
Technology can be a powerful tool to help ALL children find their voice and to be included in play-based
learning. Join the TEC Center at Erikson Institute’s Jessica Kubacki to learn how to use technology tools and
assistive technology to empower children to be fully included in play-based experiences at home, school,
libraries and museums. The new American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) screen time guidelines are out and we
have new research on how to use technology meaningfully and appropriately with young children. Non-screen
options will be shared, including early childhood robotics and tangible tech tools that are under $30.00
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WHOSE TEAM ARE YOU ON?
Susan Nevin, M.Ed.
Hours: 1.5
Early Intervention: 0.75 AS, 0.75 INT
Objectives: 1. Deepen understanding of the methods for the eligibility collaboration and teaming.
2. Identify teaming strategies to enhance the eligibility determination and IFSP
development process.
Presenter:
Susan Nevin, M.Ed. is a Child Development Specialist and a Professional Development Specialist who earned a
Masters Degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in Early Childhood Special Education with
a focus on the Birth-3 population. At the same university, she earned her undergraduate degree in Child
Development and Family Studies. Susan is presently a Professional Development Specialist for the Illinois Early
Intervention Training Program (EITP), traveling throughout the state to provide training to EI providers. Susan
has presented at numerous local, state and national conferences. She proudly sits on the board of the Illinois
Developmental Therapy Association and she serves as a developmental pediatric consultant to one of the Child
and Family Connections offices in the state. Susan teaches courses at DePaul University in Chicago to prepare
Early Childhood Education students for careers in Early Intervention. Susan is dedicated to her roles in the field
of Early Intervention and is proud to be included in the journey of so many providers and families.
Description:
Change is inevitable. It’s what keeps people and programs moving forward. One thing that has NOT changed
is the need to effectively collaborate with team members in a positive way to provide the best possible
outcomes for children and families in early intervention. In this interactive session, participants will be
encouraged to reflect on their current teaming practices and discuss some additional methods of collaboration
with other providers, service coordinators, parents, families and child care programs. Participants will be
invited to problem-solve and brainstorm positive approaches to teaming, particularly as it pertains to eligibility
determination and IFSP planning. Using the OSEP Child Outcomes as a guide will help facilitate IFSP discussions
and the development of a streamlined service plan. Ultimate respect for family priorities, values and
knowledge will be at the forefront of this session’s message.
HELP ME – I Can Do It Too!
Mary Kay Rafferty, Lisa Johnston
Hours: 1.5
Early Intervention: 0.75 INT
Objectives: 1. Will identify and provide practical solutions for adapting/modifying materials for
young children with disabilities.
Presenters:
Mary Kay Rafferty has worked in the field of education for over 30 years. She has worked with a multitude of
students who have a wide range of disabilities from ages 3 to 21 years and has a vast experience with students
with behavioral challenges.
Lisa Johnston is an early childhood teacher with ECHO (Exceptional Children Have Opportunities). She has over
25 year of teaching experience in both early childhood and special education environments.
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Description:
The presentation will provide a diverse variety of ideas of developmentally appropriate
modifications/adaptations for materials to increase participation for young children with disabilities.
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