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.

NEW 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.

a map of Illinois with Region 50 highlighted in blue
 

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  

Meet Your Regional Team!

Headshot of Stephanie Herling, a light skinned person with shoulder length brown hair smiling from the chest up. A red sweater with a black top underneath, a long silver necklace, and black eyeglasses is worn in front of a blurred outdoor background.

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.