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Planning Committee

Community teams are comprised of at least one representative from a school district and postsecondary institutions participating in the project. The Planning Committee will meet up to five times during the planning period and will help establish an implementation plan and grant program structure for better aligning the high school to postsecondary education transition.

Aurora Team

  • William Marzano, Assistant Vice President of Transfer and Developmental Education, Waubonsee Community College

Chicago Team

  • Dakota Pawlicki, Director of Strategic Partnerships and Projects, Chicago Public Schools
  • Veenu Verma, Executive Director of Early College and Career Education, Chicago Public Schools

Danville Team

  • Jacob Bretz, Assistant Principal, Danville High School, Danville School District 118
  • Kara Brown, Business Teacher and Teacher Leader, Danville High School, Danville School District 118
  • Monica Campbell, Special Education Teacher, Danville High School, Danville School District 118 
  • Amanda Campbell, Guidance Counselor (division leader), Danville High School, Danville School District 118 
  • Stacy Ehmen, Dean of Student Services, Danville Area Community College
  • Penny McConnell, Dean of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Danville Area Community College
  • Anne McGrath, Chemistry Teacher and Teacher Leader, Danville High School, Danville School District 118
  • Ericka Uskali, Transformation Officer, Danville High School, Danville School District 118

East St. Louis Team

  • Jesse Dixon, Director, East St. Louis Center, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
  • Amanda Guinn, Dual Credit Coordinator, Southwestern Illinois College
  • Audrey Jackson-Luster, Student Interventionist, East St. Louis School District 189
  • Lea Maue, Director of Adult Basic Education, Southwestern Illinois College
  • Kiaundra Smith, Math Instructional Coach, East St. Louis District 189
  • Teresa Williams, GEAR UP Coordinator, East St. Louis School District 189

Elgin Team

  • Kinasha Brown, Career and Tech Ed Coordinator, U-46
  • Julie Schaid, Associate Dean of College Readiness and School Partnerships, Elgin Community College

Harper (Northwest Educational Council on Student Success) Team

  • Lazaro Lopez, Associate Superintedent for Teaching and Learning, High School District 214
  • Lisa Small, Associate Superintendent, High School District 211

McHenry Team

  • Tony Capalbo, Associate Dean for College and Career Readiness, McHenry County College

McLean County Team

  • Sarah Diel-Hunt, Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs, Heartland Community College
  • Erika Hunt, Center for the Study of Education Policy, Illinois State University
  • Sandy Wilson, Assistant Superintendent Curriculum and Instruction, McLean County Unit No. 5

NIU Team

  • Laurie Elish-Piper, Presidential Advisor on College and Career Readiness, Northern Illinois University