Christopher Olson – TaC

Melissa Orman – TaC

Stephanie Branning – School Age Assistant Supervisor

Thomas Schuster – Dean of Student Culture

Jessica Iacovazzi – Coordinator of Mental Health Services

Kirsten Murphy – Mental Health Technician

Brittni Reed – Mental Health Technician

Morgan Nicolosi – EI Teacher

Maura Lunney – EI Speech Teacher

Taylor-Rae Tammero – EI Speech Teacher

Lyndsay Connor – Occupational Therapist Assistant

Genine Langman – EI Teacher Assistant

Jessica Terry – Act 89 Reading Specialist

Morgan Bialy – School Age Teacher

Mackenzie Pawelzik – School Age Teacher

Shawna Jones – School Age Teacher for Deaf and Hard of Hearing

Jenna Chorba – School Age Teacher for Blind and Visually Impaired

Our Opening Day Event was a huge success! Held at Valley View High School, we had a day full of music, snacks, speakers, meetings, and positivity. A special thank you to Ms. Holly Sayre, superintendent of Carbondale Area High School, and to Ben Hartranft of Benergy1 Presentations, along with his brother, Dan and his mom, Sandy. All speakers, including Dr. Sottile, and the Directors of School Age, EI, Act 89 and Curriculum, TaC, and BizTech, helped to start the New School Year in the right direction.

As Ben said repeatedly, "One Kind Person Can Change the World"

Stephanie Williams and Alexandra Konsur-Grushinski recently facilitated an on-campus workshop on the new STEELS standards with a group of K-12 Science teachers at the Mid Valley School District..

Labor Day pays tribute to the contributions and achievements of American workers and is traditionally observed on the first Monday in September. It was created by the labor movement in the late 19th century and became a federal holiday in 1894. Labor Day weekend also symbolizes the end of summer for many Americans and is celebrated with parties, parades, and athletic events.

Enjoy your Labor Day Weekend!

Hello all and welcome back to the 23-24 school year!

It is an honor to be your Executive Director and it was great to have ALL of you at our Opening Day. I would like to reiterate my opening words that WE, and I mean a collective WE, are ALL responsible for not only educating some of the most vulnerable children in four counties, but making sure that our teachers and administrators are equipped with the necessary tools to be successful for their students. This entire organization exists because of our students. Our new mission statement says it all "The NEIU is an educational agency that supports the diverse needs of all learners by collaborating with families, educators, and community partners to provide innovative leadership, programs and services." Our Vision statement states "NEIU- the leader in advancing education and community partnerships." This means that we cannot ever settle for the status quo. We are expected to be the leaders in advancing education into a world where information is easily accessible, traditional teaching methods are evolving and the skills needed for success are constantly changing. And remember, leadership in education doesn't necessarily require a former title. It's about your actions, influence, and commitment to positive change. By embodying these qualities and taking proactive steps, all of you are leaders who contribute to the growth and improvement of education in our community and beyond. We are, in essence, expected to shape the future. This is quite the responsibility, but I know, after seeing all of you this past Thursday, we are ALL equipped to meet this challenge. I wish you a year filled with happiness, success and good health.

I believe in US! Have a great year!

Kathy