Speakers
Breakout Sessions Speakers
Imani Carr
Imani Carr, Urbana School District #116, 7th grade English/Language Arts
My name is Mrs. Imani Carr and I have been teaching for the past 6 plus years in Urbana School District #116; although, I homeschooled before that. I am currently a 7th grade ELA Teacher and formerly a 5th-grade teacher. I completed both my Bachelor's and Master's in education at Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, AZ. I leave you with this quote from my uncle: "Education is the only profession where you can reach out and touch the future" (Sumbler, 2017).
Jenna Jamieson
Jenna Jamieson is a high school Business & Health Sciences Teacher at Carbondale Community High School.
Jenna Jamieson is a high school Business & Health Sciences Teacher at Carbondale Community High School. She graduated with a Master of Public Health and a Bachelor of Arts in Financial Economics and a Bachelor of Science in Journalism from SIU Carbondale. She has a passion for volunteering and hopes to inspire her students to give back to the community.
Olivia Jones
Olivia Jones, 5th grade teacher at Westview Elementary School in Champaign, IL.
My name is Olivia Jones. I am in my 4th year of teaching 5th grade at Westview Elementary School in Champaign, IL. I am an Eastern Illinois University alum and a current EIU master's degree student.
Jaime Marcos
Jaime Marcos, K-12 Physical Education/Health, student-teaching at Charleston Middle School (7th/8th Grade), and an EIU student-athlete.
Jaime Marcos is earning K-12 Teacher Certification in Physical Education/Health while student-teaching at Charleston Middle School (7th/8th Grade). After finishing his undergraduate degree, Jamie will begin his Master’s in Spring, 2022 for Sports Administration at Eastern Illinois University.
Reina McKenzie
Reina F McKenzie is Dual Language Teacher, 1st Grade Instructional Support, and Kindergarten Spanish Literacy in School District 54.
Reina F McKenzie is Dual Language Teacher in School District 54, specifically 1st Grade Instructional Support and Kindergarten Spanish Literacy. She says, “Prior to becoming a dual-language teacher, I was a preschool teacher for nearly 8 years at various early learning centers in Champaign and Schaumburg, IL. It had been a goal of mine to teach in a dual-language school ever since learning about them during my senior year of high school! Besides teaching, I am very passionate about reading, writing, music, and languages—I speak Spanish, but also some Japanese and Portuguese—and have tried to incorporate each of these passions into the classroom over the years!”
Lauren Mellott
Lauren Mellott, 5th Grade, English Language Arts, Jefferson Elementary School in Charleston, IL.
Lauren Mellott teaches 5th Grade English Language Arts at Jefferson Elementary School in Charleston, IL. She graduated from Eastern Illinois University in 2020 with a bachelor's degree in Middle Level Education, with concentrations in both Mathematics and English Language Arts.
Thais Perez
Thais Perez, special education teacher, administrator, and now Coordinator of Equity and Inclusion at Schaumburg School District 54.
Thais Perez has been in education for 16 years. In the span of her career she served students as a special education teacher for ten years, a district wide PBIS coach, Special Education coach, interim Assistant Principal, and Special Education Administrator. Thais currently serves as the Coordinator of Equity and Inclusion for Schaumburg School District 54. She obtained her undergraduate degree from Eastern Illinois University, followed by Concordia University and National Louis University for Master’s degrees in literacy and principal prep.
Ashlee Robinson
Ashlee Robinson will share about Early Childhood Education, student-teaching, and being a graduate assistant
My name is Ashlee Robinson and I graduated from Eastern Illinois University with an Early Childhood Education degree. I am currently a graduate assistant in the Teaching, Learning, and Foundations Department at EIU while receiving my reading endorsement and master’s degree.
J'Kyra Space
J'Kyra Space is a 5th Grade Teacher at District 126, which includes Alsip, Hazelgreen, and Oak Lawn. She graduated from Eastern Illinois University in the Spring of 2021.
J'Kyra Space is a 5th Grade Teacher at District 126, which includes Alsip, Hazelgreen, and Oak Lawn. She graduated from Eastern Illinois University in the Spring of 2021. She will focus on what is awesome about her grade as well as curriculum they might see in the classroom, specifically in mathematics.