Paula Jorde Bloom, Michael W. Louis Endowed Chair
phone: (847) 947-5055 • email: paula.bloom@nl.edu
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Faculty and Staff
+ view bio
Paula Jorde Bloom holds a joint appointment as the Michael W. Louis Endowed
Chair of the McCormick Tribune Center for Early Childhood Leadership and
Professor in the Department of Early Childhood Education at National-Louis
University. She received her masters and doctorate from Stanford University.
Dr. Bloom has taught preschool and kindergarten, designed and directed a child
care center, and served as administrator of a campus laboratory school. She is
a frequent keynote speaker at state, national, and international early childhood
conferences and serves as consultant to professional organizations and state agencies.
Paula is the author of numerous journal articles and several widely read books including
Avoiding Burnout, A Great Place to Work, Living and Learning with Children, Blueprint
for Action, Circle of Influence, Workshop Essentials, Making the Most of Meetings,
and Leadership in Action. Her latest book is From the Inside Out: The Power
of Reflection and Self-Awareness.
+ view bio
Carmen R. Adamczyk is an Administrative Assistant for the McCormick Tribune Center for Early
Childhood Leadership. Previously she managed the optical department of a large retailer in St.
Charles, IL. Carmen has been a program assistant at the University of Wisconsin Office of the
General Counsel and a clerk for J.A.G. while residing at Fort Leonard Wood, MO.
+ view bio
Jill Bella is Director of Special Projects. In this role she coordinates and conducts research,
training, and consultation for local and state initiatives on the Early Childhood Work Environment
Survey and the Program Administration Scale (PAS). Ms. Bella is a reliability anchor for the PAS
and a validator for NAEYC accreditation. In addition, she serves as adjunct faculty for National-Louis
University. Jill holds both a master’s degree in special education/early intervention and a bachelor’s
degree in child development from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Prior to joining the
Center, she worked at several child care centers and an early intervention center as an early intervention
specialist and training associate. Jill is co-author of Zoom: The
Impact of Early Childhood Leadership Training on Role Perceptions, Job Performance,
and Career Decisions.
+ view bio
Lisa C. Boggess is a Technology Associate at the McCormick Tribune Center for Early Childhood Leadership.
She holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Illinois Wesleyan University. Prior to joining the
Center, Lisa led team building facilitation for both youth and adults, taught private voice lessons,
and taught general music at a private elementary school. For two and a half years she was Program Director
for Outdoor and Retreat Ministries of the Northern Illinois Conference of the United Methodist Church,
where she developed and led programs for youth and children of all ages. Lisa was also a writer for the
2006 New Earth national camp curriculum.
+ view bio
Linda Butkovich oversees the PAS certification system for the McCormick Tribune Center for Early Childhood
Leadership. She holds a master's degree in early childhood special education. Prior to joining the Center,
Linda worked as a developmental therapist with children birth to three years of age and their families.
She has also been director of an NAEYC-accredited program, teacher, and family child care provider. Linda
serves as adjunct faculty for NLU, and provides training, consultation, and mentoring for early childhood
program administrators.
Melissa Casteel, Assessor and Training Specialist
phone: (312) 261-3139 • email: melissa.casteel@nl.edu
+ view bio
Melissa Casteel is an Assessor and Training Specialist for the Center. She conducts program
quality assessments for the Illinois Quality Counts initiative. Prior to joining the Center, Melissa
served as director for a Head Start delegate agency. She has also been the director of a NAEYC-accredited
program, an adjunct faculty member at Kendall College, and a kindergarten teacher. Melissa earned both a
M.Ed. in Early Childhood Leadership and Advocacy and a C.A.S. in Administration and Supervision from National-Louis
University. She holds a Level III Illinois Director Credential and Illinois Type 75 and Type 04 certifications.
+ view bio
Eileen Eisenberg is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Early Childhood Education at National-Louis
University and an Assessor and Training Specialist for the McCormick Tribune Center for Early
Childhood Leadership. She works with field supervisors and mentors in monitoring program quality improvements.
Prior to joining the faculty of NLU, Ms. Eisenberg was a director of an NAEYC-accredited nonprofit early
childhood center in Chicago. She has since conducted workshops on accreditation and serves as a national NAEYC
validator. Eileen has taught educably mentally handicapped (EMH) in the Chicago Public Schools and nursery school
in the non-profit sector. Her articles have appeared in Young Children, Exchange, and other
professional journals.
+ view bio
Lisa A. Ellis is an Assessor and Training Specialist for the Center.
She conducts program quality assessments for the Illinois Quality
Counts Initiative. Lisa has a master's degree in Early Childhood
Special Education from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
She earned her bachelor's degree in Human Development and Family
Services from Cornell University. Her professional experiences include
managing several different NAEYC-accredited programs, advocating
for children and families who are at-risk, and teaching young children
birth to five. She holds a Level II Illinois Director Credential
and Illinois Type 04 teaching certification with a special education
approval.
Lila E. Goldston, Professional Development Advisor
phone: (312) 261-3469 • email: lila.goldston@nl.edu
+ view bio
Lila E. Goldston is a Professional Development Advisor for the Center providing career advice and technical support to
directors involved in workforce development efforts at their centers. She also is adjunct faculty for National-Louis University.
In her previous role as accreditation facilitator for the Center, she provided professional development training and on-site
technical assistance for early childhood programs working toward accreditation. Prior to joining the Center, Ms. Goldston worked
for the Chicago public schools for many years as a Head Start and kindergarten teacher. In addition, she served as a family
resource teacher and advocate for family support programs. She is currently on the selection committee for the Kohl/McCormick
Teaching Awards. Lila holds a M.S. in Urban Education with a specialization in Early Childhood Education from Chicago State
University.
Ann Hentschel, Lead Assessor and Training Specialist
phone: (847) 947-5109 • email: ann.hentschel@nl.edu
+ view bio
Ann Hentschel is the Lead Assessor and Training Specialist for the McCormick Tribune Center for Early Childhood Leadership.
She conducts program quality assessments for the Illinois Quality Counts initiative using Environment Rating Scales (ERS). In
her 25-year career in early care and education, Ann has worked in several NAEYC accredited programs. She has been a toddler and
preschool teacher, a child care director, and project coordinator for an early childhood compensation and retention project in
Marin County, California. Ann holds a baccalaureate degree in early childhood education and is currently enrolled in a graduate
program at National-Louis University.
+ view bio
Donna Jonas is Director of Communications and Conference Coordinator for the Center. She develops and maintains relationships
with our corporate and community partners as well as ensuring continued community awareness of the many projects and
accomplishments of the Center. Prior to joining the Center, Donna taught MMI & LD/BD children, was managing editor of NCE’s
Quarterly, and served as director of development for a nonprofit agency helping developmentally challenged children and
adults.
+ view bio
Janis Jones is a Professional Development Advisor providing technical assistance and support to early childhood programs
in career advising and workforce development issues. Previously she served as the coordinator for the NLU Jumpstart project and
accreditation facilitator for the Center’s Chicago accreditation project. In her 25-year career in early childhood, Ms. Jones
has also been a classroom teacher, supervisor, program director, and trainer. She has worked extensively with federally funded
programs including Head Start, Title XX, and private child care. Janis received her master’s degree from Erikson Institute.
+ view bio
Tarah Kandell is an Assessor and Training Specialist for
the McCormick Tribune Center for Early Childhood Leadership. She
conducts program quality assessments for the Illinois Quality Counts
initiative. Prior to coming to NLU, Tarah was the director of an
accredited nonprofit Head Start and Preschool for All program. Her
professional experience includes teaching preschool, kindergarten,
and third grade in public schools and community-based programs. Tarah
serves as a member of the advisory board for the Chicago Parent Program.
She earned her master's degree in Early Childhood Leadership and
Advocacy from National-Louis University and her bachelor's degree
in Elementary Education with an endorsement in Early Childhood Education
from Eastern Michigan University. She holds both an Illinois Type
03 and Type 04 teaching certificate.
+ view bio
Robyn Kelton is a Research Associate for the McCormick Tribune Center for Early Childhood Leadership. Robyn holds a Bachelor
of Arts degree in Psychology from the University of Kansas. As an undergraduate, she participated in research studies
investigating inattention in preschool-aged children, memory development, and memory functioning in children and adults. Prior
to joining the Center, Robyn spent three years as the lead teacher in a kindergarten classroom for an after-school program.
+ view bio
Heather Knapp is a Research Associate for the Center. She is responsible for coding data from the Early Childhood Work
Environment Survey and generating Work Environment Profiles. In addition, Heather helps with the formatting and design of
presentation graphics used in the Center’s workshops. Ms. Knapp holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from National-Louis University in
Elementary Education, and was a junior high school teacher for five years prior to becoming a mother and working for the Center.
+ view bio
Kara E. Lehnhardt is the Center’s Business Manager. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Organizational Communication with
minors in Business and English. Kara has worked in the non-profit sector with children and families for eight years. Prior to
joining the Center, she directed programming reaching more than 4,000 early childhood professionals and families each year.
Kara has instructed courses on early literacy, technology management, and building presentation skills to the early childhood
community. She is pursuing a master’s degree in Business Administration with a focus in nonprofit management.
+ view bio
Leslie Norman comes to the Center with more than twenty years experience providing direct services to children and families.
Most recently she was a consultant with the Management Planning Institute (MPI) where she provided mental health services to
families enrolled in Head Start and training and technical assistance to administrators, program directors and teaching staff
on the Head Start Performance Standards, Creative Curriculum, COPA, the National Reporting System, and the ASQ Social Emotional
Assessment. Ms. Norman holds a bachelor’s degree in child development from Iowa State University and a master’s degree in social
work from the University of Kansas.
+ view bio
Martha Owens is an Assessor and Training Specialist for the Center's
Quality Counts initiative. She has 30 years experience as a preschool
teacher and early childhood program administrator in a variety of
early care and education settings, including a community college
laboratory school, Head Start, and family child care. Martha has
served as an Examiner for the Lincoln Foundation for Performance
Excellence, a Professional Development Advisor for the Illinois Gateways
to Opportunity program, President of the Early Childhood Coalition
of the Illinois Quad City Area, and adjunct instructor at Black
Hawk College. She holds a master's degree from National-Louis University
in Early Childhood Administration and a Level III Illinois Director
Credential.
+ view bio
Liliam Perez is an Assessor and Training Specialist for the Center’s Quality Counts initiative. She holds a master’s
degree in Early Childhood Administration from National-Louis University, a Level III Illinois Director Credential, and is also
an adjunct online faculty for University of Cincinnati. Prior to joining the Center, Liliam was site director of a NAEYC
accredited Head Start program and has provided consultation, training and mentoring for early childhood educators and
administrators in the Chicago area. Ms. Perez is a member of the advisory board for the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education
Program (EFNEP) and serves as parliamentarian at the University of Illinois Extension Council.
Kathy Radice, Assessor and Training Specialist
phone: (312) 261-3012 • email: kathleen.radice@nl.edu
+ view bio
Kathy Radice is an Assessor and Training Specialist for the Center's Quality Counts initiative. Prior to joining the
Center, Kathy served as the director of a campus laboratory school at a community college and was an instructor in the Department
of Early Childhood Education at National-Louis University. Kathy has a master's degree in early childhood education from the
University of Illinois-Chicago and Erikson Institute.
Kathleen E. Rousseau, Administrative Assistant
phone: (847) 947-5063 • email: kathleen.rousseau@nl.edu
+ view bio
Kathleen E. Rousseau is an Administrative Assistant for the Center. Kathy joined National-Louis University in 2005 as an
administrative assistant for the Student Affairs Department on university’s Evanston campus. There she supported student life,
residence life, student counseling, and career services. She helped facilitate the department’s move to the North Shore campus in
Skokie and was also instrumental in the start-up of the undergraduate Academic Advising Center. Prior to relocating to Illinois,
Kathy was Director of Client Services at Seamonds and Company, a public relations and marketing communications agency in
Massachusetts.
+ view bio
Paula Steffen is an Assessor and Training Specialist for the Center’s Quality Counts initiative. Paula holds a
master’s degree from National-Louis University in Early Childhood Administration. In her 22-year career in early childhood,
Paula has held positions of preschool teacher, center director/owner, regional Head Start training coordinator, CCR&R parent
services manager, and credentialing coordinator. Most recently she served as the director of professional development for
INCCRRA. Paula also has presentation experience at the local, state and national levels.
+ view bio
Teri Talan is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Early Childhood Education at National-Louis University and the
Director of Research and Public Policy. She promotes action by policymakers based on research in early childhood education
and program administration. Previously, Dr. Talan was the director of a NAEYC-accredited early childhood program. Teri
currently serves on the Workforce Development Committee of the Illinois Early Learning Council, the Steering Committee of the
Illinois Professional Development Advisory Council, and the Steering Committee of the Evanston Early Childhood Community
Collaboration. She has an M.Ed. in early childhood education and an Ed.D. in adult and continuing education from National-Louis
University, as well as a law degree from Northwestern University. Teri is one of the authors of the report, Who's Caring for
the Kids? The Status of the Early Childhood Workforce in Illinois, and co-author of the Program Administration Scale:
Measuring Early Childhood Leadership and Management.
+ view bio
Debra Trude-Suter is Director of Training for the Center. She has a master’s degree in psychology with special focus on women
and children’s studies. She has more than 25 years work with positive team management in both the profit and non-profit
industries. She has focused her energies over the past six years on diversity and social justice issues. Her work in the
nonprofit sector is extensive and includes both teaching and directing licensed and license-exempt child care centers. Her
teaching experience includes work at ITT Technical Institute and Kendall College.
+ view bio
Barbara Volpe is an Assessor and Specialist for the Center’s Quality Counts project. She holds a master’s
degree in Early Childhood Administration from National-Louis University and Level III Illinois Director Credential. Prior to
joining the Center, Barbara worked McHenry County Head Start where she was a preschool teacher, site director, and child
services manager. She has served as a Professional Development Advisor for the Illinois Gateways to Opportunity program and
as an adjunct instructor at McHenry County College. Ms. Volpe has presented at regional, state and national conferences.
+ view bio
Tim Walker is Director of Technology. He oversees all technology-related initiatives including training, technical assistance,
program development, instructional design, and the delivery of courses and workshops. As part of his role, he teaches traditional
classroom, hybrid/blended, and online technology courses for National-Louis University. He is also a frequent presenter at many
local, state, and national conferences. Mr. Walker is author of Microsoft Office XP—A Training Manual for Early Childhood
Administrators and a regular contributor to Exchange magazine. Prior to joining the Center, he spent four years in
admissions, advising, and student records with the National College of Education at NLU. He holds a bachelor’s degree from
Marquette University and a master's degree from National-Louis University.
