Introduction to Brilliant Books – January 2022

Denise Henry is the Project Leader for STAR NET Region IV.  She has worked in many types of educational positions from a paraprofessional in primary special education to general education teacher working to include students with a variety of abilities in her classroom to consultant with Project CHOICES, an ISBE initiative that supported systems changing to include students with disabilities in general education settings.  She has been with STAR NET since 2001.  Denise has a master’s degree in Early Childhood Special Education and a master’s degree in Educational Leadership.  She resides in Anna with her husband, two sons, and her Golden Retriever, Autumn.

Stephanie Herling, Resource Specialist for STAR NET Region IV, has been a part of the team since January of 2014.  Prior to STAR NET Stephanie spent time as a preschool teacher in North Carolina and later became a trainer with Children’s Home + Aid here in Illinois.  Stephanie holds a Bachelor’s degree in Child and Family Studies and a minor in Sociology.  Stephanie is currently serving as the President of the Illinois Association of the Education of Young Children (Illinois AEYC).  Stephanie is also a member of many state-driven initiatives and continually holds professional memberships in Council for Exceptional Children (CEC), Division for Early Childhood (DEC), National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), and TASH.