Board of Directors

The CNE Board of Directors is made up of community members and business leaders who are passionate about the impact of early childhood education and parent empowerment. The Board supports CNE by defining its mission and strategies, approving policies and procedures, and overseeing governance and financial management. We are grateful for the Board's unique perspectives, which strengthen our agency and encourage organizational growth.

Photograph of the Board of Directors

Sheila

Merry - Chair

Former Executive Director, Evanston Cradle to Career
Community Volunteer

Barb

Davis - Secretary

Community Volunteer/Early Education Specialist

Tim

Weltzer - Treasurer

Guaranteed Rate
VP - Financial Planning and Analysis

Carol

Teske

CNE Executive Director

Diana

Cohen

Former Board Chair, Evanston Community Foundation
Community Volunteer

MaryAnn (Ty)

Harvey

CNE Policy Council Board Liaison
Community Volunteer

Rachel

Hayman

Community Volunteer/Non-Profit Boards

Talaya

Johnson

Woodward, Inc.
Senior Government Contract Buyer/Planner

Suni

Kartha

Lawyer/Community Activist

Greg

King

City of Evanston, Youth and Family Program Coordinator

Taishiya

Nix Allen

Owner/Operator, All En Transit, LLC

Paloma

Reyes

Evanston/Skokie School District 65
Social Studies Teacher, Chute Middle School

Judy

Schiffman

Retired Child Therapist

Kathy

Slaughter

AFP Peer Mentor; Co-chair AFP Affinity Group
Member, Assoc. of Fundraising Professionals, Chicago

Marisha

Speights

Director, Pediatric Speech Technologies and Acoustics Research Lab (PedzSTAR)
Northwestern University, Assistant Professor

Parent & Community Policy Council

Shared decision making is a cornerstone of Head Start and Early Head Start. The Parent Policy Council is a formal structure of parents of enrolled children and community members who provide oversight and direction to the Head Start Program. They support program staff in creating and maintaining standards that result in quality programming.  In addition, the group participates in advocacy and other important decisions that positively impact your child’s educational experience.

Parents

Yesenia Rubio (Chair)
Amal Dariwsh (Vice Chair)
Lisbeth Guardado
Alicia Gonzalez

Community Members

Bettye Cohns
Casandra Quiram
Liliana Gonzalez
Maribel Sanchez
MaryAnn (Ty) Harvey - Board Liaison
Marcus Peterson
Photograph of the Parent and Community Policy Council
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