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

Tim Weltzer - Treasurer

Guaranteed Rate
VP - Financial Planning and Analysis

Barb Davis - Secretary

Community Volunteer/Early Education Specialist

Sheila Merry - Chair

Former Executive Director, Evanston Cradle to Career
Community Volunteer

Carol Teske

CNE Executive Director

Diana Cohen

Former Board Chair, Evanston Community Foundation
Community Volunteer

Judy Schiffman

Retired Child Therapist

Marisha Speights

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

MaryAnn (Ty) Harvey

CNE Policy Council Board Liaison
Community Volunteer

Paloma Reyes

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

Rachel Hayman

Community Volunteer/Non-Profit Boards

Suni Kartha

Lawyer/Community Activist

Taishiya Nix

Owner/Operator, All En Transit, LLC

Talaya Johnson

Woodward, Inc.
Senior Government Contract Buyer/Planner

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

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

Community Members

Bettye Cohns
Casandra Quiram
Liliana Gonzalez
Marcus Peterson
Maribel Sanchez
Ty Harvey
Photograph of the Parent and Community Policy Council