What We Do
The Office of the Regional Superintendent of Schools is designed to serve all segments of the population of Lee, Ogle and Whiteside Counties — teachers, students, administrators, school board members, non-certified personnel, and citizenry in general — in matters relating to education. In addition to the regulatory and administrative duties required by law, the office serves as a consultant and as a coordinator for all school personnel in a variety of areas from providing information on legal matters to developing in-service programs to meet special needs; from assisting in the development of co-operative activities between local schools, business, industry, labor, service, and agricultural groups to helping secure resource personnel for specialized programs.
The office works cooperatively with the Regional Board of School Trustees in all matters related to the responsibilities of the board with the regional superintendent serving as ex-officio secretary of the Regional Board of School Trustees. The office also serves as the administrative agent for the multiple special education cooperatives, and the regional superintendent is a member of the co-ops’ boards of control.
The office is truly a service agency dedicated to serving the people of Lee, Ogle and Whiteside Counties, and its organizational structure is based on its administrative and program structure.
Meet the Team
Regulatory
Bob Sondgeroth
Regional Superintendent of Schools
(815) 625-1495, ext. 106
Bob Sondgeroth was elected into office in November 2011 after serving as Assistant Regional Superintendent. As the Regional Superintendent of Schools, Bob serves an official advisor to the public, school officials and educators, supporting schools with initiatives that improve education. Bob is co-chair of the IARSS Health/Life Safety Committee, and serves on the Multi Tiered System os Support advisory committee.. He is an Illinois State University and National Louis University graduate with a Master's degree in Educational Administration and an Educational Specialist Certificate from Western Illinois University. Bob holds Teacher, Principal, and Superintendent credentials and has served in education since 1995.
LICENSURE
Mary Escamilla
Licensure
(815) 625-1495, ext. 100
Mary serves educators with all areas of professional educator licensure. Mary was hired in May, 1998 as the secretary for the Center for Change Safe School program. Over the years she has assisted with workshops, Administrator Academies, GED records and testing, Truancy and attendance records, fingerprinting, substitute teacher lists and whatever other duties were assigned to her. Currently she holds the position of Licensure Specialist and Office Manager.
Sherrie Pistole
Bookkeeper
(815) 625-1495, ext. 127
Sherrie serves as a Bookkeeper for the Regional Office.
I have worked at the ROE for 9 years. I have wore many hats over the years. When I started I was first worked at the Alternative School and served as the secretary and worked in the GED and fingerprint departments as well. I then moved in the Licensure Department, where I served on a Statewide committee for ISBE to assist with licensure. I currently serve as the bookkeeper for the ROE. I manage the grants, payroll and other financial needs.
Michele Hopp
Administrative Assistant
(815) 625-1495, ext. 112
mhopp@roe47.org
Michele serves as an Administrative Assistant for the Regional Office.
Chris Tennyson
Assistant Regional Superintendent of Schools
(815) 625-1495, ext. 139
Chris Tennyson serves as the Assistant Regional Superintendent of Schools. He assists the Regional Superintendent of Schools to ensure that all children receive an education in a safe, supportive, and successful environment. Areas of focus include: School Crisis Planning and Preparation, Health Life Safety, Bus Safety, Background Checks, Licensure, Professional Development, Compliance, High School Equivalency, and Safe School Programs. Chris graduated with a Master’s degree in Educational Administration from National-Louis University and an Education Specialist Degree from Western Illinois University. He holds Educator, Administrator, and Superintendent credentials and has served in education since 2001. Chris is also a retired Illinois Police Officer who served 10 years with the Mundelein Police Department and was the School Resource Officer for Mundelein High School for six of those years.
Betty Clementz
Administrative Assistant
(815) 625-1495, ext. 107
Betty serves as an Administrative Assistant for the Regional Office. Betty Clementz retired from Rock Falls High School after 29 years of service as a French teacher. She then taught two years at Sauk Valley Community College part time. In 1994 she began working in the Regional Office of Education of Whiteside County as the Gifted Coordinator for Whiteside County ISBE Grant. Over the years she has been involved in Professional Development, School Improvement, ESL Grant, Career Awareness Grant, and presently is part time serving as receptionist, working on the Spelling Bee and overseeing the Schoon Scholarship for Ogle County.
Jennifer Chattic
Fingerprinting; GED; Reception; Secretary
(815) 625-1495, ext. 101
Jennifer serves as fingerprinting; GED; Reception; Secretary for the Regional Office.
At-Risk Team
Stephanie Youngmark
Truancy Director
(815) 625-1495, ext. 116
Stephanie Youngmark serves as Truancy Director for the Regional Office of Education. Stephanie has been with the office since 2006 and has has worked with truancy for Whiteside County, coordinated online credit recovery, and served as Homeless Liaison. She has worked with At-Risk children for 20+ years in various settings. Stephanie also spent four years working in mental health and as liaison for Singer Hospital. Stephanie has her Bachelor’s of Science in Psychology with a Minor in Child Development. She is a volunteer in our community for multiple organizations.
Abelardo Sustaita
Truancy Case Worker
(815) 625-1495, ext. 138
Abelardo serves as a Truancy Case Worker for the region.
Jessica Faivre
Truancy Case Worker
Jessica serves as a Truancy Case Worker for the region. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Family and Child Studies with an emphasis in Family Social Services from Northern Illinois University. She has worked in truancy through the ROE since August 2017. She is also the McKinney-Vento advocate for Ogle County Schools, helping to identify and assist homeless students in the districts.
Rhiannon Seible
Truancy Case Worker
Rhiannon serves as a Truancy Case Worker for the Lee County region since November, 2017. Rhiannon has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communication and English from University of Dubuque, Iowa. Before working with the Regional Office of Education, Rhiannon spent 9 years as a Substitute Teacher for Lee and Ogle Counties. Rhiannon also works part-time as a Head Varsity Volleyball Coach and Head Middle School Track & Field Coach.
HOMELESS EDUCATION
Deb Foust
Homeless Lead Liaison
(815) 625-1495, ext. 113
Deb serves as a Homeless Lead Liaison at the Regional Office. She has been in this position since 2008. She works in connection with ISBE to manage and monitor the McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Program. Her degree is in Social Work and Psychology. Previously she was the Early Childhood Director for Lee and Ogle County. Prior to working at the ROE, she worked 22 years as an Elder Abuse Supervisor.
EDUCATION OUTREACH PROGRAM
Beth Hubbard
Program Coordinator
(815) 622-4950
Beth Hubbard serves as a Program Coordinator/Case Manager of the Education Outreach Program. She recruits and provides direct case management services to students in the Education Outreach Program as well as the overall program and fiscal management. She assists students with GED class enrollment, instruction, transportation, career planning, work experience jobs, resume development, employment searches and enrollment in post-secondary education and training. Beth holds a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work from Illinois State University. She has been employed by the Regional Office of Education since 1991. She was previously case manager and then Program Coordinator of the Truants’ Alternative Program from 1991 – 2004 and program coordinator/case manager of the Education Outreach Program since 2003.
Audrey Smith
(815) 622-4950Career Advisor
Audrey Smith serves as a Career Counselor for the Education Outreach Program. She actively pursues connections within the Tri-County area to assist students with gaining work experience and soft skills. She also provides direct job skill assistant services to students in the Education Outreach Program by mentoring students within the GED class enrollment, transportation, career planning, work experience jobs, resume development, employment searches and enrollment in post-secondary education and training. Audrey holds a Master’s degree in Psychology-Child and Adolescent Studies through Walden University. She has been employed by the Regional Office of Education since 2019 and has taught at Sauk Valley Community College in the field of Psychology as an Adjunct Professor since 2016.
Cathy Jacoby
Whiteside Instructor
(815) 622-4950
Cathy serves as a Whiteside Instructor at the Regional Office.
Jill Kohlert
Ogle Instructor
(815) 622-4950
Jill serves as a Ogle Instructor at the Regional Office.
PARENTS AS TEACHERS FIRST YEARS
Lois Meisenheimer
Early Childhood Program Coordinator
(815) 625-1495 ext. 118
Lois Meisenheimer serves as the Early Childhood Program Coordinator. She began working at the ROE as a home visitor with the Parents as Teachers First Years Program in 2000, and moved into the program coordinator position in 2005. As the early childhood program coordinator she has supervised home visiting, preschool, and family literacy programs offered by the ROE. Lois also coordinates the STARS Early Childhood Education Coalition, a community coalition of early childhood program and service providers in the ROE’s service area. Lois has a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from the University of Illinois, holds an ISBE Elementary Educator license, is a certified Parents as Teachers Home Visitor and Supervisor, and holds a Family Specialist Credential through the Gateways to Opportunity credential program. Prior to working at the ROE, Lois spent 8 years working in child care as a classroom teacher, curriculum specialist, and infant/toddler center director. She also worked for the Illinois Association for the Education of Young Children as a state-wide accreditation project mentor, assisting programs in the process of accreditation by the National Association for the Education of Young Children.
Christiana DeVoney
Parent Educator
(815) 625-1495, ext. 120
Christiana serves as a Parent Educator at the Regional Office.
Ginny McPerryman
Parent Educator
(815) 625-1495, ext. 120
Ginny serves as a Parent Educator at the Regional Office.
Laura McCullough
Parent Educator
(815) 625-1495, ext. 122
Laura serves as a Parent Educator at the Regional Office.
Liz Castillo
Bilingual Parent Educator
(815) 625-1495, ext. 111
Liz serves as a Bilingual Parent Educator at the Regional Office.
Nadine Appel
Parent Educator
(815) 625-1495, ext. 123
Nadine serves as a Parent Educator at the Regional Office.
ALTERNATIVE SCHOOLS
Mark Morris
Principal - Regional Center for Change School
(815) 625-1495 ext. 115
Mark Morris serves as a Principal at the Regional Office’s Center for Change School.
Justine Root
Secretary - Regional Center for Change School
(815) 625-1495, ext. 105
Justine serves as a Secretary at the Regional Office’s Center for Change School.
Professional Learning Community
Anji Garza
Director of Professional Learning
(815) 625-1495, ext. 135
Anji Garza serves as the Professional Development Director for the Regional Office. Her responsibilities include:
Anji holds Masters degrees in Secondary Education Methods and Educational Leadership, as well as administrative licensure. She has 20 years of PK-20 classroom, administrative, and curriculum & instruction experience in education.
Jayme Hale
Workshop Coordinator
(815) 625-1495, ext. 134
Jayme serves as a Workshop Coordinator for the Regional Office.
Gail Wright
School Improvement Coach
Gail serves as a School Improvement & Administrator Coach for the Regional Office.
Diana Merdian
Family Educator, Rock Falls
Diana serves as a Family Educator for the Regional Office.
Paulett Bendixon
Technology Coordinator
(815) 625-1495, ext. 104
Paulett serves as a Technology Coordinator for the Regional Office.
Michelle Potthoff
Family Educator, Amboy
Michelle serves as a Family Educator for the Regional Office.
Diane Durin
School Improvement Coach
Diane serves as a School Improvement Coach for the Regional Office.
Krista Peterson
Assistant Director of Professional Learning
Krista serves as a Assistant Director of Professional Learning for the Regional Office.
Jeff Brown
School Improvement & Administrator Coach
Jeff serves as a School Improvement & Administrator Coach for the Regional Office.
Ruth Ann Tobey-Brown
School Improvement & Administrator Coach
Ruth Ann serves as a School Improvement & Administrator Coach for the Regional Office.
Sarah Kent
Illinois MTSS Network Statewide Project Assistant
(815) 625-1495, ext. 129
Sarah serves as the Statewide Administrative Assistant for the IL MTSS Network. She has worked for the Regional Office of Education #47 for 7 years, which has been the Administrative Agent for the SPDG grant for the past 8 years. Sarah has been the one point of contact for all of the Network’s partners and entities. She currently assists with maintaining the Network’s website, assisting the evaluation team with data submissions, and organizing statewide staff meetings, trainings, and conferences.
Terry Schuster
Area 2 Illinois MTSS Network Capacity Coach
(815) 625-1495, ext. 137
Terry serves as a Network Capacity Coach in the Northern Region of the state. He spent 34 years as a school psychologist in north central Illinois within rural Special Education Co-op settings and was involved in activities with Illinois ASPIRE and the RtI Partnership before becoming part of the I-RtI Network and now the IL MTSS-N. He has a particular interest in student engagement as a necessary component for schools to consider within core curriculum and interventions, in addition to academic and behavior issues.
Terry supports effective teaming processes and adherence to systematic problem solving processes to offer great opportunities to improve fidelity and decision-making. He has supported the problem-solving process applied not only to the performance of students, but by district and building leadership teams who effectively use it to review the performance of whole school systems (policies, practices, procedures).