Staff Directory

Below is the staff directory for LEASE. To email an employee, use the first initial and last name (for example: kfox) followed by @lease-sped.org. If you need any assistance, please contact us at 815-433-6433.

Kathy Fox, Executive Director

Dawn Roalson Zavada, Assistant Director

Cross Categorical Coordinators

Stephanie Allen - Unit #2, Oglesby, Seneca Elementary, Seneca HS, Waltham

Nicole Butt - Allen/Otter Creek, Streator Elementary, Streator HS

Melissa Shinnick - Dimmick, Earlville, Leland, Rutland, Wallace

DeeAnna Guerra - Deer Park, Grand Ridge, LaSalle Elementary, Lostant

Laura Levine - Marseilles, Peru Elementary, Putnam County, Tonica

Kara Rutherford - Milton Pope, LaSalle-Peru HS, Mendota Elementary, Mendota HS

Jayme Salazar - Regional Safe School, Ottawa Elementary, Ottawa HS

School Psychologists

Michael Grenda - Deer Park, Grand Ridge, Residential

Emma Riedesel - Peru Elementary


Pre-School Screening Team

Molly Kasperski - Speech and Language Diagnostician

Michelle Pangrcic - Diagnostician

Mallory Pohar - Hearing and Vision Technician

Amy Koehler - Play Facilitator


Other Certified Staff

Brenda Booker - Visually Impaired Coordinator

Tanna Horner - Coordinator of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services

Darcy Beals - Audiologist

Julie O'Brien-Smith - Speech Language Coordinator and Pre-School Speech Language Diagnostician

Kelly Wakefield - Visually Impaired Teacher


Support Staff

Jennifer Adkins - Child Count/Personnel and Records Custodian

Hallie Durkee - Secretary to Melissa Shinnick, DeeAnna Guerra, Stephanie Allen and Julie O'Brien-Smith

Jean Gula (email is jmgula) - Secretary to Audiologist and Pre-School Screening Team

Marie McLaughlin - IT Coordinator

Julie Moore - Secretary to Nicole Butt, Jayme Salazar, Laura Levine, Kara Rutherford and LEASE Library Manager

Natalie Newbury - Receptionist, Secretary to Psychologists and Tanna Horner

Colleen Stefan - Secretary to Executive Director

Steve Thrush - Maintenance

Justine Whittington - Bookkeeper