Coaches serve as consultants, facilitators, and professional development providers. Mid-Valley staff and member districts can request coaching support. Coaches engage in and support a wide variety of activities that align with each district’s mission and goals. Additionally, coaches play a vital role in supporting Mid-Valley programs through:
Professional Development Requests
Classroom and Individual Student Consultation
Mid-Valley coaches are available for collaboration and consultation to MVSEC programs and member districts when requested. The coaches are experienced educators with credentials that provide a foundation which supports a variety of activities within and beyond the cooperative.
This background is further enhanced through participation in professional learning specifically designed to develop coaching skills (e.g., Jim Knight, Elena Aguilar, Cognitive Coaching). Mid-Valley coaches strive to adapt and apply the skills they learn to the unique contexts they support.
Sarah has served as an Instructional/Behavioral Coach at Mid-Valley Special Education Cooperative since 2018. Prior to working at Mid-Valley, she taught for twenty years in various roles (Special Education Teacher, General Education Teacher, Reading Specialist, and English Language Learner Specialist). Sarah earned a B.S. Ed. in Elementary and Special Education (LBSI) from the University of Dayton and an M.A. in Reading from Northeastern Illinois University. In 2020, she completed her Ed.D. in Curriculum Leadership from Northern Illinois University. Her dissertation focused on elementary teachers’ job satisfaction and intent to remain in the field.
Jessica Antoniou, M.A., CCC-SLP/L, CAS
Jessica has been a part of Mid-Valley Special Education since 2014. Prior to becoming an Instructional/Behavioral coach, she was a Speech-Language Pathologist who worked in many programs throughout the Cooperative for 8 years. Her work is centered around her passion for the link between behavior and communication. She is a certified CPI instructor and plans the CPI professional development for the Cooperative. Jessica received her B.S. in Speech and Hearing Science and M.A. in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She received a Graduate Certificate in Autism Spectrum Disorders from Arizona State University and is a Certified Autism Specialist. She is currently attending Aurora University to obtain a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership with an anticipated completion date of Spring 2025.
Bethany has been a member of the Mid-Valley Special Education Cooperative team since 2006. Prior to becoming an Instructional/Behavioral Coach, she taught students with Autism in the Mid-Valley New Pathways program at the intermediate and middle school levels. She received a B.S.Ed. in Special Education from Northern Illinois University, and an M.A. in Reading and Literacy from Benedictine University. In 2023, Bethany earned an M.A. in Applied Behavior Analysis from Northern Illinois University. She holds the following teaching credentials and certifications: LBS1, Reading Specialist, and Senior Level CPI Instructor. Her expertise includes collecting and analyzing data to support students’ behavioral development.
Amanda joined the coaching team at Mid-Valley Special Education Cooperative in 2023. Prior to working at Mid-Valley, she was in East Aurora School District as the Special Education Instructional Coach, and the PBIS Tier 2 coach, while also supporting the District through the MTSS process. While in the classroom, she taught Early Childhood Special Education in an Autism Classroom, as well as General Education K-2. She received an MA in Early Childhood Education from National Louis University, her LBS1 Endorsement from Aurora University, and a Graduate Certificate as a Certified Autism Specialist from Arizona State University. She is also a CPI Instructor for the Cooperative.
St. Charles Community Unit School District 303
St. Charles Community Unit School District 303