Megan Hillegass

Megan Hillegass

Early Childhood Special Education Teacher, Valley View School District 365U, Romeoville IL

[email protected]

Resources Developed

• Op-Ed on play and social-emotional learning
• Relationship-Based Learning in PreK
  • Presentation that I have given multiple times at the district, local, and state level on the importance of developing relationships in the early childhood classroom.
• Mastering KIDS: Voices from the Field
  • While not directly related to working with children with disabilities that have experienced maltreatment, this policy brief is part of a larger advocacy effort I have been engaged in at the state level for the past 5 years. My work has focused on elevating teacher voice to improve data collection and address inequities present in the Kindergarten readiness assessment tool (KIDS) that is required of all new Kindergarten students in Illinois. The publication of this policy brief (and the ensuing presentations of our findings throughout the state) led to my appointment by the Illinois State Board of Education to two state-wide committees: KIDS Advisory Committee and the Full-Day Kindergarten Task Force. I continue to serve on both committees and am proud to provide teacher voice to ensure equity for marginalized students in Kindergarten programs in the state of Illinois.

Suggested Resources

• National Center for Pyramid Model Interventions: https://challengingbehavior.org
• Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center:  https://ectacenter.org
• National Association for the Education of Young Childrenhttps://www.naeyc.org/

Collaborative Areas of Interest

• Trauma-informed practices in early childhood
• Inclusion
• Culturally and linguistically diverse children and families