Educational Achievement
Partnership Program

Advancing long-term educational achievement in children with chronic illness through collaboration, knowledge, advocacy, and empowerment.

 

Contact us
Donate now
Student sitting at desk writing

How we help

Children’s Wisconsin established the Educational Achievement Partnership Program (EAPP) to bridge siloed medical and educational systems. The EAPP collaborates with families, school teams, medical providers, and community care partners to develop a shared understanding about the complex relationship between pediatric chronic illnesses and long-term health, learning, and educational attainment.

THIS THE OLD ONE
The Educational Achievement Partnership Program (EAPP) at Children’s Wisconsin is a team of experienced educators knowledgeable in chronic medical conditions and their impact on health, development, and learning. We collaborate with families, school teams, medical providers, and community care partners to identify needs and supports that will improve each child’s educational experience and opportunities for long-term well-being.

Care Partners - EAPP

A happy family of three

Families

Families are experts on their child and share details about hopes, dreams, challenges, and success strategies. 

Learn more
A smiling doctor

Medical providers

Hospital and community care providers are medical experts who connect families with the EAPP and guide school healthcare recommendations.

Learn more

Schools

School staff are experts in curriculum, instruction, and classroom management who identify learning gaps and implement targeted teaching strategies.

Learn more

Learning environments we support

State-funded (free) schools where instruction is provided by licensed teachers following state-mandated curriculum requirements

Privately funded schools where curriculum is decided by the school and neither teacher licensure or school accreditation is required

Public or private school teachers provide limited one-on-one instruction at home or virtually for children with qualifying needs

Learning environments
we support

State-funded (free) schools where instruction is provided by licensed teachers following state-mandated curriculum requirements

Privately funded schools where curriculum is decided by the school and neither teacher licensure or school accreditation is required

Public or private school teachers provide limited one-on-one instruction at home or virtually for children with qualifying needs

Reading, writing, math, and other subjects such as science, social studies, art, music, foreign language, and other electives

Establishing and maintaining friendships, managing emotions, asking for help, and building self-confidence

Focus, concentration, staying on task, following instructions, communicating appropriately, and self-control
Planning, organization, and memory
Speech, hearing, and communication skills
Ability to process sensory input with typical response to stimuli
Large movements with arms, legs, feet, or entire body; small movements and coordination of the hands and fingers
Independence in performing developmentally appropriate self-care tasks

Daily school participation and planning for health related absences

School health plans with symptom management guidelines and health accommodations
Student at desk taking a test

School performance areas we support

Student at desk taking a test

School Performance Areas We Support

Reading, writing, math, and other subjects such as science, social studies, art, music, foreign language, and other electives
Establishing and maintaining friendships, managing emotions, asking for help, and building self-confidence

Focus, concentration, staying on task, following instructions, communicating appropriately, and self-control

Planning, organization, and memory

Speech, hearing, and communication skills

Ability to process sensory input with typical response to stimuli
Large movements with arms, legs, feet, or entire body; small movements and coordination of the hands and fingers
Independence in performing developmentally appropriate self-care tasks
Daily school participation and planning for health related absences
School health plans with symptom management guidelines and health accommodations

Success stories

We are incredibly proud of the children our program supports.
Follow the links below to watch their unique journeys unfold.

Nya’s story

Nya’s whole world opens up when she learns how to communicate her needs, wants, and joys.

Watch now

Ian’s story

Ian journeys from a frustrated and confused 4th grader to an 8th grade honor roll student and AVID scholar who loves to read.

Watch now

Rayna’s story

Rayna transforms from a “naughty” 5th grader to an accomplished 9th grader with glowing teacher praise and big dreams for a bright future.

Watch now

Bella’s story

Bella learns how to succeed in school and engage at home when she is given the right support, by the right person, at the right time.

Watch now

Jack’s story

Jack discovers his pathway to educational achievement with a team of partners who identify and understand challenges and problem-solve solutions.

Watch now

Andre’s story

Andre begins his educational career with early interventions that maximize learning opportunities and health and safety at school.

Watch now

Nakari’s story

Nakari hid learning challenges behind a quiet, agreeable smile until special education services unlocked his potential, paving the way to achieve his ultimate dream of high school graduation.
Read more

Support our kids

Educational Achievement Partnership Program services are offered to Children’s Wisconsin patients at no cost to their families. Because these services are not covered by insurance, it takes donors like you to ensure the EAPP is able to provide every child the opportunity to reach their optimal potential. 

With your support, the EAPP can serve more children and families throughout and beyond our hospital.

Will you help us?

Donate now

View resources

Families as care partners

Families are experts on their child and share details about hopes, dreams, challenges, and success strategies. As a first step, families have a 30-60 minute structured interview with their EAPP Specialist, where they discuss in-depth information about the child’s strengths and challenges at home, at school, and in the community. As a team, the family, Specialist, medical providers, and school staff collaborate about medically-recommended school supports and work together to create appropriate school health and learning plans. Through this process, the EAPP assumes the role of a health and educational liaison, lifting this burden from families, while working together to empower team members to help the child reach their optimal potential.

Medical providers as care partners

Hospital and community care providers are medical experts who connect families with the EAPP and guide school healthcare recommendations.  Hospital interdisciplinary care teams include medical providers, psychologists, social workers, and child development experts.  Medical teams screen children for school challenges and refer families needing support to the EAPP.  They consult with EAPP Specialists as needed throughout the intervention process by explaining unique health conditions, complications, and medical treatment plans.  Doctors and nurses provide critical guidance about school health plans, including symptom management guidelines, healthcare accommodations, medication instructions, nursing services, and emergency plans.  Psychologists guide recommendations for social-emotional adjustment, coping strategies, and school aids and services that address neurodevelopmental differences.   Community care providers are medical experts who provide healthcare to children at clinics outside of the main hospital.  A child’s community care team may include primary care physicians and a variety of therapists, including occupational, physical, speech, behavioral, and mental health therapists, among others.  Community care providers consult with the child’s EAPP Specialist about therapy treatment plans, goals, and success strategies.  Often the child is most successful learning new skills and behaviors when the same strategies are implemented in therapy, home, and school.  The EAPP Specialist helps communicate school concerns with community health providers and coordinate recommended therapy strategies with school staff to ensure consistent implementation.

Schools as care partners

School staff are experts in curriculum, instruction, and classroom management who identify learning gaps and implement targeted teaching strategies.  School teams include general and special education teachers, nurses and health aides, occupational, physical, and speech therapists, school and district administrators, psychologist, and counselors.  As a key step in the collaborative partnership, teachers have a 20 minute structured phone conversation with the child’s EAPP Specialist, where they discuss the child’s health in the classroom, along with developmental, psychosocial, and academic strengths and challenges.   School nurses also share information with the Specialist about the child’s health at school and any medical concerns.  Through this process we identify information gaps between the hospital and school teams and collaborate to improve the quality of health and educational services for our shared patient-student.

Signup for our email list

Stay up to date with the educational achievement partnership program by signing up below. and upcoming happenings by signing up for our ‘Children of Wisconsin’ Newsletter!

Cheryl Brosiq portrait photo

Cheryl L Brosig Soto, PhD

EAPP Medical Director

Professor of Pediatrics

Chief, Pediatric Psychology and Developmental Medicine

Education and experience

I received my Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Marquette University in 1990, and my PhD in Clinical Psychology from Loyola University-Chicago in 1996. I completed a postdoctoral fellowship in pediatric psychology at the Marshfield Clinic, and became faculty in the Department of Pediatrics at the Medical College of Wisconsin in 1997. 

My first faculty appointment was in the Division of Child Development, where I evaluated children with a variety of developmental conditions. At the same time, I also built the inpatient psychology consultation-liaison program at Children’s Wisconsin, which is where I first worked with patients and families affected by congenital heart disease (CHD). Due to the significant needs of this patient population, I transitioned to the Division of Cardiology in 2007, so that I could focus my entire clinical practice and research efforts on improving psychosocial and neurodevelopmental outcomes for children with CHD. I became the Medical Director of our Cardiac Neurodevelopmental Follow Up Program, the first program of its kind to be offered as part of standard cardiac care. 

Through this work, I realized that there was a missing link to our program, as families had difficulty taking our developmental reports to schools so that recommendations could be implemented. This is what led me to ask for a School Intervention Specialist to be added to our program, to serve as a liaison between the medical team, patient, family and school. Kyle was hired into this role, and the rest is history! 

I now serve as the Chief of Psychology and Developmental Medicine, and the Medical Director for the EAPP. My role includes conducting research to study outcomes of the program and assisting in the expansion of EAPP to service lines across Children’s Wisconsin.

 

Hobbies

I love to travel and explore new places. I also enjoy cooking and experimenting with new recipes.

 

Fun fact

I grew up on a farm in Northern Wisconsin which is where I learned the value of hard work. My first job was picking vegetables for my grandparents’ produce business.

Kristie Ruehl portrait photo

Christie Ruehl, JD, MBA

Senior Program Manager

Email:
cruehl@childrenswi.org
Phone:
(414) 266-4494

Education and experience

As an interdisciplinary attorney and researcher, I am dedicated to improving long term health, education, and quality of life outcomes for children and families affected by chronic illness. I connect my experience in healthcare and educational advocacy to guide child success in meeting school and life goals. I build relationships based on trust by listening to families and meeting them where they are at.

Since joining the Educational Achievement Partnership Program (EAPP) in 2016, I led 9 research and quality improvement projects to enhance clinical services, scientifically validate novel program tools, and create data-driven intervention practices. My accomplishments include developing the EAPP’s comprehensive assessment system, designing our school recommendation letters, and co-authoring Children’s Wisconsin’s School Care Guidebook for Pediatric Heart Disease.

In the 10 years before joining the EAPP, I drove success for the companies, universities, and individuals I served by aligning legal strategies with business goals and research innovations. I earned a Juris Doctorate degree, cum laude, with an International Law Certification from Stetson University College of Law (2006), a Master of Business Administration degree from Stetson University (2009), and a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from the University of Wisconsin – Madison (2002).

Hobbies

In my free time, love watching documentaries and learning about new people, places, and ideas.

Fun fact

My path to the EAPP began as an educational and healthcare advocate for my brother, who was born with a complex medical condition that caused learning difficulties. I understand the challenges many of our families experience and am profoundly committed to ensuring your child has the best opportunity for a healthy, happy, and fulfilling life. I look forward to hearing your story and joining your family on the journey to a hopeful future.

ashley neuropsy

Ashley Kavalauskas, MSE

Education Specialist

Neuropsychology

Email:
akavalauskas@childrenswi.org
Phone:
(414) 266-2052

Education and experience

I am a forever learner and am always looking for a chance to be a student! My undergraduate degree is in Political Science from the University of Wisconsin- go Bucky! I have a master’s degree from Cardinal Stritch in urban special education and I am currently pursuing my doctorate of education. I have seven years of classroom experience that spans 9 grades and two states! I began my teaching career here in Milwaukee working in special education teaching students in K4 through third grade. Then I moved down to Florida where I worked within the exceptional student education program with kindergarten through eighth grade students. Much to my delight, my husband and I returned to Milwaukee after three years and I worked in a school-based therapeutic behavior program for students in K4 through eighth grade. 

Hobbies

When I am not working you can find me: practicing yoga, running, gardening, cooking, learning guitar, napping, or spending time with my spouse and our four pets. We have two dogs, a cat, and a guinea pig. 

My why

I believe that every child deserves a high-quality education that reflects their personal needs. 

ac-01830

Claudia Guerrero, BS

Program Assistant

Cardiology

Email:
cguerrero@childrenswi.org
Phone:
(414) 337-6776

Education and experience

I received my Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education (1-8) with a double major in Sociology from Marquette University. I have 9 years of combined experience working as a classroom and intervention teacher for Milwaukee Public Schools. During those years, I worked closely with school administrators and the Milwaukee Partnership Grant to implement academic and social-emotional intervention services for our student population. Community partnership and engagement has always been deep-rooted in my personal philosophy of student success, so naturally joining the EAPP team was a no brainer!

Fun fact/hobbies

I am a very proud “self-taught” artist and creative. I absolutely love to paint, write calligraphy, scrapbook, or anything that has to do with crafts! I also enjoy outdoor activities in the summertime such as running, kayaking, swimming, or anything that can get my body moving.

Partnership Effectiveness & Efficiency

Program – Excellence in Quality Improvement Principles (EQuIP)

Global Aim – Improve educational achievement in patients presenting with chronic illness-related learning challenges by increasing EAPP service effectiveness and efficiency.

Specific Aim  – For pediatric patients ages 3-18 served by the Educational Achievement Partnership Program at Children’s Wisconsin who receive a complete first assessment to have interventions implemented within 60-120 days that target 80-100% of the priorities stakeholders agree upon by 12/31/2023.

Period – March 2022 – September 2022 (training) and December 2023 (reporting)

School Screening and Health Plan Improvement Project

Funding Source – Herma Heart Institute (HHI) Innovation Fund

Global Aim – The School Screening and Health Plan Improvement Project aims to improve access to EAPP services and hospital-based school health plan recommendations for school-aged cardiac patients at the HHI.  The process begins with a HHI main campus office visit in Milwaukee, Wisconsin (WI).  The process ends with appropriate documentation in the patient’s chart that the School Screener and appropriate follow-up step (i.e. EAPP referral, school health plan, etc.) was completed.

Specific Aims  

  • Aim 1 – Increase the percentage of school-aged cardiac patients (3-18 years old) with office visits at the HHI main campus who are screened for school support needs by 10-20% by linking an EAPP Epic flag to the School Screener with programming to hide the flowsheet for active EAPP patients by September 30, 2022.
  • Aim 2 – Increase the percentage of minority school-aged cardiac patients with office visits at the HHI main campus who utilize EAPP services from an average baseline of 26% to the HHI demographic average of 33% by September 30, 2022.

Period – January 2022 – September 2023

MI-SMART Plan Improvement Project for School-Aged Cardiac Patients

Medically-Informed School Healthcare Management And Recommended Treatment Plan (MI-SMART Plan)

Funding Source – Herma Heart Institute (HHI) Innovation Fund

Global Aim – The MI-SMART Plan Improvement Project aims to improve screening for school concerns and access to school health plans for school-aged cardiac patients at the Herma Heart Institute (HHI) at Children’s Wisconsin. The process begins with a HHI main campus office visit in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The process ends with appropriate documentation in the patient’s chart that the School Screener and appropriate follow-up steps were completed.

Specific Aim – The project team aims to create and seamlessly integrate a standardized school screening system into outpatient cardiology clinic workflow, and screen ≥80% of school-aged cardiac patients (3-18 years) with office visits at the HHI main campus by December 31, 2021.

Period – January 2021 – December 2021

Presentations & Awards

  • 11th Annual Scientific Sessions of the Cardiac Neurodevelopmental Outcome Collaborative, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, podium presentation and “Best of the Best” abstract recognition, October 2022
  • Playing Your Best Hand, 2022 Pediatric Nursing Conference, hosted by Children’s Wisconsin and Best Scholarly Poster in Quality Improvement award, October 2022

COVID-19 School Considerations

Title – School Considerations for Children with Heart Disease during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Hypotheses

  • Families have significant health concerns about COVID-19.
  • Most children will learn from home during the 2020-21 school year.
  • Families will need new types of support services in this new learning environment.


Period – June 2020 – December 2020

Presentation –
Cardiology 2021: 24th Annual Update on Pediatric and Congenital Cardiovascular Disease, hosted by Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, virtual poster presentation, February 2021

Publication – School Psychology, a Journal of the American Psychological Association, journal article, January 2022

Project LEAP

Funding Source – Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin Endowment (AHW)

Parent Award Title  – Research in Early Child Development to Improve Resiliency and EQuiTy (REDIRECT)

Sub-Award Title – Project LEAP: Leveraging Early Achievement in Preschoolers with Heart Disease during COVID-19

Specific Aims 

  • Aim 1 – Determine the effectiveness of the EAPP services on health at school, developmental, psychosocial, and academic achievement in preschoolers with heart disease.
    • Hypothesis 1 – Patients who receive EAPP services will improve their school performance in areas of health at school, developmental, psychosocial, and academic skills, and patients who receive 2 years of EAPP services will experience greater improvement than patients who receive only 1 year of EAPP services.
  • Aim 2 – Evaluate school challenges in preschoolers with heart disease during the COVID-19 pandemic.
    • Hypothesis 2 – Preschoolers referred for EAPP services 2 years into the COVID-19 pandemic will have more school concerns than preschoolers referred for EAPP services 1 year into the COVID-19 pandemic.


Period – January 2021 – June 2022

Tools to Prepare Preschool Children with Heart Disease for Academic Success

Funding Source – Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin Endowment (AHW)

Parent Award Title  – Research in Early Child Development to Improve Resiliency and EQuiTy (REDIRECT)

Sub-Award Title – School Intervention Tools to Prepare Preschool Children with Heart Disease for Academic Success
 
Specific Aims 

  • Aim 1 – Determine the school support needs of children aged 3-5 years with heart disease and identify changes needed in the existing toolkit to benefit this specific age group.
    • Hypothesis 1 – Toolkit modifications will be required for <20% of school health, developmental and psychosocial questions, and >80% of academic questions.
  • Aim 2 – Identify strategies to enhance minority family utilization of EAPP services by addressing barriers of current phone and correspondence communication protocols.
    • Hypothesis 2 – Increasing availability of face-to-face communication will also increase minority family utilization of EAPP services.


Period – January 2020 – December 2021

Presentation & Award
American Academy of Pediatrics National Conference & Exhibition, Anaheim, California, podium presentation, virtual poster presentation, and Roberta Williams Advocacy Award Runner-Up, October 2022

Evaluation of Program Effectiveness

Funding Source – Clinical & Translational Science Institute of Southeast Wisconsin (CTSI)

Mobility Title – School Intervention as a Component of Comprehensive Follow-up Care: Evaluation of Program Effectiveness

Specific Aim – Demonstrate that use of the SIP tools results in improved healthcare management and learning opportunities at school for patients post-intervention, as reported by respondents (patient, parent, teacher, and school nurse) in newly created post-intervention surveys.

Hypothesis – Compared to pre-intervention, post-intervention survey responses will yield increased school knowledge about the healthcare needs of these patients, fewer classroom/academic challenges, and improved school confidence about managing the health and learning challenges of these patients.

Period – June 2019 – April 2020

Connecting School Health Plans to Medical Care Teams

Funding Source – Children’s Research Institute (CRI) & Herma Heart Institute (HHI) Innovation Fund

Title – Enhancing Healthcare Management of Pediatric Heart Disease by Connecting School Health Plans to Medical Care Teams
 
Specific Aims

  • Aim 1 – Demonstrate the comprehensiveness of MI-SMART Plans compared to pre-intervention school health plans.
    • Hypothesis 1 – Compared to pre-intervention school health plans, MI-SMART Plans will be more comprehensive: contain more detailed information in more domains of school health considerations.
  • Aim 2 – Demonstrate the feasibility of MI-SMART Plan incorporation into real world school practices.
    • Hypothesis 2 – Schools will incorporate MI-SMART Plan details and domains into post-intervention school health plans that are more comprehensive than pre-intervention school health plans.

Period – January 2019 – June 2020

Presentation
– Cardiology 2022: 25th Annual Update on Pediatric and Congenital Cardiovascular Disease, hosted by Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia in Huntington Beach, California, poster presentation, September 2022

ac-01797

Andrea Daniels, MEd

EAPP Supervisor

Email:
adaniels2@childrenswi.org
Phone:
(414) 266-2784

Education and Experience

I hold a Bachelors in Education: Special Education (Emotional and Behavioral Disabilities and Learning Disabilities) and a Masters in Education: Curriculum and Instruction. I hold Wisconsin Administrative Licensure in the areas of Director of Curriculum and Instruction; Principal and Director of Student Services. I was a special education teacher for 8 years at both the elementary and middle school level before serving the last 12 years as a building level and district level administrator supporting students in all grades and of all abilities. I am excited to be joining the Children’s Wisconsin Educational Achievement Partnership Program. Connecting with families and bridging the learning gap that connects health related and school related needs is an area of interest and focus for me in this role.

 

Hobbies

My family and I love to camp, and have had the opportunity to visit several state parks over the last few years.

 

Fun Fact

My brother had a recording company several years ago, and my sister and I recorded learning vignette messages for the Betty Brinn Museum that played in specific areas!

ac-01772

Shawnta Sayner, MHRM

Program Assistant

Email:
ssayner@childrenswi.org
Phone:
(414) 266-3907

Education and experience

After over a decade of collecting experience and credentials in human resources and professional development, I switched gears to begin writing, illustrating, and publishing diverse and inclusive picture books. Since this change in focus, I have sought work in service of kids, families, and communities rather than return to my corporate roots. My experience in early childhood and school support continue to gift me with opportunities to connect with people of different backgrounds, lifestyles, challenges, and triumphs, providing further inspiration in everyday life and as a children’s author. As a Program Assistant, I support our families with navigating everything from forms and appointments to connections and updates. For those new to the Children’s Wisconsin Educational Achievement Partnership Program, I help welcome them and get them started – collecting and connecting home, school, and medical resources to gather a robust set of resources for our Specialists to use to roll out services.

 

Fun fact

I am an extroverted introvert and creative left-brainer. I’m also a lifelong Wisconsinite, born in The City, bussed to The Suburbs, and raised very much in both.

ac-03190-scaled

Jodi Jacobson, MSE

Education Specialist

Cancer

Email:
jjacobson@childrenswi.org
Phone:
(414) 266-2845

Education and experience

I hold a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from Cardinal Stritch University and have spent 32 years as a Special Education teacher. In my role as an Education Specialist I am grateful for the opportunity to learn new ways to apply all I’ve learned about individualized education needs within the classroom setting to comprehensively serve medically diverse children and their families.

 

Hobbies

I have served on the board of the Wisconsin Association of Children with Behavior Disorders, chaired the Education Committee at Catholic Memorial High School and currently serve as the State Membership Chair for the Wisconsin P.E.O. Sisterhood.

 

I enjoy

Spending time with family, biking, kayaking, and reading. My mission is to help everyone find new ways to be well.

ac-01731

Sarah Kroening, MSE

Education Specialist

Complex Care

Email:
smearskroening@childrenswi.org
Phone:
(414) 266-5877

Education and experience

I received my Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work with certificate on Women Studies from the University of Wisconsin – Madison in 2008.  While studying at Madison, I studied abroad in Ecuador for two semesters and completed numerous Spanish Language classes.  Following graduation, I pursued my Master’s Degree in Special Education – Teaching in an Urban Setting, while teaching full time in Milwaukee Public Schools.  I taught in MPS for nine years at various schools and grades first through eighth. I participated in School Improvement Planning Committees, started and led a Girls On the Run program, and mentored newly hired special education teachers.  In 2017, I continued my teaching career at Wisconsin Hills Middle School in the Elmbrook School District. In November of 2021, I was hired to be a Specialist with the Educational Achievement Partnership Program.

 

Hobbies

I love being outside.  I enjoy paddle boarding, hiking and traveling.  I love all types of art – creating art and going to art exhibits.  My family and I enjoy attending various events close to Milwaukee.

 

Fun fact

I was a florist for many years, and participated as model for the “Art In Bloom” floral fashion show at the Milwaukee Art Museum two times!

Jenny Berwanger_personal headshot_pre-EAPP[1]

Jenny Berwanger, MEd

Education Specialist

Cardiology

Email:
jberwanger@childrenswi.org
Phone:
(414) 266-5875

Education and experience

I received my Bachelor’s Degree in Education from Winona State University in Winona, MN and my Master’s Degree of Education in Curriculum and Instruction/Administration and Supervision from National Louis University in Wheeling, IL. My twenty years of professional experience has led me to private and public school settings, serving families in urban and suburban communities.  As an educator, I’ve supported students’ success through strong family communication and instruction designed to strengthen social, emotional, and academic growth. Helping learners to achieve was my daily priority. As a Specialist in the Educational Achievement Partnership Program, I bring the same dedication to my patient’s growth.

 

Hobbies

I love to cook for my family and cheer on my kids with their various activities. I also enjoy cheering on our hometown baseball team.  Go Brewers!

 

Fun fact

My youngest family member is my three-legged rescue dog who has taught my family much about acceptance and compassion.

ac-00036

Amanda Yingst, MEd

Education Specialist

Herma Heart Institute

Email:
ayingst@childrenswi.org
Phone:
(414) 266-5876

Education and Experience

I received my Bachelor’s Degree in Education with dual licensing in general education and special education from Grand Valley State University in Grand Rapids, Michigan. For the first 10 years of my career, I was an Early Childhood teacher working primarily with students with Autism Spectrum Disorder. During this time, I also trained college students in the basics of Applied Behavior Analysis and set up community partnerships with school districts and parents. I then earned a Masters of Education in Special Education from Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan in 2011. 

The next step of my career took me to a special education classroom with elementary aged students. While in this teaching position, I focused on creating inclusion opportunities for the students in my classroom. In October 2017, my family moved to Wisconsin, which brought another teaching change. I worked in Racine Unified School District as both a program support teacher, helping special education and general education teachers become more successful at identifying and implementing strategies for the special education students in their buildings, and as a special education teacher for a specific elementary school. The next step in my teaching journey was in Menomonee Falls working as a special education teacher with upper elementary students. While there, I was trained in Trauma Informed Care, Social Thinking, and Culturally Responsive Practices. 

Throughout my career, I have enjoyed working with families and advocating for services for students to be successful and I look forward to this next step of my journey.

 

Fun Fact

I enjoy listening to podcasts; I listening to everything from education, motivation to inspirational podcasts.

ac-01830

Emily Welchman, MEd

Education Specialist

Cardiology

Email:
ewelchman@childrenswi.org
Phone:
(414) 266-2670

Education and experience

I earned a Bachelor of Arts in Art History and a Bachelor of Science in Anthropology from Loyola University Chicago. I then earned a Master of Arts in Secondary Education from Alverno College. I also hold a Wisconsin Administrator license in the category of Director of Instruction. I was a high school teacher and professional development facilitator for 8 years in Milwaukee Public Schools before transitioning to the Educational Achievement Partnership Program in June 2019. In my role as Specialist, I love that I get to work with a wide variety of populations: medical providers at Children’s, school teams from all over the state, and most importantly, our strong, resilient cardiac families. I am a proud aunt to a child with CHD, and I truly honor the responsibility of supporting other cardiac families like mine with their school-related needs.

 

Hobbies

I love to be outdoors! Camping and hiking around state parks is one of my favorite ways to spend a weekend!

 

Fun fact

I am a certified urban beekeeper and keep a hive of honeybees in my yard!

ac-01810

Debbi Hoff, BSEd

Education Specialist

Neurosciences

Email:
dhoff@childrenswi.org
Phone:
(414) 266-2052

ac-03207-scaled

Kay Bragg, MEd

Education Specialist

Asthma
(Next Door Pediatrics)

Email:
kbragg@childrenswi.org
Phone:
(414) 266-2817

Education and experience

God has put a passion in my heart for children all of my adult life, and I have worked hard to advocate for all children, especially those in underserved communities. While raising my children, and fostering children, I received my first degree in Early Education from MATC. I owned and operated my own daycare for 15 years while completing my Bachelor’s degree in Business from Lakeland University. I earned my Master’s Degree in Urban Education from Cardinal Stritch University, and as my knowledge grew, so did my passion for equity and inclusion. Developing children’s programs at church and teaching children from an early age continued to deepen my advocacy. I worked in the Milwaukee Public School system for seven years, starting as a paraprofessional and transitioning into a lead Special Education teacher.

 

Hobbies

When I am not teaching bible studies and fighting for children’s rights, I travel as much as possible. I’ve had my passport stamped a few times, and it helps to have children who all live in warmer climates whom I can visit when time allows! I’ve recently developed a passion for cycling with my shiny new road bike. During the holidays, I enjoy baking for my family and friends. I can’t leave out my love for martial arts.

 

I believe

I am excited to be a part of the EAPP team because the organization’s mission is aligned with my heart and passion to provide equitable services to all children.