South: Personnel
Melissa K. Bergstrom
Melissa K. Bergstrom, Ph.D., is a Co-director and Regional Coordinator for the Illinois ASPIRE – South Center and an assistant professor in the Department of Special Education and Communication Disorders at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. Dr. Bergstrom received her doctoral degree from the University of Oregon where she specialized in problem-solving service delivery, response-to-intervention, educational systems change, and positive behavioral support. Dr. Bergstrom has supported the implementation of the three-tier problem-solving model at the national, state, regional, district, and school level, including a leadership role with the Heartland Area Education Agency in Iowa, a national leader in the implementation of the problem-solving model and response-to-intervention.
Nancy A. Mundschenk
Nancy A. Mundschenk, Ph.D. is a Regional Coordinator for Illinois ASPIRE – South Center. Dr. Mundschenk received her doctoral degree from the University of Iowa, and is an Associate Professor in the Department of Educational Psychology and Special Education at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. For the past 15 years, Dr. Mundschenk has provided ongoing staff development and consultation to schools, teachers, administrators and parents in southern Illinois from Effingham to Cairo. Dr. Mundschenk conducts research and professional development activities in the areas of positive behavior interventions and supports, data-based decision-making and response to intervention, collaboration, parent/family participation, and legal issues in special education.
Ken Hill
Ken Hill, Ph.D. serves the ASPIRE South project as the regional evaluator. He is a retired public school educator having served as a teacher, vocational director, building principal and superintendent of schools for over 33 years in three different southern Illinois school districts. Dr. Hill received both is Bachelor and Master’s Degrees form Southeast Missouri State University. His doctoral degree was earned from Southern Illinois University Carbondale with an emphasis in school leadership. In addition to serving as the evaluator for the ASPIRE – South project, Dr. Hill also serves as an evaluator for the Five-County Even Start Program in Cairo, Illinois and is the project evaluator for the RESPRO Services Program that serves public schools in six different southern Illinois ROE regions. Dr. Hill is an adjunct professor for Eastern Illinois University and Greenville College, where he is currently teaching graduate level coursework in both educational administration and teacher training.
Wendy W. Fuchs
Wendy W. Fuchs, Ph.D., is a Regional Coordinator for Illinois Aspire-South Center. Dr. Fuchs is an assistant professor in the Department of Special Education and Communication Disorders at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. She teaches undergraduate and graduate courses including reading and language arts methods, assessment, and characteristics of students with disabilities. Dr. Fuchs currently provides support to school districts and teachers implementing comprehensive school reform related to data-based decision-making and improved instructional practices in the classroom. Her research interests include improved collaboration between general and special educators, improved preservice preparation, and Response to Intervention.
Michael McCollum
Michael McCollum is the Co-Director of the Illinois ASPIRE South Center. He is a retired Director of Special Education and Professional Development Centers. From 1995-2006 Mike was Executive Director of the School Association for Special Education in DuPage County. During Mr. McCollum’s tenure, SASED served in a leadership role as the administrative agent of numerous statewide training/information initiatives; Project CHOICES, Early CHOICES, Illinois Autism Training, EBD/PBIS, and Parent Mentor Project. Also, many districts within the cooperative participated in the Illinois Flexible Delivery Project. Prior to this position Mr. McCollum was Executive Director of Educational Service Center 16. ESC 16 operated $60 million in State and Federal training grants for school districts in Southwestern Illinois. In addition to these positions, Mr. McCollum served as the Statewide Director of Responsibility Education and Assistant Director of Curriculum Development for the Illinois State Board of Education.