Meet the PAASSS Team!
Laurel Mateyka, CEO
Laurel Mateyka is the founding Chief Executive Officer of PAASSS, where she has served in a volunteer capacity since 2018. She provides strategic leadership and facilitation for a regional early childhood collaboration serving Grundy and Kendall Counties (Region 24), supporting nearly 50 partner organizations through shared systems, community engagement, and data-informed decision-making.
With more than 30 years of experience in public education and over a decade in early childhood leadership, Laurel brings deep expertise in program design, systems alignment, and continuous quality improvement. She is a committed advocate for equity in early learning and believes strong, community-driven partnerships are essential to improving outcomes for children and families.
Devan Gagliardo, IRIS System Manager
Devan serves as Program Director at the Community Foundation of Grundy County, a role she has held for 14 years. In her work, Devan leads strategic grantmaking, fosters partnerships, and strengthens local networks that support residents and families. She collaborates closely with the Behavioral Health Alliance, Grundy County Interagency Council, Grundy Partnership for Children, and 100+ Women Who Care of Grundy County. Devan also leads a Youth Philanthropy program across four local high schools, helping students learn the impact of community giving and leadership. In addition, she serves on the Justice Assistance Board.
Ryan Carrie, L.S.W. IRIS Data Manager
Ryan has dedicated over seven years to serving individuals and families through Community Action in Kendall County. He began his career at the Kendall County Health Department as an intern with Community Action Services, where his passion for helping others and strengthening community connections quickly became evident.
Currently, Ryan serves as the Assistant Director of Community Action Services at the Kendall County Health Department and as the IRIS Data Manager. In these roles, he works to ensure that programs operate efficiently, data is used meaningfully, and resources reach those who need them most.
With a strong commitment to collaboration, Ryan facilitates the monthly Kendall County Interagency Council meetings, bringing together local partners to identify community needs, share resources, and strengthen service delivery across the county. He is especially passionate about identifying gaps in support systems and connecting individuals and families to the services that can help them thrive.
Leadership Team & Partners
Meet Our Leadership Team Members
The Plano Area Alliance Supporting Student Success (PAASSS) Leadership Team is made up of members of partner organizations that are committed to creating a community where all children and families are empowered to succeed in learning and in life. The leadership team meets monthly to handle operational business, cultivate cross-sector partnerships, build and develop collaborative relationships, and employ a solution-focused approach to meeting the needs of families in the communities served by PAASSS.
GISELA ALVAREZ
FAMILY FOCUS AURORA – KAPUR CENTER
PI Program
Supervisor
RYAN CARRIE
KENDALL COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT
Community Actions
Assistant Director
MARIBEL CECEÑAS
PH.MILLER
CENTENNIAL
Parent Mentor Organizer, WIU Plano
KAREN CHILDRESS
FOX VALLEY YMCA
Vice President of Early Childhood Education
MELISSA CREAMER
KENDALL COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT
Community Action Director
ZACHERY DAVIS
CHILD CARE
RESOURCE AND REFERRAL
Eligibility Specialist
JACKIE EADE
FOX VALLEY FAMILY YMCA
Operations & Community Relations Director
DEVAN GAGLIARDO
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF
GRUNDY COUNTY
Program Director
MARIAH GONZALEZ
COMMUNITY
Parent Representative
LISA HAYSLETT
MUTUAL GROUND
Case Manager
TAYLOR HEADLEY
PAASSS
Marketing Consultant
JOELY JOHNSON
MUTUAL GROUND
Family Services Manager
SHARKISHA JONES
INCCRRA: BIRTH TO FIVE ILLINOIS
Regional Council Manager
MIA JUSUFI
ROE 24
Truancy Director
ANGELICA NICOLA
PH MILLER
Bilingual Family Support Specialist Bilingual Early Childhood Educator
SHERRI RACHFORD
PH MILLER
Family Support Specialist
MARTHA VENETUCCI-NENNI
LYNN G. HASKIN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
SANDWICH EARLY LEARNING CENTER
Principal
The PAASSS Leadership Team commits to strong outreach to ensure that membership in PAASSS reflects the community, its diversity, and many perspectives.
The full PAASSS membership group and the PAASSS Leadership Team will share responsibilities and decision making whenever possible. The full PAASSS group is an advisory body, providing input, insight, and feedback to the Leadership Team who has the final authority to make decisions for PAASSS.
Collaboration members are stakeholders and/or professionals working in or on behalf of the community; individuals concerned with the issues and interests of young children, parents and their families; and parents/families of young children.
Individuals and organizations interested in serving as a Collaboration member must identify themselves to the Leadership Team and commit to the vision and work of PAASSS. Members are strongly encouraged to attend quarterly meetings in order to build relationships and to network with other members.
Collaboration members have an active role in the work of PAASSS through volunteering on subcommittees or nominating themselves for a role on the Leadership Team. All collaboration members sign an annual Memorandum of Understanding with PAASSS to codify their participation in the collaboration.
If you are interested in partnering to support PAASSS’s vision of A community where all children and families are empowered to succeed in learning and in life, contact paasssinfo@gmail.com.