College of Education at Illinois State

10/23/2026

Our final Hall of Fame Inductee is Dr. Meg Schnoor! 🍎✨🎓

Dr. Meg Schnoor '93 earned a bachelor's degree in special education from Illinois State University, along with a master's degree in educational administration, a director of special education endorsement, and a doctorate in curriculum and instruction.

For nearly 30 years, Schnoor has championed initiatives strengthening special education programming, expanding family engagement, and improving student outcomes across Illinois. As a director of special education, she advocated for bringing students with self-contained needs back into their home districts. As an assistant superintendent in Illinois' second-largest elementary district, she led culturally and linguistically responsive teaching practices.

Schnoor established parent advisory groups and implemented districtwide Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) and Response to Intervention (RTI). As superintendent of the Northwest Suburban Special Education Organization (NSSEO), she guides initiatives preparing students with significant disabilities for meaningful futures.

Schnoor also teaches as an adjunct professor at two local colleges and has earned numerous awards, including Those Who Excel from the Illinois State Board of Education.

10/22/2026

Our next Hall of Fame Inductee is Leslie Rennick! 🍎✨🎓

Leslie Rennick '04 earned a bachelor's degree in special education from Illinois State University and holds a master's degree in curriculum and instruction.

She has spent her entire 23-year teaching career as a special education teacher at Stark County Elementary School, where she broadens students' horizons through innovative lessons in her rural community.

Throughout her career, Rennick has built lasting relationships with students and families that extend beyond the classroom. Her individualized instruction and unwavering commitment to meeting students where they are has transformed countless educational journeys. She has pursued specialized training in Orton-Gillingham instruction, collaborated with colleagues on effective accommodations, and created engaging learning experiences that connect students with their community.

In 2025, she was named the Northwest Regional Teacher of the Year by the Illinois State Board of Education. She now mentors fellow educators, advocates for the teaching profession, and inspires others through statewide leadership opportunities.

10/22/2026

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10/21/2026

Our next Alumni Award Inductee is Dr. Barry Reilly! 🎓🍎✨

Dr. Barry Reilly '89, M.S. '95, Ed.D. '07, earned degrees in physical education and educational administration from Illinois State University.

Throughout a 33-year career with Bloomington Public Schools District 87, Reilly served as teacher, coach, assistant principal, principal, assistant superintendent, and superintendent before retiring in 2022. He now serves as executive director of Promise Council, helping students and families remove barriers to school success.

As superintendent, Reilly championed transformative initiatives including providing laptops to all students in grades 6–12 and securing free home internet access for low-income families. He led major facility improvements that strengthened fine arts and performing arts programs districtwide.

Reilly has served on numerous nonprofit boards including Heartland Community College Foundation, OSF Healthcare Community Advisory Board, and McLean County United Way. His awards include Superintendent of the Year and Superintendent of Distinction. He is in the Hall of Fame for District 87 and Illinois State's College of Applied Science and Technology.

10/21/2026

Inspiring the next generation of educators, one thank-you at a time!

Yesterday, our very own Kelli Appel, Director of Recruitment, Retention & Student Services, and Gary Higham, Associate Director of the Teacher Education Center, represented the College of Education at Career Navig8 Lake County! 🍎

Students explored what a future in education could look like and had the opportunity to write thank-you postcards to teachers who have made a lasting impact on their lives. 🧑‍🏫

Because sometimes, all it takes is one great teacher to inspire the next! ✨

10/20/2026

Our next Hall of Fame Inductee is Donna Hejtmanek! 🍎✨

Donna Hejtmanek '76 earned a bachelor's degree in special education from Illinois State University and holds master's degrees in behavior disorders and educational administration.

Through nearly 50 years as a special educator, reading specialist, and literacy advocate, Donna has transformed how educators understand and teach reading while influencing policy nationally and internationally.

Her passion for literacy extended into statewide leadership, where she advanced Wisconsin's dyslexia and early literacy legislation as a member of the Wisconsin Read to Lead Literacy Council and the Legislative Council Study Committee on the Identification and Management of Dyslexia.

Following her 2018 retirement, Donna cofounded Credentials Unlimited, providing evidence-based professional learning through micro-credentialing. She created the international community Science of Reading: What I Should Have Learned in College, which has grown to more than 243,000 educators in over 100 countries.

She was awarded the Herb Kohl Fellowship. In 2025, the Donna Hejtmanek Scholarship Fund was created by WI-Reads in her honor.

10/20/2026

Save the Date ! 🍎✨

Department of Special Education at Illinois State University, TCH at ISU, Live in the Lab Schools, Metcalf School, University High School, Normal IL, Illinois State University- College Student Personnel Administration, Educational Administration & Foundations at Illinois State University

You’re invited to an ISU student book club focused on belonging and community. We’ll discuss Chapters 1-7 of the graphic novel, New Kid, by Jerry Craft.

Attend the first of three book club meetings before a workshop directly with author/illustrator Jerry Craft in April!

Check out Redbird Life for more information and to RSVP.

10/20/2026

Redbirds reunite, and our bring the spirit! ❤️🎊👑

A big congratulations to the School of Teaching and Learning and the Department of Special Education for BOTH placing in this year’s Homecoming Decoration Contest! 🎉🏆

Way to show off that Redbird pride and bring the Redbirds Reunite theme to life! ❤️🤍

10/19/2026

Our next Alumni Award Inductee is Dr. Suzy Dees! 🍎✨🎓

Dr. Suzy Dees '91, '96, M.S. '11 earned bachelor's degrees in English and English education and a master's degree in curriculum and instruction at Illinois State University. She earned her Doctor of Education in educational leadership from the University of St. Francis in 2026.

For over 30 years, Dees has strengthened education across Illinois through leadership at classroom, district, regional, and state levels. As the Illinois State Board of Education's foundational services administrator, she led implementation of a statewide professional learning system serving more than 110,000 educators.

During the pandemic, she helped launch the Mobile Museum of Tolerance in Illinois, bringing equity-centered learning to over 11,000 participants in 2021. The initiative now reaches over 150,000 students annually across five states.

As senior director of professional learning at West40 Intermediate Service Center, Dees transformed a two-person department into Illinois's largest regional professional learning team of 20 professionals.

The National Council on Measurement in Education recognized Dees for excellence in classroom assessment practice, and the Illinois Association of Regional Superintendents of Schools named her a Friend of Education twice.

10/19/2026

🚨 REDBIRD EDUCATORS, THIS ONE'S FOR YOU! 🚨

Homecoming is calling, and we've got the perfect way to show off your Redbird pride! ✨

We're giving 10 lucky Redbirds an EXCLUSIVE College of Education T-shirt! 🎊

Here's how to enter:
❤️ Follow our page
👍 Like this post
🍎 Tag TWO friends you're excited to celebrate Homecoming with!

🏆 10 winners will be announced October 26, 2026!

Once a Redbird, always a Redbird. Let's make this Homecoming one to remember! 🎉