Education Advisors

Cook North - Chicago and Suburbs

DCFS, 1911 S. Indiana, 10th Floor
Chicago, IL 60616

Donnis Briscoe, Education Advisor
donnis.briscoe@illinois.gov
815-761-4404

Headshot of Donnis Briscoe

  • Chicago
  • Arlington Heights
  • Barrington Hills
  • Bartlett
  • Bensenville
  • Des Plaines
  • Elgin
  • Elk Grove Village
  • Evanston
  • Glencoe
  • Glenview
  • Golf
  • Hanover Park
  • Harwood Heights
  • Hoffman Estates
  • Inverness
  • Kenilworth
  • Lincolnwood
  • Morton Grove
  • Mount Prospect
  • Niles
  • North Brook
  • Northfield
  • Norridge
  • Palatine
  • Park Ridge
  • Prospect Heights
  • Rolling Meadows
  • Rosemont
  • Schaumburg
  • Skokie
  • Streamwood
  • South Barrington
  • Wheeling
  • Wilmette
  • Winnetka

Donnis Briscoe graduated Suma Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Education from Northeastern Illinois University. She began her work in the field of education as a teacher for the Chicago Public Schools, which gave her an opportunity to witness numerous social dynamics that impact children and their education.The educational challenges children experienced due to social issues in their communities and families became very apparent to Donnis. Donnis’s passion for social justice, educational access and equity led her to join the Educational Access Project in 2004 as the assistant education advisor in the Cook County North Region to work with children in foster care.

In July of 2009, Donnis became the education advisor for the Cook County North Region, continuing to provide educational advocacy for youth in care residing in the City of Chicago and the North Cook County Suburbs. There she advocates for foster children’s educational best interest, addressing issues such as school enrollment, transportation, school safety plans, suspension/expulsion, Functional Behavioral Analysis and behavioral intervention planning.Donnis also provides training for child welfare staff, foster parents, school districts, CASA and other child welfare stake holders to impart state and federal educational policy and procedures regarding children in foster care, ensuring access to appropriate educational services within the least restrictive environment.


Cook Central - Chicago and Suburbs

DCFS, 1701 S. 1st Avenue
Maywood, IL 60153

Clinton Rosebourgh, Education Advisor
clinton.rosebourgh@illinois.gov
815-826-1773

Headshot of Clinton Rosebourgh

  • Chicago
  • Bedford Park
  • Bellwood
  • Berkley
  • Berwyn
  • Bridgeview
  • Broadview
  • Brookfield
  • Burbank
  • Cicero
  • Countryside
  • Elmwood Park
  • Forest Park
  • Franklin Park
  • Hillside
  • Hodgkins
  • Indian Head Park
  • Justice
  • LaGrange Park
  • Lyons
  • Maywood
  • Melrose Park
  • McCook
  • Northlake
  • North Riverside
  • Oak Park
  • River Forest
  • River Grove
  • Riverside
  • Schiller Park
  • Stickney
  • Summit
  • Westchester
  • Western Springs

Clinton Rosebourgh earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in criminal justice with a concentration in sociology. Clinton was hired in 2018 and has hit the ground running. Prior to becoming an education advisor, he worked as a social services caseworker, as dean of students at Naperville Bridge Alternative School and as a mental health assistant at River Edge Hospital. He appreciates being able to serve and advocate for youth who are unable to advocate for themselves. In his free time, Clinton loves to act and make people laugh.


Cook South - Chicago and Suburbs

DCFS, 6201 S. Emerald
Chicago, IL 60621

Arlecia Brown, Education Advisor
arlecia.brown@illinois.gov
815-761-2603

Headshot of Arlecia Brown

  • Chicago
  • Alsip
  • Blue Island
  • Burnham
  • Calumet City
  • Chicago Ridge
  • Crestwood
  • Dixmoor
  • Dolton
  • Evergreen Park
  • Hickory Hills
  • Hometown
  • Lemont
  • Merrionette Park
  • Midlothian
  • Oak Lawn
  • Orland Park
  • Palos Heights
  • Palos Park
  • Phoenix
  • Posen
  • Riverdale
  • Robbins
  • Willow Springs
  • Worth

Arlecia Brown holds an M.S. in Adult and Higher Education, with over 18 years working for the Center for Child Welfare and Education at Northern Illinois University. Presently, she covers the Chicago Cook South/South Suburbs region where she advocates and educates for the wellbeing of children who are in the care of the Department of Children and Family Services.

Arlecia is a native Chicagoan who was born in the heart of Englewood. All her education was in the Chicago Public Schools. Upon graduating from Hyde Park High School in 1983, Arlecia attended Spelman College from 1983-1988, earning a B.A degree in psychology. Arlecia's first job was at Georgia State University College of Law. She was a researcher in the College of Law Library, where she worked with law professors and law students. It was here that her love for law and education began to develop. And it was also where the professors saw her passion and encouraged her to pursue a certificate as a paralegal at the National Center for Paralegal Studies. In 1991 she completed that program and received a certificate in Legal Research Studies.

Arlecia spent 18 years in Atlanta and had various careers. She worked as an assistant director of a Special Needs Daycare, a paraprofessional at a public school, and as a substitute teacher in the middle schools of Atlanta. All these areas in her journey were building blocks to what lay before her. Upon returning to Chicago in 2004 Arlecia embarked on a career in education. She had the great honor to be a math teacher at her old high school, Hyde Park High, with the chance to give back to the next generation. After a year in this position, Arlecia was afforded the opportunity to be a part of the NIU Center for Child Welfare and Education.

In 2016, DCFS did an article on the valuable work that she provides, titled, “Someone You Should Know.” Her heart and passion are to see children have an opportunity to be successful in education. She feels it is a pleasure to work for the project and provide a valuable service to children in need. Her motto is, “Help a child and save a life. And you will make a difference forever.” Arlecia's mother was the first African American principal at an area Catholic school. She gives merit and honor to her mother who helped her to navigate through these systems with success.


Cook South - Suburbs and Northern Region Aurora

DCFS, 15115 Dixie Hwy.
Harvey, IL 60426

Diane Fitzhugh, Education Advisor
diane.fitzhugh@illinois.gov
815-761-4506

Headshot of Diane Fitzhugh

Cook South suburb areas covered:

  • Calumet City
  • Chicago Heights
  • Country Club Hills
  • East Hazel Crest
  • Flossmoor
  • Ford Heights
  • Glenwood
  • Harvey
  • Hazel Crest
  • Homewood
  • Lansing
  • Lynwood
  • Matteson
  • Markham
  • Oak Forest
  • Olympia Fields
  • Park Forest
  • Richton Park
  • Sauk Village
  • South Chicago Heights
  • South Holland
  • Thornton
  • Tinley Park

Northern region – Aurora sub-region areas covered: Kankakee and Will counties

Diane received her undergraduate degree in English from Northern Illinois University. In addition, she has a graduate degree in Special Education from Chicago State University, and a second graduate degree in Education Administration and Supervision from Roosevelt University.

Diane previously worked as a middle school special education teacher, a high school English teacher and a high school assistant principal – all with Chicago Public Schools.In addition, she has served as English Department Chairperson, Lead Teacher, Mentor Teacher for Teachers for Chicago, Teacher Coach, and Citibank Teacher for the Coalition of Essential Schools.

In 2001 Diane left Chicago Public Schools and began work with the NIU Educational Access Project, where she has served as an Education Advisor in the Cook North, Cook South, and Northern Regions. Her work in the public schools showed her the need for advocacy for the most vulnerable youth in our communities, and that is why she has found working for the EAP and with youth in care so rewarding. While with the EAP she has provided tremendous educational advocacy for children and families involved with DCFS. She has also developed and provided training for social workers, educators and community providers throughout Cook County and beyond.

Outside of work, Diane is an avid reader and loves British mystery television. She is married and lives with her family in a big, old drafty house on the south side of Chicago!


Northern - Rockford and Aurora Sub-regions

DCFS, 200 S. Wyman, Suite 201
Rockford, IL 61107

Aundrea Nabors, Education Advisor
aundrea.nabors@illinois.gov
815-761-2412

Headshot of Aundreas Nabors

  • Boone
  • Carroll
  • DeKalb
  • DuPage
  • Grundy
  • Jo Daviess
  • Kane
  • Kendall
  • Lake
  • Lee
  • McHenry
  • Ogle
  • Stephenson
  • Whiteside
  • Winnebago

Aundrea Nabors earned her Associate of Arts degree from Rock Valley College in 2002 and her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Northern Illinois University in 2004. She has been with the Educational Access Project since 2017. Previously, Aundrea worked as a Youth Services Network behavior specialist for School District 205, as a family support worker for Easter Seals of Rockford and as a case manager for The Mill youth treatment facility in Rockford. Aundrea believes being an education advisor is important because she’s giving a voice to youth in care and strengthening support systems for their education. Her hobbies are traveling, singing, and spending time with family and friends.


Central - Champaign and Springfield Regions

DCFS, 1124 N. Walnut Street
Springfield, IL 62702

Ann Wells, Education Advisor
ann.s.wells@illinois.gov
815-761-2836

Headshot of Ann Wells

  • Adams
  • Brown
  • Calhoun
  • Cass
  • Champaign
  • Christian
  • Clark
  • Coles
  • Cumberland
  • DeWitt
  • Douglas
  • Edgar
  • Ford
  • Greene
  • Hancock
  • Iroquois
  • Jersey
  • Livingston
  • Logan
  • Macon
  • Macoupin
  • Mason
  • Menard
  • McLean
  • Montgomery
  • Morgan
  • Moultrie
  • Piatt
  • Sangamon
  • Schuyler
  • Scott
  • Shelby
  • Vermillion
  • Springfield

Ann Wells has been part of the Educational Access Project since 2004. She has a bachelor’s degree in education. Prior to joining the EAP, Ann worked for seven years as a classroom teacher and ten years as a case manager working with youth in a Truant Alternative Education Program. Ann appreciates the opportunity to advocate and provide education assistance for our most vulnerable children. When she’s not at work, Ann enjoys spending time with her family, at church, gardening, golfing and coaching gymnastics.


Central - Peoria Region

DCFS, 2001 NE Jefferson
Peoria, IL 61603

Robert Kazlauski, Education Advisor
robert.kazlauski2@illinois.gov
815-766-4465

Headshot of Robert Kazlauski

  • Bureau
  • Fulton
  • Henderson
  • Henry
  • Knox
  • LaSalle
  • Marshall
  • McDonough
  • Mercer
  • Pike
  • Peoria
  • Putnam
  • Rock Island
  • Stark
  • Tazewell
  • Warren
  • Woodford

Robert T. Kazlauski earned his Bachelor of Arts in history and social science with Illinois secondary teacher certification from Eastern Illinois University. Prior to joining the Educational Access Project in 2020, Robert worked for 17 years as an educational liaison, seven years as a licensing representative and ten years as a child welfare caseworker, all at Lutheran Social Services of Illinois. He also worked for two years as a counselor in a residential setting at Youth Farm in Peoria. Robert served our country as a Peace Corps Volunteer in one of the smallest countries on the planet, the Marshall Islands (halfway between Hawaii and Australia), where he taught math, geography and GED courses and also managed a rainwater catchment and toilet building project on the outer islands.

Education has always been important to Robert, as his parents' stressed education as a means to employment and income, and his father was the president of a suburban Chicago board of education. After his work as a teacher and his background in social work, Robert felt his current position would be a perfect fit, helping the less fortunate obtain the services and assistance that would best help them become self-sufficient in their lives.

Robert loves sports, especially hockey. He once travelled throughout Southeast Asia solo for six months, and he still enjoys travel and experiencing new places. He enjoys many genres of music and watching live shows. Robert has been married for 12 years to his wife who is a psychotherapist at a local hospital, and they have a seven-year-old son.


Southern - East St. Louis and Marion Sub-regions

DCFS, 10 Collinsville Avenue
E. St. Louis, IL 62201

Carlos Brown Jr., Education Advisor
carlos.brown@illinois.gov
815-761-3165

Headshot of Carlos Brown Jr

  • Alexander
  • Bond
  • Clay
  • Clinton
  • Crawford
  • Edwards
  • Effingham
  • Fayette
  • Franklin
  • Gallatin
  • Hamilton
  • Hardin
  • Jackson
  • Johnson
  • Massac
  • Marion
  • Jasper
  • Jefferson
  • Lawrence
  • Madison
  • Monroe
  • Perry
  • Pope
  • Pulaski
  • Randolph
  • Richland
  • Saline
  • St. Clair
  • Union
  • Wabash
  • Washington
  • Wayne
  • White
  • Williamson

Carlos T. Brown, Jr., is a native of East St. Louis, Illinois. Carlos attended Northern Illinois University, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in communications with an emphasis in media studies. He's been a part of the Center for Child Welfare and Education team for three years. Before becoming the Educational Advisor for the southern region, Carlos taught jazz and music production at Jazz St. Louis in St. Louis, MO, for three years. For Carlos, what makes this work so important is knowing that the education advisors may be the only advocates (at the moment) who can clearly articulate the educational needs of our youth in care. “We're representatives of their village, and it's best that we always keep them first!” he says. During his downtime, you can find Carlos Dee Jaying/performing, collecting vinyl or spending time with his loved ones.


For more information about the Center for Child Welfare and Education, contact:

815-753-5562
ccwe-info@niu.edu
NIU Center for Child Welfare and Education
Monat Building
148 N Third Street,
DeKalb, IL 60115-2828
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