Mary is an experienced educator and mission-driven leader with over 18 years in special education, serving students from preschool through high school. A passionate advocate for inclusive learning environments, she has dedicated her career to ensuring that every learner has access to compassionate, supportive, and engaging educational experiences.

Mary earned her Bachelor of Science in Special Education and Illinois Professional Educator License, LBS1 from Illinois State University, followed by a Master’s in Education as a Reading Specialist from Benedictine University. She also holds in-district leadership certification from Batavia Public School District 101. With more than a decade of certification in CPI de-escalation, trauma-informed training, and lived experience as a licensed Illinois foster parent, Mary brings both professional expertise and deep empathy to her work with students, families, and teams.

Currently, Mary serves as the Director of Programs and Education at SciTech, a STEM nonprofit organization based in Batavia, Illinois, focused on expanding STEM access and engagement across the Fox Valley area. In just one year, she significantly increased participant reach by over 200% through the development of new curriculum, classes, camps, events, and community partnerships. In her role, she has secured multiple grants and leads staff and teams with a focus on strong systems, collaboration, and program impact. Mary is also pursuing a Certificate in Nonprofit Management through the University of Illinois Chicago Extended Campus.

Outside of her professional life, Mary finds joy in family time with her husband and two children. She is an enthusiastic suburban gardener, maintaining a monarch waystation and cultivating garden spaces that support pollinator habitats. When she isn’t outdoors, she enjoys curling up with a good book or expressing her creativity through crafting.

At the heart of everything she does, Mary is driven by authentic connection, a love of learning, and a gift for bringing people together across generations through curiosity, creativity, and community.