Special Education

Highland Primary Special Education teachers:

Cheryl Barr, Carrie Belford, Erin Bloemer, Danette Daiber, Katie Henricks, Jen Koenig, and Emily Weiss.

Hi! My name is Cheryl Barr. I began my teaching career in Macomb after graduating from Western Illinois University in 2011. The first 2 years of my career was spent working with Jr and Sr High school students. From there I spent 4 years working in a classroom with students in grades 4-6. In 2018 my husband and I moved to St. Louis. In our spare time we love to spend time with our families, taking trips to Michigan, and hanging out with our dog Charlie. I love teaching students and watching them grow. I am very excited to be part of the HP family!

Email Cheryl Barr: cbarr@highlandcusd5.org

Hi, my name is Carrie Belford. I taught PreK for twelve years and I have been at Highland Primary since 2006. I have an Early Childhood degree with a Masters in Special Education. I love what I do and feel very blessed to be a part of so many children's lives. My family and I live in Highland and stay busy with numerous activities.

Email Carrie Belford: cbelford@highlandcusd5.org

Hello! My name is Erin Bloemer and I am so excited to be joining the Highland

Primary Special Education team! I have been part of the Primary family for four

years now as an assistant, an Early Childhood teacher, and an Rti Interventionist. I

have a Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education and in Psychology with a

minor in Sociology. In addition, I have a Learning Behavior Specialist certification to

teach Kindergarten through 3 rd grade Special Education. As you can see I love to

learn! I also love to read! It is one of my favorite things to do so I will read with my

Email Erin Bloemer: ebloemer@highlandcusd5.org

Hello my name is Danette Daiber. I began my career at Highland Community Schools in 1991. For the first nine years I taught seventh and eighth grade special education at our middle school. I have been teaching kindergarten and first grade special education at the primary building since 2000 and I love it! I have undergraduate degrees in both elementary education and special education. I have also completed my Master’s Degree in special education at Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville. Additionally, I went back to school for early childhood certification. Teaching at this level is so rewarding. I love seeing a child’s face light up with pride as he/she learns new things. Watching children who didn’t know their letters of the alphabet in kindergarten grow to children who can read books independently in first grade is so motivating!

Email Danette Daiber: ddaiber@highlandcusd5.org

Hi, my name is Katie Henricks. I am from Highland and love this community!! I received my undergrad in Psychology from SIUE in 2014. After graduating, I began working for Highland Community Schools as a program assistant. It was then that I decided Special Education was my calling. I went back to school and graduated with my Masters in Special Education in December 2017. I began teaching Special Education at Highland Primary in January 2018. I love teaching and I am so glad I made the decision to go back to school. The best part of my job is watching my students grow academically, socially, and emotionally.

Email Katie Hendricks: khendricks@highlandcusd5.org

Hi, My name is Jen Koenig. I began my teaching career in Missouri after graduating from Lindenwood University in 2003. The first 10 years of my career was spent working with students with on the autism spectrum through ABA and teaching 4th and 5th grade. In 2013 our family moved to Highland. After taking a year off to stay home with my children, I started back in the classroom as a program assistant while working on my Illinois teaching certification. I’m thrilled to be part of the Special Education team here at Highland Primary and to be using ABA as a mode of learning in my classroom. I love teaching and helping students learn new skills. Watching my student grow academically, socially, and emotionally brings me joy everyday.

Email Jen Koenig: jkoenig@highlandcusd5.org

Hello, my name is Emily Weiss. This is my eleventh year teaching Special Education, and my first year teaching for the Highland School District. I have a Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education from Greenville University. I also have a Master's Degree in Educational Studies with an Emphasis in Reading.

I have lived in Highland for fourteen years. My husband and I have two children who attend the Highland schools, and have been extremely satisfied with their academic and social growth. I look forward to the 2018-2019 school year and getting to know each of your children! Let's go, Bullpups!

Email Emily Weiss: eweiss@highlandcusd5.org