Faculty & Staff - Exceptional Learners Center
Ms. Stephanie Palmer/Director of Learning
Ms. Stephanie Palmer was raised on a farm in Sycamore, IL where she attended Sycamore's St. Mary's Catholic Church. She graduated from the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana with a Bachelor's degree in Secondary Education English/Speech Communications. She started teaching at Prospect High School in District 214 where she also served as English and Fine Arts Division Head. Ms. Palmer earned her Master's Degree in Administration from Concordia University; she completed a doctoral program through Roosevelt University and earned her Superintendent's Endorsement. She served as Assistant Principal of Curriculum and Instruction at Hinsdale Central High School, Principal at Butler Junior High, Principal at Hinsdale South High School, and Superintendent of Norridge Schools. After retiring from administration, Ms. Palmer substitute taught 7th and 8th grade mathematics at Pleasantdale Middle School in Burr Ridge and 8th grade honors ELA at McClure Junior High. She is honored to join the St. Isaac Jogues family as their Director of Learning, and she is grateful for the opportunity to work with the wonderful teachers and students here at SIJ.
Mrs. Jennifer Houch / Speech Language Pathologist
This is Mrs. Houch’s tenth year as a speech-language pathologist. She earned her Bachelor of Sciences degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from The University of Illinois and her Masters of Sciences degree in Speech-Language Pathology from Rush University. Mrs. Houch has extensive experience working with children with a variety of speech-language needs, including: developmental language delay, speech sound disorders (phonological delays and apraxia of speech), autism spectrum disorder, and dyslexia. As a mother of two boys, she is passionate about parent education, early identification/intervention, literacy development, and inclusion. She is certified to provide parent training services for parents of children with expressive language delay and autism.
Mrs. emily elwood/ director of exceptional learners center
This is Mrs. Elwood's second year at SIJ as the Director of Resource. Mrs. Elwood grew up in the small town of Petoskey, Michigan. She and her husband currently live in Hinsdale with their baby boy, Rory Patrick. She received her Bachelor's degree from Wittenberg University in Early Education with a minor in Special Education and also played soccer. She earned her Master's degree in Special Education from DePaul University and currently holds an LBSI license.
Prior to joining St. Isaac's, Mrs. Elwood taught at a Catholic school in Chicago for nine years in different teaching roles. She worked as the Director of Resource for 6 years and has experience working with a variety of student needs, including: learning disabilities, dyslexia, autism spectrum disorder and ADHD.
Mrs. Elwood enjoys spending time with family in Northern Michigan and Lake Geneva. She loves tennis, sailing, and skiing. She looks forward to another wonderful year at SIJ!
Prior to joining St. Isaac's, Mrs. Elwood taught at a Catholic school in Chicago for nine years in different teaching roles. She worked as the Director of Resource for 6 years and has experience working with a variety of student needs, including: learning disabilities, dyslexia, autism spectrum disorder and ADHD.
Mrs. Elwood enjoys spending time with family in Northern Michigan and Lake Geneva. She loves tennis, sailing, and skiing. She looks forward to another wonderful year at SIJ!
Mrs. Munira Shakir, MOT, ORT/L / Occupational Therapist
Mrs. Shakir graduated from Midwestern University in Downers Grove with her Masters in Occupational Therapy and with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology (cum-laude) from St. John’s University in New York City. She has worked in a variety of settings, including outpatient pediatrics, skilled nursing, acute care, adult orthopedics and neurology, but always had a special interest in the endless possibilities that children have. She has experience with a range of diagnoses, including, sensory processing disorder, low muscle tone, poor visual motor integration, handwriting difficulty, and delayed fine motor skills. She has taken several continuing education courses in visual perceptual difficulty and treatment and is also trained in the Handwriting without Tears program.
Mrs. Shakir lives in the western suburbs of Chicago with her husband and three children. She enjoys traveling internationally and experiencing different cultures along the way. Her travels has definitely shaped her into a better therapist, allowing for stronger rapport with her clients.
Mrs. Shakir lives in the western suburbs of Chicago with her husband and three children. She enjoys traveling internationally and experiencing different cultures along the way. Her travels has definitely shaped her into a better therapist, allowing for stronger rapport with her clients.
