About Us

Angela Searcy holds a B.A. in English and Secondary Education with teacher certification through the State of Illinois, and a Master of Science in Early Childhood Development from Erikson Institute with a Developmental Therapy Credential through the State of Illinois. Angela is also the owner and founder of Simple Solutions Educational Services, providing professional development and therapy services to children and families with children aged 0–18 years of age. She is a “Master Trainer” for the Illinois State Board of Education, The Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning at Vanderbilt University and the Multisensory Training Institute in Massachusetts.

Angela also serves as an educational consultant throughout the Chicago land area and an adjunct professor at Rasmussen College. A former associate at the Neuropsychology Diagnostic Center in Orland Park, Angela has specialized training in the neurosciences and is a nationally recognized speaker with over 20 years of experience working with professionals, young children, and their families as an early childhood teacher, child development specialist, staff developer, mental health consultant, parent educator, language arts teacher, college professor, and tutor. Her expertise encompasses developing behavior modification programs from a neuropsychological perspective and creating professional development grounded in neuroscience research related to adult learning. Angela has been featured on Chicago Public Radio’s Chicago Matters, Chicago Parent, and Chicago Baby Magazines and is a regular speaker for the Learning and the Brain Conference Sponsored by Harvard, Yale and Stanford Universities. Angela is also an approved professional development provider for the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE CEU, CPDU credits available) and the Early Intervention System of Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and Texas (EI /ECI credits available) CDA content areas.

Staff

Talyn Sumerset, M.A. also holds a B.A. degree in Psychology and Sociology from the University of Illinois and is a Doctoral (Psy.D) candidate at the Chicago School of Professional Psychology in Clinical Psychology, Specialization in Counseling with a concentration in child and adolescent psychology. A former research associate at the Illinois Institute for Juvenile Research, Talyn’s research contributions have revolved primarily around the impact of home visitation in disadvantaged communities. Talyn has a wealth of experience working as a patients’ aid coordinator, case management, parent educator, mental health and as a child development specialist.

Emily Hamlin, M.A. holds a B.S. degree from Michigan State University with a type 04 teacher certification through the state of Illinois and an M.A. degree in Child Development from Michigan State University. Emily has experience working as a teacher, education coordinator, consultant, and site director for early childhood programs She has an expertise in working with English language learners, children from underprivileged urban populations and children with special needs.

Recent National Presentations

PBIS Supporting Social and Emotional Development in Young Children, Hawaii Department of Education: Early Childhood Special Education, Oahu Hawaii, February and March 2011

Instructional Coaching and Reading Strategies, North Dakota Dept of Public Instruction Title 1 Fall Conference, Bismarck, North Dakota, October 2010, Webinar for North Dakota Dept of Instruction, February 2011

Taking the Bite Out of Challenging Behaviors: Effective Functional Assessment Strategies Learning and the Brain Society Conference sponsored by Stanford University, and The Neuroscience Research Institute, UC Santa Barbara, San Francisco, CA February 2009, Academy for Teachers of Young Children, Amarillo TX July 2010

Identification and Intervention: What Neuroscience Teaches Us About Learning Differences/Disabilities in Early Childhood The Zero to Three, National Training Institute, Orlando, Florida November 2007

Fun Phonemes! Phonological Awareness Activities to Support Literacy Foundations, Education Service Center Region XV, San Angelo, TX July 2010

Instructional Coaching and Reading Strategies, North Dakota Dept of Public Instruction Title 1 Fall Conference, October 2010

Taking the Bite Out of Challenging Behaviors: Strategies for Young Children Zero to Three, National Training Institute, Florida November 2007 and the Keynote at the Prairieland Early Childhood Conference, Decatur, Illinois October 2007

Becoming a Brain: Linking Neuroscience Research to Assessment Strategies Learning and the Brain Society Conference “Enhancing Cognition and Emotions for Learning” sponsored by The Learning and the Brain Society, Stanford University School of Education Neuroscience Research Institute, UC Santa Barbara, San Francisco, CA February 2007

What’s Culture Got to Do With It? Understanding How Culture Impacts Learning, The National Black Child Development Institute, Chicago, Illinois, October 2007

Prenatal Cocaine and Alcohol Exposure: The Impact on Development and Learning, The National Association for the Education of Young Children Annual Conference, Chicago, Illinois, 2007

Identification and Intervention for Learning Differences and Disorders in Early Childhood. The Learning and the Brain Society Conference “Rethinking Nature and Nurture: Using Brain Research to Improve Child Learning and Treat Learning Disorders” sponsored by The Learning and the Brain Society, Harvard, MIT, and Yale Universities, Cambridge, MA, April 2006

Why Movement Is Critical for Cognition, The Learning and Brain Expo, Orlando, Florida, July 2006, Sharing a Vision 2009

Why Movement is Critical for Cognition, Creating Peaceful Environments, On the Move: Dealing with ADD/ADHD in Young Children Highlights, The Ohio Association for the Education of Young Children Annual Conference, Cleveland, Ohio, March 2006

Recent Regional Presentations

Bullying and Social Aggression, Lorman Educational Services, Tinley Park, IL, December 2011

Smart IEP Goals, Functional Behavioral Assessment and Least Restrictive Environment for High School Children, Thornton Fractional High School District 215, Illinois, June 2011

Taking the Punch-Out of Challenging Behaviors Afterschool: Positive Behavior Support Strategies for School-age Children, Illinois Afterschool Network Conference 2011, Lisle, Illinois, May 2011

Reading Foundations: Effective Phonemic Awareness Instruction, 43rd Annual Illinois Reading Council Conference, “Literacy Outside the Box!” in Springfield, Illinois, March 2011

On the Move: Why Movement is Critical for Cognition, PSO Illinois’ Child Care Association Insights Conference, February 2008

Adaptations in the Classroom to Meet the Needs of At-Risk and Special Needs Students in Illinois, Lorman Educational Services, February 2008

What Neuroscience Teaches Us: Understanding the Early Signs of Learning Differences and Disabilities, On the Move: Why Movement is Critical for Cognition, Taking the Bite Out of Challenging Behaviors in Young Children, The Chicago-Metro AEYC Opening Minds Conference, January 2008, Easter Seals Mental Health Symposium, June 2008

Become a Brain! Using Neuroscience Research to Enrich the Early Childhood Setting Sharing a Vision, 10th Illinois Statewide Collaborative Early Childhood Conference 2007

Dealing with Bullying and Social Aggression, The Illinois Dean’s Association Conference, Peoria, Illinois, November 2007

Dealing with Difficult Behaviors in Young Children, On the Move: Why Movement is Critical for Cognition, Please Renovate My Staff: Fostering A Strong Community in Early Childhood Settings Opening Minds, Chicago-Metro AEYC conference, January 2006

Inclusion in Illinois, Lorman Educational Services, Rockford, IL, April 2006

Developing Behavior Plans for Aggressive Children in Illinois, Lorman Educational Services, Elk Grove Village, IL December 2006

Professional Development Faculty

Faculty member for the Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning (CSEFEL) at Vanderbilt University 2005–present: Provided training to education professionals on PBIS in the states below

Illinois (Illinois Department of Education, Head Starts, Chicago Public Schools, StarNet region V)
North Dakota (Department of Instruction)
Indiana (Department of Education)
Hawaii (Hilo Head Start, Department of Education, Honolulu Head Start, KCAA preschools of Hawaii)
Texas (Head Start)
Ohio (Department of Ed)
Maryland (Department of Ed)
New Jersey (Department of Education Passaic School District, Passaic Head Start)
San Diego (San Department of Education)

Multi-Sensory Training Institute/Stratford Foundation 2009–present National Literacy Trainer: Provide training, teleconferences, and consultation to educational professionals on evidence-based reading/comprehension strategies using Lindamood /LiPS and Visualizing and Verbalizing

Florence School District, Florence, South Carolina
Lexington School District 1, Lexington, South Carolina
Dougherty County School District, Albany, Georgia
Green River Regional Educational Cooperative, Bowling Green, Kentucky
Assumption Parish School Board, Napoleonville, Louisiana
San Ysidro School District, San Diego, Californi

Faculty Member for the Multi-Disciplinary Certificate Program in Child and Adolescent Mental Health sponsored by the University of Illinois Department of Family Medicine. Dealing with Bullying and Social Aggression Rolling Meadows, Illinois, April 2007, Joliet, Illinois

Professional Development Instructor at the Erikson Institute a Graduate School for the Advanced Study in Child Development, Summer, Spring, and Fall Semesters 2004–2006

Identification and Intervention: Understanding the Early Indicators for Dyslexia
On the Move: Why Movement is Critical for Cognition, On the Move: Dealing with ADD/ADHD and High Activity Levels in Young Children
Linking Neuroscience Research to Assessment Strategies,

Consultant Work—Selected

Thorton School District 215 Implementation of PBIS, FBA, BIP, LRE, consultation 2011–present
Ounce of Prevention Grantee Support Services Learn Together, Grow Together: Building Social-Emotional Foundations for Learning Training Initiative 2010–present
Disabilities Consultant (Community and Economic Development Association of Cook County) with CEDA Head Start Programs, Awarded Nov 2009–present
YMCA Disabilities Consultant 2009–present
North Adams Community Schools, Decatur, IN, Implementation of CSEFEL Pyramid Model on Social Emotional Competence and Positive Behavior Supports PBS 2009–present
North Dakota Department of Instruction, Fargo, ND Implementation of CSEFEL Pyramid Model on Social Emotional Competence and Positive Behavior Supports PBS 2010–present
Christopher House Children’s Center, Chicago, IL Implementation of CSEFEL Pyramid Model on Social Emotional Competence and Positive Behavior Supports 2009–present
New Jersey Department of Education Implementation of PBIS Pyramid Model 2009–2010
Child and Family Connections #12, Tinley Park, IL, Social and Emotional Consultant to Early Intervention specialists 2009
Matteson School District 162, Matteson, IL Implementation of Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports PBIS Behavior Consultant in RtI framework 2009–2010 school year
Marycrest Academy Joliet School district 86, Joliet Il, Implementation of CSEFEL Pyramid Model on Social Emotional Competence and Positive Behavior Supports PBS 2008–2009
Tangle Toys®, San Francisco, CA Implementation of educational benefits and toy promotion 2007–2009
EQUIP Grant (Pritzker Early Childhood Foundation, and St Vincent DePaul Center 2005)
EQUIP Grant (Pritzker Early Childhood Foundation and Easter Seals Gilchrist Marchman Head start 2006)
EQUIP Grant (Pritzker Early Childhood Foundation, and Easter Seals Near South Side, Progressive Child Care Center, 2006–07)
EQUIP Grant (Pritzker Early Childhood Foundation, and Easter Seals Near South Side, Ravenswood Child Care Center, Ezzard Charles Montessori 2007–2009)
EQUIP Grant (Pritzker Early Childhood Foundation and Marillac House Early Childhood/Social Service Center, 2009–10 and 2010–11 school year)

Publications

Featured in STARNET Apples Video Magazine, “Why Are These Children Acting This Way” March 2009
Searcy, Angela (2006). “Why Movement Is Critical for Cognition”, Illinois Developmental Therapy Association Newsletter, Volume 1 Issue 3, Winter 2006/2007 Pages 4–5
Searcy, Angela (2007) “What Is Functional Assessment?” Illinois Developmental Therapy Association Newsletter, Volume 2 Issue 1, Summer 2007 Pages 1–5
Featured in the Early Childhood Report “ Early Childhood Experts Await Proposed Part C Transition Guidelines,” January 2007
Featured in the Chicago Parent Magazine. “Baby Blues” July 2007
Featured in the Chicago Baby Magazine “Baby Blues” Spring 2007
Featured on Chicago Public Radio’s “Chicago Matters” Feature “Pay to Play” April 2006