Dear Parents,

For every family, Back to School season can be a tough time. We go from the laid back, easy-going schedule of summer, to waking up early, packing bags and lunches, making sure homework is done, and off to the routine of school. 

Except this year has been anything but routine, and the upcoming Back to School season is especially full of stress, anxiety, and unanswered questions for us all. 

If you’ve got a kiddo with Sensory Challenges, Focus and Learning Challenges, or Social, Emotional, and Behavioral Challenges… then this fall has you beyond worried about how your child is going to handle the vastly different routines, the masks, the mandates, and more. 

While we can’t take all of your worry away, we can help in a big way. We’ve assembled a group of the Top Professionals in the area of School and IEP Support, Social and Emotional Support, and Health and Well-Being Support for our first ever Live Virtual Back to School Summit, focusing on the “Perfect Storm” that is unfortunately a Category 5 this go around! 

We’ll go Live on Zoom with you 3 nights in a row August 4-6th at 8 PM Central, with a Panel Discussion from these amazingly passionate, experienced professionals who are each excited to connect with you heart-to-heart and help answer your questions, calm your fears, and help your family build out successful action steps and strategies for your child to best navigate school this fall and stay healthy, happy, and on track! 

Not only can you join us safely and comfortably from your home for this incredible event, but we’ll have our team moderating and connected the whole time to make sure you get your questions and concerns answered live and on the spot!

Dr. Douglas Neal 

- Clinical Psychologist

Dr. Neal has been practicing in the Chicago/Crystal Lake area for over 35 years. As his experience grows, so does his passion for the opportunity to come alongside those who want to have the life they were destined to have. Over the years he has expanded his original training in conventional Western medication to embrace an integrative (mind/body/spirit) psychological approach and functional medicine.  He starts with the concept that our human body has what it needs to stay healthy.  He helps clients identify what is getting in the way of their health presenting as physical-emotional-cognitive symptoms. His focus is “promoting health, not treating a disorder” replacing disease with “dis-ease.” With strong roots in the local professional community, he teams with a wide variety of specialists (educational support services, functional medicine and holistic professionals, chiropractors, psychiatrists, learning disabilities specialists, etc.) so that clients receive specialized yet integrated care.

OT & School Support

- Jana Smith

With experience in the school system (D47), private practice (Grow Therapies), and also as a rockstar mom of two, Jana brings practical, level-headed advice at all times. She'll be able to provide answers and advice from all fronts during the Summit, and help your family in so many ways! 

Pediatric Chiropractor 

- Dr. Tony Ebel

Having first put together the Perfect Storm science and pathway together back in 2008, Dr. Tony has been doing all he can to educate and impact as many parents and professionals as he can ever since with the science behind why so many kids are so sick, and so stressed. You'll learn so much about how to help your child better sleep, better focus, better handle emotions, and so much more from Dr. Tony... and be entertained along the way with his endless array of Iowa farmer jokes and dad jokes! 

Integrative Pediatric Health Expert - Jessica Pawlicki of Well-Rooted Pediatrics

An absolute wealth of knowledge, passion, and expertise in the area of helping kids and families get healthy naturally. Where as most providers take the easy path and care for every child with the same cookie cutter approach, Jessica takes care of each kid with a customized, personalized approach and always goes the extra mile! She's one-of-a-kind and will be a wealth of support and knowledge for you on our Summit. 

Warrior Mama & IEP Pro

- Jacqui Jakubowicz

Mother to two amazing children on the spectrum, Logan and Luke, Jacqui works tirelessly each day to not only best care for and support her family, but also countless others through her role as Chief Heart Officer at PWC. Experienced on the family side, school side, and health side... she's an incredible resource for all families! 

Extra Awesome Mama & IEP Pro

- Nicki Zordan

Mother to two amazing little ones, including James who's overcome sensory, apraxia, and sickness challenges Nicki is an endless resource of hope and help for families still going through their journey with the Perfect Storm and doing all they can to make the best life possible for their child! 

Mary Topolinski 

- Social Behavior Specialist

Mary Topolinski is a Social Behavior Specialist and the founder and owner of Social Strategies. Her experience, passion, and expertise help empower children, teens, and adults to find social success using the Social Strategies program. She is professionally and personally (as a parent) experienced in helping individuals with many varied disabilities, including autism spectrum disorders, non-verbal learning disabilities, and ADHD, among many other neurological, mental, developmental, and learning issues. She has developed the Social Strategies program to assist people of all ages who find social situations challenging, and has successfully trained her team in her exemplary standards of personalized care and impeccable service.

Laura Materna

- Special Education Teacher

I’ve been an educator for 25 years serving in roles both in and out of the classroom. Throughout my career I’ve been a teacher, a district behavior specialist, and an administrator. I’ve taught students in early childhood settings, elementary and high school levels and am currently lucky enough to lead the middle school cross categorical program in district 47 while teaching at Bernotas Middle School. I hold 5 specialized teaching certificates and have only ever wanted to be a special education teacher. I graduated from Illinois State and hold a Masters degree from St. Xavier University.

Beth Saip, DPT

- Clinical Director, Dream Riders 

An absolute unstoppable force for good in our community! A heart of gold and a drive to serve that is unmatched, Beth puts her therapy experience and training into her every day work for special needs families and her family and just makes things happen no matter the obstacle. As we face this tough back to school season, Beth's toughness on the panel will transfer to your family guaranteed! 

Matt Pierce

- Associate Principal

Matt is the exact sort of educator you want your kids around each day! Married to another amazing teacher Dayna, and Dad and Coach to incredible twin boys, he knows how to juggle it all and still keep smiling, keep healthy, and keep caring for kids every way he can as Associate Principal of the ReStart Program, a part of the Kishwaukee Educational Consortium. Covid-19 has reinforced the need for students and families to be as physically and emotionally balanced as possible, and he looks forward to joining our Summit to help as many families as possible do just that through these tough times!