Special Education Teacher/Teacher Consultant 

Math Curriculum Consultant and Instructional Coach

As a math curriculum consultant and instructional coach, Julie provides leadership and direct coaching in the ongoing development and improvement of instruction in all areas of K-12 mathematics, interventions, consultation, and assessment in support of increased student growth.

Prior to working for the EUPISD, Julie spent the first 18 years of her education career as a classroom teacher in the EUPISD region. During those years she taught K-12 Computers, Middle School/High School Mathematics, and K-2 Math Recovery® Intervention.

Contact For: Math Recovery®

School Improvement Facilitator, Language Arts/Social Studies Curriculum Consultant

As a school improvement facilitator locally and at the state level, Lindsay supports districts as they establish practical systems for continuous improvement; this commitment closely relates to her instructional consulting position in both language arts and social studies, through which she works to increase viable curriculum, high-quality instruction, and robust assessment practices throughout the region.

Lindsay has taught locally at both the elementary and secondary levels, and has coordinated professional learning for local districts, multiple regions, and at the state level for over fifteen years.  She continues to enhance her learning with certifications in Blueprint Facilitation, Adaptive Schools, Cognitive Coaching, and Reading Apprenticeship, as well as membership in a variety of professional organizations, including as a past board member of both the Michigan Council for Teachers of English and the Michigan Council for History Education.  She is also a coordinating member of Michigan School Improvement Facilitators’ Network and the Michigan Continuous School Improvement workgroup, contributing to MDE’s recent redesign of the statewide Integrated Continuous Improvement Process.

Principal/LEA Special Education Supervisor

As the principal at EUPISD Learning Center, Rachel provides leadership to motivate instructional and support staff to provide the best possible opportunities for student growth and development, both educationally and personally. Promoting a positive and safe school climate for staff and students is her number one goal. She also works with families and communities to make sure that they are all working together to provide students with the strategies they will need to be successful after they graduate. Rachel also works as the special education supervisor for Rudyard Area Schools providing technical assistance, guidance and professional development to their special education staff.

Rachel holds a Bachelors of Science in Education from CMU where she studied Special Education. After graduation from CMU Rachel worked for Rudyard Area Schools as a special education teacher. While teaching she earned her Masters of Education from Grand Canyon University, again studying special education. Rachel then accepted her position at the EUPISD Learning Center and has been working in this since 2011. She most recently earned her administrative certificate from Grand Valley State University in 2014. Rachel also is a certified Non-Violent Crisis Intervention Instructor and teaches this course through the EUPISD. 

Contact for:
EUPISD Learning Center
Youth Mental Health
Area Coordinators
PREPare

Teacher Consultant for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

Carrie provides support to educational teams to increase knowledge and skills for supporting students with ASD through teamwork and collaboration.  She participates in the planning and implementation of regional “A-Team” meetings to recommend evidence-based practices that promote success for students on the spectrum.  Carrie assists districts in integrating educational supports and positive behavior supports to promote students with autism engaging in class.  She also develops and delivers professional development and parent trainings related to research-based interventions for ASD.

Carrie serves as a state trainer for the Statewide Autism Resources and Training Project (START) and is a START approved effective practice leadership initiative trainer.  She participates with the Michigan Autism Council as a member of the Educational Supports and Services Subcommittee.

Contact for: 
Upper Peninsula Autism Network (UPAN)
Project ImPACT
Project SEARCH
Statewide Autism Resources and Training Project (START)
Peer to Peer LINKS
Autism Coaches Group

Special Education Administrative Assistant

Teresa  provides secretarial support to all staff in the Special Education Department.  She assists both EUPISD staff and non-EUPISD staff with accessing and completing forms including professional development forms, requests for reimbursement, travel expense vouchers and requests for technology.  Teresa enters absenses for department staff in AESOP and handles timesheets for EDUStaff employees in the Special Education Department.  Teresa is the primary contact for Special Education courses in Wisdomwhere.  Teresa also assists staff with the CEO system. She handles the accounts payables for the department.  Teresa also maintains the Special Education portion of the EUPISD website.

School Psychologist

As an EUPISD Psychologist, Raquel's role is to administer standardized intellectual, achievement, emotional, and behavioral testing, carry out observations and interviews to students to determine whether they might qualify for special education services. Based on these findings she also provides recommendations that best meet the student's needs in academic, social, emotional, and behavioral areas.

Other responsibilities that Raquel carries out include concussion baseline testing to student athletes, staff training in such areas as trauma, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders and post-concussion school intervention, provide representation at leadership meetings, and spear-head special interest groups. She also is responsible for carrying out risk assessments for identified students. Each evaluation leads to participation in team meetings for eligibility determination. Participation in professional development to enhance understanding in all relevant areas is also a part of Raquel's work.

Director of Special Education

Rachel provides direct supervision for all EUPISD operated programs and services. She also has oversight responsibilities for regional general supervision monitoring system across the EUPISD service area.

Rachel has previous experience as the EUPISD special education coordinator for planning,mMonitoring and data collection, served as a high school resource room teacher, and was a Families First worker for Inter-Tribal Council of Michigan.

Contact for: Special Education Department

Payroll/USF Coordinator

Melissa provides payroll support for multiple districts within the EUPISD region. Melissa’s duties include preparing and maintaining payroll records, making the appropriate payroll related payments, and reconciling health insurance.  She is also the main contract person for our regional EUP E-Rate Consortium and is responsible for our districts receiving discounts on their internet and network support.

Melissa previously worked at the Sault Area Chamber of Commerce and Convention & Visitors Bureau.  In that position, Melissa was responsible for selling Sault Ste. Marie as a vacation destination at national travel expos. Melissa has also held a variety of other jobs in the public service area that led her to love working with people.

 Contact for: USF - Universal Service Fund

Transition Supervisor

As the transition supervisor, Patricia provides leadership in supporting the local education agencies with professional learning. She also assists schools in the improvement of best practices in transition compliance to work towards increased student outcomes. In addition, she collaborates with community based agencies to ensure a continuum of services are available to transition age students. 

Patricia started her career teaching in a local district. She worked with the district for six years teaching special education and elementary education. She continues to enhance her leaning with participation as a regional member and executive board member for Michigan Career Placement Association.

Great Start Collaborative Coordinator

Cara provides support for the implementation of the Great Start Collaborative strategic plan, including the development of shared leadership, engagement, and capacity among all members of the collaborative, and facilitates the development of a seamless early childhood system for young children and their families. 

Cara has worked in early childhood education since 2004.  Her past experiences include preschool teacher, preschool teacher mentor, and home visitation mentor. Cara also provides reflective supervision for the Parents and Teachers program. Cara was awarded the 2018-2019 Employee of the Year for the EUPISD.

School Psychologist

Jessie completes student evaluations to help school teams determine if a student is eligible for special education services in areas of suspected disability.  In addition to eligibility, these evaluations help to identify each student's unique strengths and weaknesses and to support school teams in developing appropriate educational plans for their students.  Jessie also completes student risk assessments as needed to help ensure students are safe and supported adequately both in and out of the school setting.  District level MTSS coaching and regional level MTSS Literacy training are also part of Jessie’s work at the EUPISD.

Jessie has been a state and nationally certified School Psychologist since 2007.  She joined the EUPISD in 2014 with many experiences in student problem solving processes, special education evaluations, and development and implementation of Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS).  Jessie graduated with her Bachelor’s degree from Central Michigan University and received her training in School Psychology through Wayne State University.

Director of Human Resources and Finance

Dena oversees the services to the EUPISD and region in the area of finance and human resources.

Dena was a public auditor for seven years before joining the EUPISD team in 2008 as the business manager.

Payroll and Benefits Coordinator

Yvonne is the coordinator of benefits for the EUPISD, more specifically enrollment, terminations, FMLA, and Cobra. She processes payroll for the EUPISD and  for two of the eight school districts that the EUPISD provides business services for, as well as various other state reporting and district business services support.

Yvonne worked at Michigan Limestone Operations in Cedarville, Michigan in the Business Office as a production clerk. She has over 18 years of work experience with the EUPISD processing payroll, accounts payable, cash receipts, as well as various other support roles in the Business Office.

CTE Administrator/Pupil Accounting Auditor

Tammy is the regions Career Technical Education (CTE) administrator and responsible for the submission, reporting, and review of all requirements associated with the Carl D. Perkins grant. She also provide technical assistance, leadership and coordination for activities associated with CTE. 

Tammy is also the Pupil Accounting auditor for EUPISD and COPESD. She is responsible for auditing the records of Michigan public school districts and public-school academies to ensure compliance with all state aid applicable law and policies and practices pursuant to the Michigan Pupil Accounting manual. Tammy provides pupil accounting support for the districts including the submission of all reports and coordination of data collection: General Collections, Special Education Collections, Section 21F for virtual students, Early Childhood Roster, Student Record Maintenance (MSDS), Graduation and Drop Out (GAD), Civil Rights, MCIR/ Immunization and Unique Identifier Code (UIC) requests and resolutions and Section 25 requests.

Tammy has an MBA and 10 years teaching experience at the post secondary and secondary level.  She has also worked in industry as an accountant.

Director of Early Childhood

Jessica Savoie is the director of the Early Childhood Department, which serves and supports the Eastern Upper Peninsula early childhood programs, services, and initiatives. The EUPISD provides early intervention for infants and toddlers with developmental delays and disabilities, preschool curriculum, instruction, and assessment support, parent education through the Parents as Teachers home visitation program, community-based collaborations with the Great Start Collaborative and Parent Coalition. Additionally, the EUPISD operates the local Dolly Parton Imagination Library program, provides preschool scholarships, and operates a preschool lab school in collaboration with Lake Superior State University. Jessica represents the EUP early childhood efforts as a member of the MAISA Early Childhood Administrators Network along with participation in a variety of other state-level early childhood committees. 

Jessica has been employed with the EUPISD since 2002. She has worked in the early childhood realm since 2005, working in roles as an early interventionist and supervisor before assuming the role of director in 2018. 

EUP STEM Region Director

As the EUP STEM Region director, Kevin works to improve STEM education in Chippewa, Luce, and Mackinac Counties.  The EUP STEM Region connects K-12 education, higher education, business/industry leaders, government agencies, and non-profits to engage in collaborative efforts in support of the four MiSTEM Pillars.

Kevin had experience as an environmental scientist in the private sector prior to becoming a science teacher in the EUP.  He then began working at the EUPISD as the EUP Math and Science Center director prior to the formation of the EUP STEM Region.  Working with an amazing group of regional educators while collaborating with statewide partners has provided an outstanding learning experience.  The current partnership with the MiSTEM Network and regional partners through the EUP STEM Advisory Council has provided the opportunity to connect education and our regional workforce.