About Us

Vision

Decatur and Macon County will be one of the most educated communities in Illinois.

Philosophy

The Decatur Area Education Coalition believes the extraordinary challenge of helping all children learn at high levels and become prepared for life-long success demands an increased role for business, educators, parents and others outside the school room.

The extraordinary reward of meeting this challenge is an improved quality of life for Decatur and Macon County residents and increased prosperity for all in the region.

What is needed is a fundamental way of working differently as a community to achieve community solutions to a high priority concern.

Background

A group of educators and community leaders started meeting in 2005 in Decatur to form an organized response to the issue of student performance.

Studies and assessment projects conducted by the Economic Development Corporation, the United Way, The Community Foundation of Decatur/Macon County, the Greater Decatur Chamber of Commerce, the Decatur Board of Education, and others began to focus all attention on improving academic achievement.

The complexity of the problem calls for a systemic, community-wide and sustained approach to achieve improvement. To facilitate this approach the group has organized a community support infrastructure called the Decatur Area Education Coalition.

Goals

The Decatur Area Education Coalition identified three goals to make this vision a reality:

• Every child is fully prepared for success when entering Kindergarten.
• Every student masters grade level work.
• Every student graduates from high school with the skills and resources to enroll in college or join the workforce.

Dr. Irma Brooks, Executive Director, is a native of El Paso, Texas. She holds an Ed. D. in Education Leadership and Administration from University of Texas at El Paso, a Masters Degree in Educational Techology, and a Bachelors Degree in Marketing and Accounting.

Dr. Brooks comes to Decatur from the position of Director of Magnet Schools and Smaller Learning Communites with the Ysleta Independent School District in El Paso. In that capacity she coordinated the educational efforts of eleven middle schools and seven high schools with the business community to ensure that students possess the skills necessary to enter the workforce and to succeed in the pursuit of their careers at institutions of higher learning.

Her husband, Dr. Gary D. Brooks is a graduate of Millikin University in Decatur and served as Dean of Men at Millikin in 1967 and 1968.

York Powers, Kindergarten Readiness Coordinator, a recognized member of the educational community, coordinates all aspects of the Coalition's efforts in preparing Macon County children for success in Kindergarten. As leader of the Kindergarten Readiness Team, York facilitates discussion among the many member organizations and encourages collaboration and inclusion. York is a graduate of Millikin University and is the Alumni Advisor for Sigma Alpha Epsilon.

Angela Roberts, Executive Assistant, a Bloomington native, comes to the Education Coalition with great enthusiasm to perform the duties as the new Executive Assistant to Dr. Irma Brooks. Angela’s employment background includes office experience working for the DeWitt County Courthouse, Liberty Village Retirement, and State Farm Insurance. While employed with the insurance company, Angela took on additional roles within the community by volunteering as a United Way Department Ambassador, and a Junior Achievement Instructor. Angela is also a substitute 1st grade Sunday school teacher at First Christian Church in Clinton, where she currently resides with her husband and 2 children. Angela is attending Lincoln Christian University and her major is in Human Services.