Bio coming soon!

Bio coming soon!

This is my 17th year in McHenry District 15 teaching the Intermediate Adjusted Learning Class.   I started my career at Edgebrook and have been at Duker for the past 12 years.

I earned my bachelor’s degree from Lewis University and my Master’s from St. Xavier University.  I spent many summers as a middle and high school student volunteering at the Adult and Child Rehab Center. I always knew I wanted to be a special education teacher.

I grew up in Woodstock and now live in Crystal Lake with my family.  My two boys and golden retriever, Bailey, keep me very busy. Aidan is starting second grade this year and Landon is in Kindergarten!  They are both excited for school to start remotely, but definitely miss recess, their teachers and friends.   When I am not at school, I enjoy reading,  spending time with my family, watching Cubs games, playing baseball and volleyball with my family and going to the beach. 

I look forward to another great school year!

Hello!  My name is Carie Tilling.  I have worked in District 15 previously for 6 years as a classroom teacher and then took time off to raise my family.  Coming back and working in Special Education at Duker is a great experience!  I am thrilled that I can have the students for two years.  Building that relationship is important!  I graduated from Illinois State University and received my Masters and Special Education Endorsement from National Louis University.  My favorite things to do when not teaching is spending time with family, read, and enjoy the outside whether it be gardening, biking, or attempting to play sports with my 2 teenagers!  

It has been a pleasure working in District 15 the past 23 years, and calling Duker home since it opened in 2001. I count myself blessed and am grateful for a rewarding job that I love, with the best co-workers a person could ask for. I earned my Bachelor's degree in General Ed and Special Education from Arkansas State University, and my Master’s from St. Xavier University. Getting to know the way each one of my students learn the best through building a trusting, safe relationship is a favorite part of my job.

Things I enjoy outside of school are: spending time with my family, playing with my 4 grandsons, making quilts, watching the St. Louis Cardinals, and being outside.

I have called Duker my “home away from home” for the past 11 years.  This will be my 12th year teaching as a Special Education teacher at Duker School.  My love for teaching and working with children has been a lifelong passion of mine.  I was born and raised in McHenry!   I was hired at Duker after graduating from Roosevelt University in 2009 with a Bachelor’s degree in Special Education (LBS1).  In 2014, I completed a Master’s Degree as a Reading Specialist from Concordia University.

When I am not at Duker, you can find me spending time with family and friends, swimming and floating in my pool, cooking, working out, or relaxing by a fire.  I have been married for 20 years and have two sons.  My oldest son is a junior at Illinois State University majoring in Elementary Education.  My youngest son is a freshman at McHenry County College majoring in Physical Education Teacher Education (PETE Program).  

My name is Heather Perdue. This will be my fourth year at Duker. I am a Paraprofessional for Adjusted Learning. I received my Para license in 2016. Prior to working at Duker I worked at Crystal Lake North Elementary as a playground/lunchroom supervisor. I live in McHenry with my husband of 15 years, my 13 year old son and almost 11 year old daughter. We have a Siberian Husky named Steel, fish and a turtle. I enjoy spending time with family, watching movies, playing games and crocheting.

My name is Ms. Dawley. I've been in District 15 for 9 years: 2 as a volunteer, 2 as a playground supervisor, and 5 as a paraprofessional. I am in the SES classroom and I love it!