McHenry School District 15
Joselle Buan-Thorne, COTA/L, is an experienced Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant with a focus on providing tailored occupational therapy services within educational settings. Currently employed by McHenry School District 15 since January 2024, Joselle supports student-specific goals aimed at fostering independence for students with diverse abilities. Previously, Joselle served as a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant at The NIA, where interventions and consultations were provided to elementary students, emphasizing evidence-based practices and meaningful educational outcomes. Joselle's extensive experience in education includes roles as a substitute teacher, paraprofessional, and classroom assistant, alongside previous positions in sensory support and food research, showcasing a multifaceted background in both occupational therapy and educational support. Educational qualifications include an Associate of Arts and Sciences and an Associate of Science in Occupational Therapy Assistant from McHenry County College and a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
McHenry School District 15
Recognized for innovative staff development practices and financial responsibility, McHenry Elementary School District 15 is a continuously evolving school district serving approximately 5,000 students in grades PreK-8th grade, located 50 miles northwest of Chicago. McHenry Elementary School District 15 has earned state and national recognition for innovative on-going targeted staff development, Common Core implementation and Illinois State Board of Education Financial Recognition. McHenry Elementary School District 15 takes great pride in bringing the best education possible to our students while continuing to develop our employees. Our students and teachers have the benefit of technology integrated into our curriculum allowing them to enhance the teaching and learning process using Chromebooks, iPads, interactive classroom technology and learning management systems. McHenry Elementary School District 15 offers on-going staff development and mentoring programs to all of our teachers while enhancing the learning environment and creating a positive atmosphere. McHenry Elementary School District 15 also honors diversity by our commitment to second language acquisition using a transitional bilingual program of instruction that includes native language instruction through a developmental model and ESL services. Through our rigorous curriculum, Response to Intervention (RTI) and Positive Behavior Intervention Strategies (PBIS) and a full continuum of special education services, we meet the needs of all students residing in our district.