Student Support Team

Officer Carey

Officer Megan Carey is a Police Officer with the City of McHenry. Through a partnership with District 15, she is currently a School Resource Officer whose primary location is at McHenry Middle School. Officer Carey also assists with all other D15 schools in police related matters. She has been with the McHenry Police Department since 2018 and started her partnership with D15 during the 2023-2024 school year. Officer Carey’s current police specialties include being a member of the Crisis Intervention Team (CIT), Evidence Technician Team, and McHenry County Major Investigations Assistance Team (MIAT). She has completed training to hold the titles of Certified Juvenile Officer and Certified School Resource Officer. Officer Carey attended college at Southern Illinois University Carbondale and Eastern Illinois University where she obtained a Master’s Degree in science.

Ms. Mears

Hi! My name is Patricia Mears, and I am the licensed Speech-Language Pathologist at McHenry Middle School. I received my Bachelor of Science degree in 1991 and my Master of Science degree in 1993 from Eastern Illinois University. I have been employed with McHenry District 15 since January 2002. Prior to that, I worked in a variety of settings, such as Early Intervention, Skilled Nursing Facilities, Home Health Care, schools, and hospitals. Not only do I hold a state licensure and an Illinois Teaching Certificate, I also maintain my Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. 

Being a Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) is an extremely rewarding profession. I am passionate about helping individuals of all ages communicate their wants, needs, and ideas. My role as an SLP is to evaluate and treat those students with deficits in the following skill areas: sound production (articulation), speech clarity or intelligibility, stuttering, voice disorders, listening comprehension, expressive language, language memory, auditory processing, language processing, problem solving/reasoning and thinking, abstract language (e.g., inferences, idioms, analogies, sarcasm), reading comprehension, written expression, and swallowing (dysphagia). I believe that collaborating and consulting with teachers and family members is important if our students are to succeed academically and socially.  It is a team effort! My goal at the middle school level is to teach the skills needed to make students proficient listeners, speakers, writers, communicators, and social beings.

On the weekends, I work as an SLP at Northwestern Medicine Hospital in McHenry. In my leisure time, I enjoy nature walks, reading, playing word games, and visiting family. I have two sons, who are 25 and 23 years of age, and a beloved 14-year-old Shih-poo dog named Patch.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.

Mrs. Phalen

I have been a school social worker at MMS since 2014. Prior to my years at MMS, I worked for ten years in a variety of capacities in the social service field. I have a Bachelors of Science in Family Social Services from NIU, and a Masters of Social Work degree from Dominican University. 

As a school social worker, I strive to be a resource for students and their families by providing supportive counseling, education and crisis intervention. I work with the entire educational team to problem solve when students are facing a challenging social or emotional situation. Referrals for outside agency services and assistance at Christmas time are available for families, upon request. 

Please feel free to reach out to your child's team of teachers if you have any concerns about their social or emotional functioning within school. If you and/or the teachers feel that your child requires a little more support, I am available to discuss how we can support your child here at MMS.

Ms. LaPorta

Hello! I am Ms. LaPorta, one of the school social workers here at McHenry Middle School. After receiving my Bachelor’s at Illinois State University, I went on to receive my MSW at Boise State University and my PEL certification through Aurora University. During that time, I also obtained my state licensure. Throughout this time, I worked with children and adolescents in a variety of settings before finally making my way to MMS in 2021.

As a member of the student support team, I strive to work with students, families, and teachers to ensure students are receiving the services they need to reach their full potential. This takes place through the development of individual education plans, the teaching of social and emotional skills, consultation, referrals to outside resources, and crisis management.

Please feel free to reach out to your student’s teacher or myself with any social or emotional concerns.

Ms. Loris

Hi! My name is Allyson Loris, I am an Occupational Therapist here in District 15! After I received my Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 2017, I completed my clinical Doctorate of Occupational Therapy at Midwestern University in 2020. Through this time, I have worked with individuals across the lifespan in a variety of settings, including early intervention, home health, outpatient clinics, schools and hospitals. I am dedicated to creating a nurturing and inclusive environment that helps students with diverse needs to thrive and grow!

Mr. Woodward

I have been school psychologist at McHenry Middle School since 2011.  I enjoy helping students discover different ways to learn and learn how to overcome challenges.  I am involved with academic assessments, response to intervention, and problem solving.  I am lucky to have the chance to collaborate with our great teachers, administrators, and support staff on a daily basis.  As a soccer club coach, I also get to work with students on their skills in one of my favorite sports.

To learn more about Response to Intervention at McHenry Middle School, please click on the following link:

MMS Response to Intervention

If you would like to contact me, please reach me at rwoodward@d15.org