Meet the Illinois AEYC Staff

Donetta J. Braner

Director of Operations

Donetta serves as the Director of Operations for Illinois AEYC. She has been with the association since 1999. Donetta holds a degree in education from Illinois State University. She is a former teacher and operator of a licensed home day care business in the Rochester community. Donetta enjoys running the day to day operations for the association and has added increased strength and stability to Illinois AEYC since opening the office in ‘99. Much progress has been made in all areas of the association over the past 11 years and Donetta foresees that the association will continue to grow stronger through the years as Illinois AEYC has a leadership base of extremely dedicated volunteers which continues to expand as well as our collaborative efforts working with other organizations statewide.  Call Donetta at the Illinois AEYC Office if you need assistance contacting your local public policy chair or local affiliate leadership in your area.

Tonya J. Frehner

Director of Programs

Tonya began as the Director of Programs/Statewide Accreditation Mentoring Project Coordinator for Illinois AEYC in November ‘06. She comes to the association with a background in education and public policy. Tonya received her MS in Education from Southern Illinois University in 2004 and her BA in Public Policy/Political Science from Blackburn College in 2000. She served as the Vice President of Operations for Jobs for Illinois Graduates Inc. for five years joining efforts to restore both $4 and $6 million dollar state appropriations as she assisted in their diversification of funding sources.  She was the programmatic administrator overseeing program development as she helped develop their 501 C3 status. Contact Tonya at the Illinois AEYC Office if you are interested in bringing a group to Springfield to visit legislators.