Your HISRA Staff
From here you can get to know a little bit about HISRA’s staff.
To learn more about our Staff Members, click on their name:
Katie Hogan Van Cleve, Executive Director
Katie has focused her career serving individuals with disabilities for over 20 years. In 2002, Katie joined HISRA as Executive Director. Since that time, Katie has overseen the addition of two park districts to HISRA’s service area, the creation of the Peoria Wildcats, the only wheelchair basketball team between Chicago and St. Louis, and has been instrumental in the Access the Experience event run in conjunction with the IHSA March Madness Experience. Katie has dual degrees in psychology and social work with a minor in political science from Bradley University. She lives in Peoria with her husband and daughter.
Shelby Martin, Program Coordinator
Shelby Martin started working at HISRA in the summer of 2014. Over the years she has worked as a camp aide, camp leader, camp specialist, and night & weekend program leader. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education in 2016 and finished her master’s degree in special education in July of 2022. Shelby taught first grade in the public school system for 5 years before transitioning into the role of a HISRA program coordinator. She is excited to combine her education experience with her special recreation experience to create meaningful and exciting opportunities for the HISRA community.
Karen Rodgers, Office Manager
Karen Rodgers started working at HISRA in the summer of 2022 as the Art Instructor for Camp Free To Be. Born and raised in Ireland, she emigrated to the USA in 2021. She has expertise in the fine arts and education, and has worked as a substitute teacher and paraprofessional across multiple school districts in the Greater Peoria Area. Karen is an alumni of The National College of Art and Design in Dublin, graduating with a BA in Fine Art. She has received awards and accolades for her undergraduate studies including an honorary Associateship of the National College of Art and Design. She is a practicing artist and has paintings in Irish public and private art collections. Karen is delighted to combine her vocational experience as an artist and educator to serve HISRA and the community in a manner that is innovative, comprehensive and purposeful.
Ginger West, Focus Program Leader
Ginger joined Focus in 2019 as the Focus Program Leader and plans all the awesome activities Focus does throughout the week!
Justin Hendon, Focus Aide
Justin joined HISRA in 2015 and works as a FOCUS Aide. Justin helps implement our FOCUS activities in a fun and safe way.
