Illinois / Early Childhood

Agency file

Early Childhood

Source file: Illinois — State Employee Pay / ingested Jun 18, 2026

The Early Childhood is a government agency that delivers public services and programs within its jurisdiction.

In 2025, this agency had 11 employees with median total compensation of $136,500; the highest distinct record was $168,400.

Year: 2025
Employees: 11
Median total: $136,500
Highest record: $168,400

What the records show

Compensation analytics

These summaries compare pay within the agency before listing individual records.

Salary distribution

$41,600$168,400+

How 2025 total compensation is spread across the 11 employees. Each bar is a pay range; taller bars mean more people earn in that range. The amber line marks the median ($136,500) — half earn less, half more. The far-right bar collects the highest earners.

Average pay composition

Base — $0 (0%)
Overtime — $0 (0%)
Other — $121,109 (100%)
Benefits — $0 (0%)

What an average paycheck here is made of — base salary versus overtime, other pay (bonuses, allowances), and benefits. A large overtime or other-pay share means take-home often exceeds base salary.

Pay percentiles

10th

25th

Median

75th

90th

$85,500

$85,600

$136,500

$154,100

$160,900

The pay ladder for this department. Someone at the 90th percentile earns $160,900 — more than 90% of the department; the 10th percentile earns $85,500. The shaded band is the middle half of employees (25th–75th percentile).

Largest job titles

Senior Public Service Administrative

8 · $146,200

Human Resources Specialist

3 · $85,600

The most common job titles in this department by headcount, with the median total compensation for each. Click a title to see everyone who holds it.

Record list

Employees

Highest-paid first / page 1

Kathleen Stralka

Senior Public Service Administrative/Early Childhood

2025 total comp

$168,400

Sub-department: GRF - ADMINISTRATION
Base pay: $0
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $168,400
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $168,400
Union / bargaining unit: MERIT COMPENSATION
Work county: COOK

Source-specific fields

4-D Exempt: Yes
Employment Status: EXEMPT
Period Pay Rate: $7,500
Rutan Exempt: Yes

Kathleen Stralka holds the role of Senior Public Service Administrative at Early Childhood within Grf - Administration. In 2025, their total compensation was $168,400. They are represented by MERIT COMPENSATION.

Patricia Rooney

Senior Public Service Administrative/Early Childhood

2025 total comp

$160,900

Sub-department: GRF - ADMINISTRATION
Base pay: $0
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $160,900
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $160,900
Union / bargaining unit: MERIT COMPENSATION
Work county: COOK

Source-specific fields

4-D Exempt: Yes
Employment Status: EXEMPT
Period Pay Rate: $6,900
Rutan Exempt: Yes

Patricia Rooney works as a Senior Public Service Administrative for Early Childhood within Grf - Administration. Patricia earned $160,900 in 2025. Union affiliation: MERIT COMPENSATION.

Jennifer Cohen-Deihl

Senior Public Service Administrative/Early Childhood

2025 total comp

$154,100

Sub-department: GRF - ADMINISTRATION
Base pay: $0
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $154,100
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $154,100
Union / bargaining unit: MERIT COMPENSATION
Work county: SANGAMON

Source-specific fields

4-D Exempt: Yes
Employment Status: CERTIFIED
Period Pay Rate: $7,400
Rutan Exempt: No

Jennifer Cohen-Deihl is a Senior Public Service Administrative at Early Childhood within Grf - Administration. 2025 total compensation came to $154,100. Their bargaining unit is MERIT COMPENSATION.

Shontee Blankenship

Senior Public Service Administrative/Early Childhood

2025 total comp

$146,300

Sub-department: GRF - ADMINISTRATION
Base pay: $0
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $146,300
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $146,300
Union / bargaining unit: MERIT COMPENSATION
Work county: COOK

Source-specific fields

4-D Exempt: Yes
Employment Status: EXEMPT
Period Pay Rate: $6,600
Rutan Exempt: Yes

Shontee Blankenship holds the role of Senior Public Service Administrative at Early Childhood within Grf - Administration. In 2025, their total compensation was $146,300. Union affiliation: MERIT COMPENSATION.

Matthew Lehman

Senior Public Service Administrative/Early Childhood

2025 total comp

$146,100

Sub-department: GRF - ADMINISTRATION
Base pay: $0
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $146,100
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $146,100
Union / bargaining unit: MERIT COMPENSATION
Work county: SANGAMON

Source-specific fields

4-D Exempt: Yes
Employment Status: CERTIFIED
Period Pay Rate: $6,300
Rutan Exempt: No

Matthew Lehman works as a Senior Public Service Administrative for Early Childhood within Grf - Administration. Matthew earned $146,100 in 2025. Union affiliation: MERIT COMPENSATION.

Brandon Woudenberg

Senior Public Service Administrative/Early Childhood

2025 total comp

$136,500

Sub-department: GRF - ADMINISTRATION
Base pay: $0
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $136,500
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $136,500
Union / bargaining unit: MERIT COMPENSATION
Work county: SANGAMON

Source-specific fields

4-D Exempt: Yes
Employment Status: CERTIFIED
Period Pay Rate: $5,800
Rutan Exempt: No

Brandon Woudenberg holds the role of Senior Public Service Administrative at Early Childhood within Grf - Administration. In 2025, their total compensation was $136,500. Their bargaining unit is MERIT COMPENSATION.

Arlene Herron

Senior Public Service Administrative/Early Childhood

2025 total comp

$115,400

Sub-department: GRF - ADMINISTRATION
Base pay: $0
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $115,400
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $115,400
Union / bargaining unit: MERIT COMPENSATION
Work county: SANGAMON

Source-specific fields

4-D Exempt: Yes
Employment Status: CERTIFIED
Period Pay Rate: $5,800
Rutan Exempt: No

Arlene Herron holds the role of Senior Public Service Administrative at Early Childhood within Grf - Administration. In 2025, their total compensation was $115,400. They are represented by MERIT COMPENSATION.

Melissa Long

Human Resources Specialist/Early Childhood

2025 total comp

$91,800

Sub-department: GRF - ADMINISTRATION
Base pay: $0
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $91,800
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $91,800
Union / bargaining unit: COLLECTIVE BARGAINING
Work county: SANGAMON

Source-specific fields

4-D Exempt: Yes
Employment Status: CERTIFIED
Period Pay Rate: $3,600
Rutan Exempt: No

Melissa Long holds the role of Human Resources Specialist at Early Childhood within Grf - Administration. In 2025, their total compensation was $91,800. Union affiliation: COLLECTIVE BARGAINING.

Ethan States

Human Resources Specialist/Early Childhood

2025 total comp

$85,600

Sub-department: GRF - ADMINISTRATION
Base pay: $0
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $85,600
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $85,600
Union / bargaining unit: COLLECTIVE BARGAINING
Work county: SANGAMON

Source-specific fields

4-D Exempt: Yes
Employment Status: CERTIFIED
Period Pay Rate: $3,600
Rutan Exempt: No

Ethan States holds the role of Human Resources Specialist at Early Childhood within Grf - Administration. In 2025, their total compensation was $85,600. They are represented by COLLECTIVE BARGAINING.

Katerina Dawson

Human Resources Specialist/Early Childhood

2025 total comp

$85,500

Sub-department: GRF - ADMINISTRATION
Base pay: $0
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $85,500
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $85,500
Union / bargaining unit: COLLECTIVE BARGAINING
Work county: ADAMS

Source-specific fields

4-D Exempt: Yes
Employment Status: PROB 6 MOS
Period Pay Rate: $3,600
Rutan Exempt: No

Katerina Dawson works as a Human Resources Specialist for Early Childhood within Grf - Administration. Katerina earned $85,500 in 2025. Their bargaining unit is COLLECTIVE BARGAINING.

Shannon Tesio

Senior Public Service Administrative/Early Childhood

2025 total comp

$41,600

Sub-department: GRF - ADMINISTRATION
Base pay: $0
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $41,600
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $41,600
Union / bargaining unit: MERIT COMPENSATION
Work county: SANGAMON

Source-specific fields

4-D Exempt: Yes
Employment Status: CERTIFIED
Period Pay Rate: $5,000
Rutan Exempt: No

Shannon Tesio holds the role of Senior Public Service Administrative at Early Childhood within Grf - Administration. In 2025, their total compensation was $41,600. They are represented by MERIT COMPENSATION.