Meet The Staff

Our Dental Hygienists

Aimee

Aimee graduated from Joliet Junior College with an Associate’s degree in Art in 2003. She then went on to Southern Illinois University and received a Bachelor’s degree in Dental Hygiene in 2006. Even after 17 years of practicing dental hygiene, Aimee says she still learns something new daily.

Taya

Taya is a 2018 graduate of the Parkland College Dental Hygiene Program. She is from Morris and enjoys seeing people that she knows as patients in her chair. Her goal every appointment is to give personalized and realistic home care goals that will help patients oral hygiene and overall health. Her free time is filled with chasing after her two little boys and three dogs.

Mari

Check back; Mari’s biography is coming soon!

Kate

Kate graduated from Fox College’s Dental Hygiene program in 2019 with honors. She is passionate about patient care and dedicated to educating patients on the importance of oral health. With a genuine interest in creating positive and educational dental experiences, Kate strives to make every visit informative and comfortable for her patients. She enjoys spending time with family and two dogs, being outdoors, and baking in her free time.

Our Assistants

Shawnee – After graduating from Morris Community High School in 2020, Shawnee started working full-time. She has been with the practice since July of 2023 and has found a passion for oral health. From being able to help Doctors restore great smiles, providing patients with high-quality care, and building relationships with patients, there is so much to love about being an assistant. Shawnee also coaches travel volleyball at the club where she played for many years. She enjoys volleyball, photography, gardening, and spending time with friends, family, and her two dogs.

Paige

Paige graduated from IVCC in 2021 with an Associated in Science, then started working at the office as a full-time assistant. She is now part-time at the office as she is in her last semester of dental hygiene school and will be graduating May 2025 from Parkland College. She loves seeing patients leave with a smile and providing them with the greatest care. Paige enjoys running and reading on her free time.

Our Patient Care Coordinator

Erin

When you enter Halkyard Family Dental, Erin, our Patient Care Coordinator, will greet you. In 2022, she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies from the University of Notre Dame. She has previous experience in education and is passionate about assisting patients and focusing on the logistics of maintaining a dental office. In her free time, Erin enjoys walking, reading, singing solo, and singing in the choir.