Breakout Session Speaker Bios

 

Barb Bieber, MS

Barb Bieber was the School Psychology and Mental Health consultant at the Colorado Department of Education for the past 12 years.  During that time, Barb served on the State Steering Committee for Colorado's Trauma-Informed System of Care Grant, administered by the Office of Behavioral Health.  Working with other state agency partners, Barb learned about the impact of trauma-informed care and worked with others to develop applications for classrooms and schools.

Nancy Blackwell, M Ed

Nancy is an award-winning teacher with a master's degree in Education. She has taught at the high school and college level for twelve years in California, both in San Diego and Lake Tahoe. On completion of her teaching credential at San Diego State University, she was voted "Student Teacher of the Year" in 1989. She has been nominated five times to Who's Who in American Teachers. For the last five years Nancy has split her time between teaching and being a facilitator for a premiere accelerated learning program, leading youth through brain-based learning strategies. As a facilitator she helps with staff training, overseeing the program, and teaching life skills and academic portions of the program. These include team building, relationship skills and communication skills.  Nancy has led these programs at the national and international levels, including locations in Hong Kong, Mexico, Singapore and Beijing. Nancy is also a certified as a life coach, helping people explore their own potential.

Christina Bowers, MS

Christina Bowers received both her B.S. and M.S. degrees from Purdue University in Speech and Language. While in Indiana and Virginia, she worked with the Augmentative and Alternative Communication teams.  Currently, Christina works in Academy School District #20 servicing students with a variety of language needs. She is a member of the district's Assistive Technology team where she completes assessments and consults with various service providers.

Mishele Stein Carroll, MA, NCSP

Mishele is the MTSS Systems Integration Coordinator for the Office of Learning Supports at the Colorado Department of Education.  She earned her graduate degree and certification in school psychology at the University of Colorado at Denver.  Mishele started her career as a school psychologist in Eagle County School District before moving to Utah, where she worked as a school psychologist, PBIS project specialist, and most recently school psychologist coordinator.  She has been directly involved in the implementation of PBIS systems at the school, district, and state levels since 1999.

Lois M. Christiansen, Ph.D.

Lois works for RE-1 Valley School District in Sterling Colorado in northeastern Colorado.  She has been in this rural community for 25 years in a variety of settings including community mental health, private practice, and schools.  Lois joined CSSP S-W CRT about 5 years ago.

Chenoa Crowshoe-Patterson

Chenoa is a social work intern with the Denver Public Schools Indian Education program.  She has had experience working as a crisis treatment specialist and has worked at a mental health center.  Chenoa has a trauma certificate as part of her studies at the Univeristy of Denver with an emphasis in historical trauma.

Barbara J. Downing, Ph.D.

Barbara is a school psychologist and District Discipline Partner supporting the Office of Social Emotional Learning in the Denver Public Schools. She coordinates the district level threat assessment process, and is responsible for the coordination and implementation of student discipline in policy and practice.  Dr. Downing focuses much of her time on the elimination of disproportionate discipline outcomes, and the implementation of research-based strategies that have been shown to make schools safe, equitable, and places where all students can thrive.

Anna Gisetti, M.A.

Anna began working at the Denver Children's Home with at-risk youth in a residential treatment setting before joining the Colorado public school system for over six years as a school counselor.  She provided professional development to staff on many topics, including bullying prevention, suicide intervention, substance abuse prevention, restorative practices, and threat assessment.  As the School Outreach Consultant for the CSSRC, Anna continues to train school staff on these and other school safety topics, as well as provide workshops for parents.  Anna holds a M.A. in Counseling Psychology and Counselor Education from the University of Colorado at Denver,
and a B.S.B.A. from American University in Washington, D.C.

Eldridge Greer, Ph.D.

Eldridge is the Director of the Office of Social Emotional Learning at Denver Public Schools.  He received his doctoral training in clinical and child psychology at the University of Iowa, his certification as a school psychologist at the University of Colorado-Denver and his special education director endorsement from the University of Northern Colorado.

Christine Harms, M.S.

Chris is the Director for the Colorado School Safety Resource Center, is a Pennsylvania native and former public school teacher, private school administrator, psychotherapist and trainer with over 30 years of experience working with youth, professionals and parents in schools, private practice and victim serving agencies.  Chris spent five years as the coordinator of a large suburban Philadelphia school safety center.  She has trained professionals on such issues as violence prevention, school-based crisis response, trauma, secondary traumatic stress, sexual harassment and misconduct, suicide intervention, and threat assessment.  She has taught at the University of Northern Colorado.  Prior to becoming the Director of the Colorado School Safety Resource Center, she served as the School Outreach Consultant for the Center starting in 2009 and the Training Director at COVA for 18 months.

Bryn Harris, Ph.D.

Bryn  is an assistant professor in the school psychology program at the University of Colorado Denver. She is a bilingual psychologist with expertise in providing best practice psychoeducational evaluations and interventions to English language learners. Her research interests include the training of bilingual school psychologists, increasing cultural competency, and gifted English language learners.

Ariel Haytas, BA

Ariel is completing her Ed.S. degree in Child, Family, and School Psychology with a concentration in Early Childhood at the University of Denver where she served as a Graduate Reseach Assistant at the Kennedy Institute for Educational Success. Ariel is currently completing her internship in Adams 14 School District in Commerce City, Colorado.

Martha T Hinson, M.Ed., LPC, NCC

Martha works as a counselor in Academy District 20 in Colorado Springs as well as in private practice specializing in adolescent and family counseling. As a military wife, Martha has 20 years of experience as a school counselor all over the globe working with elementary, middle and high school students. Martha has been a part of  CSSP S-W CRT for the last 3 years.

Heather Hotchkiss, MSW

Heather Hotchkiss is the Brain Injury Education Consultant at the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) in the Exceptional Student Services Unit. She is also the consultant for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) and represents the CDE on the FASD Commission which is legislatively based. She brings over 20 years of leadership experience in school mental health and special education services for children. Heather has served in a variety of capacities in human services including: teacher assistant, mental health clinician in facility schools, behavior specialist, school social worker, state mental health consultant, legislative workgroups, RtI/PBIS Coordinator, and Special Education Director. She is dually credentialed as a Licensed School Social Worker and Special Education Director in Colorado.

Ellen Hunter, MS

Ellen is a Literacy Specialist with the Exceptional Student Services Unit of the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) and liaison to the Office of Literacy, CDE

Ellen Kelty, MA

Ellen is the program manager for the Department of Social Work and Psychological Services in the Office of Social Emotional Learning for the Denver Public Schools. She received her school psychology training at UCD and her administrative license at the University of Phoenix.  She is excited to share with you her passion for changing our systems to ensure the success of all students. 

Shannon Kishel, EdM, NCSP

Shannon has 6-years of experience working for Aurora Public Schools and over 15 years of experience working with at-risk youth and teens. She has extensive experience working with youth who exhibit behavioral concerns, and working with teachers to intervene to help these students. She feels strongly that social emotional learning teaches the skills students need to succeed in school and in life, as well as help prevent many behavioral challenges.

Jeremy Koselak, MA

Jeremy has dedicated his career to helping at-risk high school students earn high school credits and find direction for life after high school. He is a high school math and special education teacher who co-founded a tutoring center open all day to all students in his high school and has shared the model through his book, Transforming High Schools through RtI, national conferences and by hosting site visits from over 60 schools and districts across the nation. The Tutoring Center has evolved into a hub of activity that utilizes 50 student tutors, a dozen community volunteers and individualizes learning for 1200 students every year. Jeremy's simple idea changed the culture of his school and the curriculum resulting in a direct, positive and enduring impact on student achievement. Jeremy holds a Masters in Special Education and BA in History and Economics.

Sheila Lepkin, MA, NCSP

Sheila worked as a school psychologist in the Cherry Creek School District and now has a private practice serving families and children. As a school psychologist, she was co-chair of the ADHD Task Force for the CCSD. Sheila has a certificate in Marriage and Family Therapy from Denver Family Institute and is a State Coordinator for the Selective Mutism Group of the Children's Anxiety Network. Sheila has presented workshops at universities, school districts, and state associations serving children.

Briana Makofske, Ph.D.

Briana received her B.S. in Psychology from Colorado College and her Doctorate in School Psychology from The University of Northern Colorado.  Briana currently works in Academy School District #20 servicing students with executive functioning and social communication deficits, as well as behavioral challenges. She is a member of the district Autism Team as a consultant who completes assessments and develops goals and interventions for students on the spectrum.

Karen McAvoy, Ph.D.

Karen is dually credentialed as a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and a School Psychologist in the state of Colorado. After a 20 year career spanning positions such as School Psychologist, Coordinator of the Brain Injury Team, Coordinator of Mental Health Services and Coordinator of Manifestation Determinations for Cherry Creek School District, Karen joined the Colorado Department of Education in 2010. As a Brain Injury Specialist/Consultant for CDE, Karen has written policy and guidelines for Colorado school districts related to mild to severe brain injury, special education determination of brain injury and assessment and intervention for students with brain injury.

Beulah Morman

Beulah is a School Psychologist with Denver Public Schools.  She works part time with the Indian Education Program and part time at  Ridgeview Academy.  She has been with DPS for 14 years.  She has worked at the Elementary, Middle School and High School levels.  She has had experience working with Gifted talented, SED and Special Education students. Beulah is Navajo and originally from New Mexico.

Candy Myers, MSEd

Candy is a Supervisor with the Exceptional Student Services Unit of the Colorado Department of Education (CDE), the Specific Learning Disabilities Specialist, and a member of internal CDE literacy committees.

Jessica O'Muireadhaigh, BCBA

Jessica has worked in the Aurora Public School District for 14 years.   She works with teachers, staff, and families to improve outcomes for at risk youth specifically in the areas of behavior and social emotional learning.  She has developed and run several programs during her tenure with Aurora Public Schools including the Behavior Evaluation and Support Team and the Social Emotional Learning Pilot.  Both programs have increased student achievement and the capacity of staff in Aurora and are considered model programs.   Jessica believes in the power of supporting students both emotionally and academically. Jessica has dedicated her career to helping students with emotional and behavioral challenges.

Susy Ruof, M.A.

Susy retired from the Johnstown-Milliken School District in 2004.  Susy has been actively involved in the CSSP S-W CRT since it's development in 1999.  Prior to that, Susy taught a crisis team class in Weld County through Aims College for approximately 10 years and for several years was on the School Programs Committee for the American Association of Suicidology.

Kathy Sievering,
M.A., M.A., NCSP

Kathy retired from the Jefferson County School District in 2006.  Her friends claim she failed retirement because when asked to return to Jeffco in 2007 to work part-time, she agreed without hesitation.  Kathy has been actively involved in the CSSP S-W CRT since it's development.

Katrina Sokal, M.S.

Katrina has been a school psychologist since 2005.  She earned her degree at the College of St. Rose in Albany, New York and then began her career in Greenwich, Connecticut until she relocated to Colorado.  Katrina has been working in the Cherry Creek School District for the past four years as a school psychologist at the middle school level.  In addition to her work in the school system, Katrina has been a lead therapist with Consultants for Children, Inc. providing in-home behavioral therapy to children with developmental delays and autism spectrum disorders.  She has participated in Tier 1 Collaborative Problem Solving training along with a consultation group to support her work with the implementation of the CPS model.  Katrina also works as a group facilitator for a local court system running psycho-educational groups for children of divorcing parents ranging in ages from 5 to 17 years.

Brittany Sovran, M.A.

Brittany received her M.A. in Psychology from Pepperdine University and is currently a Ph.D. student in the Child, Family and School Psychology program at the University of Denver. She serves as a Graduate Research Assistant at the Kennedy Institute for Educational Success at the Morgridge College of Education working on research grants pertaining to self-regulation and early childhood mathematics education.

Tammy L. Stephens, Ph.D

Tammy is a Riverside/HMH Clinical Account Executive.  Tammy has worked as a special education teacher, educational diagnostician, and university professor.  She has experience working with students with emotional/behavioral disorders, learning disabilities, and other eligibility criteria.  Dr. Stephens has presented at the local, state, national, and international level.  Additionally, she is published in major special education and assessment journals.  Research interests include:  Assessment and intervention.  

Lisa Wolff, Psy.D.

Lisa has been a Licensed Clinical Psychologist working with children and their families since 1993. She has worked as a School Psychologist for the Littleton and Cherry Creek Public Schools for 15 years. Dr. Wolff earned her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the University of Denver and her Master's Degree in Early Childhood Education from the Bank Street College of Education in New York City.  Dr. Wolff has a private practice in which she works with children and parents and is also a partner in Collaborative Consultation & Counseling, an LLC that is dedicated to providing consultation and support to individuals and agencies working with challenging children and adolescents.  Dr. Wolff has been implementing the Collaborative Problem Solving model for the past 12 years and was certified as Think:Kids trainer in 2010. 

David Wood, Ph.D.

David is a School Psychologist with the Poudre School District. He has a PhD in Developmental/School Psychology from the University of Colorado, Boulder, where he did research on reading disabilities. He has authored several journal articles on reading models and assessments. He has presented on reading assessments and interventions at many conferences, and teaches a class on reading interventions and assessments for the Professional Development program in Poudre School District. He also consults with school districts on reading assessments, interventions, and reading disabilities.

Adria Young, MSW

Adria is a school social worker with Aurora Public Schools in a Social Emotional Pilot program. She has over 10 years of experience working with children in various capacities including teaching preschool, program development in Head Start, elementary and middle schools, juvenile corrections and working with students with significant developmental and emotional disabilities.  She is passionate about working with children on developing social emotional intelligence and is excited about the work that Aurora Public Schools is doing in prevention.