School Psychology EdS Students

Gabby Abrams is an Educational Specialist student in the School Psychology area within the Department of Educational Psychology.

Jenna Bednar is an Educational Specialist student in the School Psychology area within the Department of Educational Psychology. She received her BS in Psychology and minors in neuroscience and Spanish from Wisconsin Lutheran College. Jenna discovered her passion for creating acceptance and advocacy for children throughout her experience as an Advanced Registered Behavior Technician and in leading initiatives serving children with autism. She is part of Project CASTLE that provides specific training on supporting individuals with autism spectrum disorder. Her interests include ABA, early identification and intervention for students with autism, cultural responsiveness, and development of inclusive school environments.

SJ Botting is an Educational Specialist student in the School Psychology area within the Department of Educational Psychology. SJ graduated from UW-Madison with a BA in Psychology and Spanish and worked in the Madison community in not-for-profit finance before returning to pursue a degree in school psychology. They are a scholar of Project SPACE which provides specialized training for culturally responsive mental health services. SJ’s interests in the field also include social emotional learning, inclusive school climate, and family-school partnerships.

Mariana Bruno is an Educational Specialist student within the Department of Educational Psychology. She received her bachelor's degree in Human Development and Family Sciences and Psychology with minors in Social Work and Education at Florida State University. Growing up mostly in Latin America and being fully bilingual shaped Mariana's passion towards providing culturally comprehensive services in the field of school psychology. During her undergraduate degree, she worked in various research facilities focused on providing evidence-based supports in reading interventions and for students with ADHD. Mariana's interests include supporting culturally comprehensive services in schools, social and emotional learning, early intervention, and trauma-informed practices.

Audrey Burke is an Educational Specialist student in the School Psychology area within the Department of Educational Psychology. She completed her BA at the University of Wisconsin–Madison in Psychology and Education Policy with a certificate in Chicano/Latino Studies. While completing her undergraduate degree, Audrey was a research assistant within the Educational Neuroscience Lab working on a project that explored how children understand and self-report pretend play behaviors. Her current research interests include school-based mental health practices and family-school-community collaboration impacts on school climate. Audrey is a scholar in Project LEADSS, where she receives specialized training on collaboration between school psychologists and school social workers.

Macayla Church is an Educational Specialist student in the School Psychology area within the Department of Educational Psychology. She holds a B.S. in Psychology and Spanish, along with a certificate in Criminal Justice from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Through her work in restorative justice and special education, Macayla developed a strong interest in mental health and trauma-informed disciplinary practices in schools. She is a scholar in Project LEADSS, which focuses on advancing evidence-based practices in school mental health, supervision, and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Kathryn Costello is an Educational Specialist student in the School Psychology area within the Department of Educational Psychology. She graduated from NYU with a degree in psychology and a minor in disability studies. Before returning to school, she worked at a day program for adults with autism providing continuing education and job training. She is part of the Project CASTLE grant, which provides specific training on supporting children with autism spectrum disorder. Her interest in the field involves ensuring children with disabilities receive an equitable and positive education experience.

Shaila Dantluri is an Educational Specialist student in the School Psychology area within the Department of Educational Psychology. She earned her BS in Developmental Psychology from the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign. While completing her undergraduate degree, Shaila worked as an assistant preschool teacher and mental health helpline specialist. She also completed developmental screenings at an early childhood education center. Shaila’s interests include advocating for universal screening and early intervention programs. She is currently a scholar in Project SPACE where she partners with Madison Metropolitan School District to emphasize culturally-responsive school mental health.

Joseph Decker is an Educational Specialist student in the School Psychology area within the Department of Educational Psychology. He completed his BA at the University of Iowa in Psychology and Spanish with a minor in Portuguese. Being trilingual in English, Spanish, and Portuguese is an important part of his identity, as well as being a USA swimming certified swim coach. Joseph’s interests include advocating for quality education for youth of color and eliminating disparities from structural racism for students. He is also a Project SPACE fellow, a grant in partnership with Madison Metropolitan School District that trains school psychologists to engage in culturally-responsive school mental health.

Zoe Esterly is an Educational Specialist student within the School Psychology area within the Department of Educational Psychology. She completed her BA at St. Olaf College in Psychology with concentrations in Linguistics and Education. She received her license in teaching English as a Second Language. Her interests include supporting multilingual students and trauma informed care. Zoe is a scholar in Project SPACE, a grant in partnership with Madison Metropolitan School District that focuses on culturally responsive school mental health.

Megan Gauthier is an Educational Psychology student within the Department of Educational Psychology. She completed her BS at UW-Madison in Psychology with a certificate in Educational Services. She worked as a behavior technician and a respite care specialist in the Madison community, as well as a research assistant in the Prejudice and Intergroup Relations Lab/Social Kids lab while completing her bachelor's degree. Megan is a scholar in Project SPACE, a grant in partnership with the Madison Metropolitan School District that prepares graduate students to provide culturally responsive and equitable mental health services in schools. Her other interests include social and emotional learning and positive behavior supports in schools.

Maddie Harford is an Educational Specialist student in the School Psychology area within the Department of Educational Psychology. She obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, where she also completed a minor in At-Risk Child and Youth Care. Maddie is deeply committed to advocating for youth with disabilities, striving to ensure they receive high-quality and accessible education. Furthermore, she is a scholar in Project LEADSS (Leading Educators to Advance School-Based Services in Mental Health). This is a training grant aimed at preparing future school psychologists and social workers in the domains of school mental health practices, crisis intervention, and leadership skills pertinent to interdisciplinary school mental health teams.

Kasheah Jennings is an Educational Specialist student in the School Psychology area within the Department of Educational Psychology. She earned her BA from UW-Milwaukee where she majored in Education. She taught 7th-grade English, conducted reading and math interventions, and participated on the PBIS Leadership team. She is a Project SPACE scholar which emphasizes culturally responsive mental health services. Kasheah’s current research interests include culturally responsive interventions, family and school partnerships, and educational inequities for marginalized individuals.

Olivia Kamer is an Educational Specialist student within the Department of Educational Psychology. She received bachelor’s degrees in Psychology and Linguistics from William & Mary. Prior to entering the Educational Specialist program, she served as a reading interventionist and clinician. She currently works as a project assistant with Drs. Katie Eklund and Steve Kilgus on a project that is examining the effectiveness of the Check-In/Check-Out intervention. Her interests include school and community collaboration and school mental health.

Anna Keebler is an Educational Specialist student in the School Psychology area within the Department of Educational Psychology. She received a B.A. in Psychology with minors in Sociology and Hispanic Studies from Illinois Wesleyan University. While completing her bachelor's degree, Anna worked as a teaching assistant in statistics and participated in a program called the Mental Health Immersion Semester, where she examined various aspects of community mental health care. She is currently working as a research assistant with Drs. Eklund and Kilgus to evaluate Check-In/Check-Out as a Tier 2 intervention. Anna’s academic interests include early identification and intervention and trauma-informed care.

Anne Kim is an Educational Specialist in the School Psychology area within the Department of Educational Psychology. She completed her BA at California State University, Long Beach in Communication Studies. She has previously worked as a counseling intern at a nonprofit organization. Her interests include internalizing concerns in children and adolescents, social and emotional learning, and dismantling barriers for marginalized students. She is a scholar in Project SPACE , receiving specialized training in culturally responsive practices and equitable school mental health.

Stephanie Kressin is an Educational Specialist student in the School Psychology area within the Department of Educational Psychology. She completed her bachelor’s degrees in psychology and Rehabilitation Psychology at UW-Madison, along with a certificate in Gender and Women's Studies. She has worked as a research assistant in the Social Kids Lab, as an intern at the Waisman Early Childhood Program, and as a coordinator for a college outreach program called Bucky’s Classroom. Her research interests include effective interventions for students with disabilities, resilience, and family-school and community partnerships. As a LEADSS scholar, she receives specialized training in evidence-based practices in school mental health.

Payton Kuenzi is an Educational Specialist student in the School Psychology area within the Department of Educational Psychology. She completed her BA at the University of Wisconsin Madison in Psychology and Spanish. While completing her undergraduate degree, she held various roles working with children, including serving as a Counselor and Director at Camp Minikani. This experience, along with others, has influenced her interests in the field of School Psychology, particularly in trauma-informed practices, family-school-community partnerships, and culturally responsive interventions.

Caitlyn Lynch is an Educational Specialist student within the Department of Educational Psychology. She completed her BA at the University of Wisconsin–Madison in Psychology, and obtained certificates in Criminal Justice, Disability Rights and Services, and Educational Services. She is a scholar in Project SPACE, which is a grant that has partnered with Madison Metropolitan School District to train school psychologists to provide culturally responsive mental health support in schools. Her interests include school, family, and community collaboration, social justice, and culturally responsive interventions.

Abbi MacDonald is an Educational Specialist student in the area of School Psychology within the Department of Educational Psychology. She completed her BS in Psychology at Central Michigan University. During her time there, she was an undergraduate research assistant in both the Family Studies department examining culturally responsive early childhood education, and in the Behavior Analysis lab examining choice behavior and extinction burst phenomenon in rats. While in Michigan, Abbigail also worked as an assistant preschool teacher. Her academic interests include social-emotional and behavioral health for middle school students.

Leah Marsh is an Educational Specialist student in the School Psychology area within the Department of Educational Psychology. She graduated from Trinity University with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Education. She has worked as a lab coordinator for a child development research lab and as a research assistant for a team that investigated the effectiveness of mental health interventions for students. She is currently a Project LEADSS scholar, which emphasizes collaboration between school psychologists and school social workers to promote the mental health of all children.

Sam Patlan is an Educational Specialist student in the School Psychology area within the Department of Educational Psychology. She completed her BA at California State University, Fullerton, in Psychology with a minor in Chicano/a Studies. As a first-generation Mexican-American, her cultural background plays a significant role in her identity. She currently works as the project manager for the LEADSS training grant. Sam is passionate about advocating for school mental health and promoting culturally responsive supports and interventions.

Marybell Rodriguez is an Educational Specialist student in the School Psychology area within the Department of Educational Psychology. She graduated from UW-Milwaukee, where she received his BA in Psychology and Spanish. While completing her undergraduate degree, she worked as a daycare teacher in the Milwaukee area. She is currently a scholar of Project SPACE.

Grace Rubenzer is an Educational Specialist student in the School Psychology area within the Department of Educational Psychology. Grace attended the University of South Carolina where she majored in experimental psychology and history. Grace is a participant in the Project SPACE grant at UW-Madison. Her interests include school mental health and the provision of culturally responsive mental health care for students.

Earl Salmons is an Educational Specialist student in the School Psychology area within the Department of Educational Psychology. He received his undergraduate degrees in Psychology and Sociology at the University of Denver. Prior to beginning this program, he worked as a case manager at Mental Health Center of Denver and at Journey Mental Health in Madison, WI.

Erin Sullivan is an Educational Specialist student in the School Psychology area within the Department of Educational Psychology. She completed a BA in Biology and Psychology at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota, with her thesis focusing on ACEs (adverse childhood experiences), substance abuse in adolescents, and interventions. Erin was a clinical research coordinator at the Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center following graduation, which included working with patients and guiding them through the clinical trial process. Her interests in the school psychology field include school mental health and early intervention.

Piper Swearengin is an Educational Specialist student in the School Psychology area within the Department of Educational Psychology. She completed a BA in Psychology and a minor in Education at Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas. She works as an Employment Specialist, where she helps people with mental health concerns and disabilities seek employment. At UW-Madison, she is a part of the Project CASTLE training grant, where she receives specialized training in autism identification, intervention, and interdisciplinary practices. Her interests include social-emotional learning, suicide prevention, and treatment of co-occurring disorders in students with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Rachel Thielen is an Educational Specialist student in the School Psychology area within the Department of Educational Psychology. She graduated from UW-Madison with a BA in Psychology and certificate in Education & Educational Studies. She formerly worked as a Registered Behavior Technician for ABA therapy and as the Youth Services Specialist at a local non-profit providing resources for individuals with disabilities. Her research interests include early intervention, universal screening, and the incorporation of Tier 2 and Tier 3 services for early childhood learners.

Jacob Wintrone is an Educational Specialist student in the School Psychology area within the Department of Educational Psychology. He attended UW-Madison as an undergraduate, graduating with a bachelor's degree in psychology and a minor in education. Before joining the School Psychology program, he worked as a special education and behavior assistant with the Madison Metropolitan School District. His interests include resilience-building programs. social-emotional learning, and positive school climate.

Kaitlyn Zenner is an Educational Specialist student in the School Psychology area within the Department of Educational Psychology. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire with a BA in psychology and Spanish and a minor in neuroscience. As an undergraduate, Kaitlyn worked as a research assistant focused on reading fluency and comprehension in elementary school aged students. After graduation, she worked as an English Teaching Assistant in Spain through the Fulbright Association and is very passionate about supporting multilingual learners. She is a scholar in Project SPACE and is dedicated to providing culturally responsive mental health services to all students.