Gabby Abrams is an Educational Specialist student in the School Psychology area within the Department of Educational Psychology.
EdS Student
Bednar, Jenna
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.
Botting, SJ
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.
Bruno, Mariana
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.
Burke, Audrey
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.
Church, Macayla
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.
Costello, Kathryn
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.
Dantluri, Shaila
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.
Decker, Joseph
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.
Esterly, Zoe
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.