Matthew Moix – President

Matthew_Moix@gilbert.k12.az.us

Jane Ahler – President Elect

Judy Crosby – Past President

judy.crosby@gmail.com

Elizabeth Danielson, Ph.D. – Treasurer

ekdaniel@mpsaz.org

I am beginning my second year as AASP treasurer and as a member of the association's Executive Board and Leadership Team. My specific job within the association, of course, is to work with the board to develop and oversee its budget. My goal is to assure that the money we collect from members and conference attendees is well-spent and reflects member priorities. I have prior work experience in developing and managing budgets as a university administrator. My initial college major (I had several!) was math, and I seem to gravitate to activities that allow me to work with numbers. My dissertation concerned mathematical problem solving, I loved teaching statistics courses, and I have served as treasurer for the Minnesota Society of School Psychologists and for several nonprofit boards.

I began my school psychology career in Colorado where I earned a Ph.D. in educational and cognitive psychology at the University of Colorado, Boulder. After spending nearly 20 years in Minnesota higher education as a school psychology professor and a university administrator, I returned to my school psychologist (and Arizona) roots and currently serve two Mesa elementary schools. I have held leadership positions in several state and national school psychology associations: secretary of the Colorado association, treasurer and then president of the Minnesota association, president of the North Dakota association, ND state delegate and West Central regional director for NASP, and member of the inaugural NCSP board. Prior to being elected treasurer, I was membership chairperson for AASP.

Wanda Fernandez – Secretary

chanteuse430@yahoo.com

It is an honor to have the opportunity to serve as Secretary of AASP. My previous AASP experience includes serving as Communication Chair and Editor of the Intervention newsletter, which have provided me with the opportunity to experience the collegiality of working with other professionals in our field, and I look forward to continuing that work.

School psychologists face many challenges, and I’m proud to be part of an organization that seeks to improve how school psychologists can assist all children and their educational and emotional success. My professional experience includes three years of working as a school psychologist in the Mesa Unified District, where I served two elementary schools. My internship in central Florida’s Polk County exposed me to a wide variety of children from all walks of life, with great diversity in culture and educational attainment. I am currently a school psychologist in the Laveen District, where I have the opportunity to once again work with a wide diversity of students and staff.

Educationally, I attained my B.S. in Psychology at Florida Southern College and my M.S. and Psy.S. in School Psychology through Nova Southeastern University. During my undergraduate and graduate studies, I worked at a police department in the Internal Affairs Unit as well as a practice manager for a private psychology practice which specialized in neuropsychological assessment, educational assessment and ADHD diagnosis.

Professionally, I am an active member of the National Association of School Psychologists, the Arizona Association of School Psychologists, the National Education Association, and the Arizona Education Association. I am also a lifetime member of Psi Chi Honor Society, an honor society for psychology majors, which I attained during my undergraduate program at Florida Southern College.

When not working, I enjoy spending time with my husband, Eric, who is an aspiring artist in ceramic pottery and photography, as well as the many friends and “adopted” family I’ve come to know here in Arizona.

Eva Prince – NASP Delegate

Shannon Blair – Central Region

Louise Privette M.C., NCSP – Central Region

lprivett@aguafria.org

Hello AASP members. I am pleased to be sharing the responsibililty of Central Regional Direcor with Bill Mobley. Together, we hope to assist in the planning of the regional and state conferences in order to promote professional development among school psychologists.

I am originally from Chicago, Illinois, but have called Arizona home since attending college. I am a practicing school psychologist for the Agua Fria High School District (east LA) and serve two high schools, Verrado and Millennium. I have over twenty years of experience as a teacher, guidance counselor, private therapist and school psychologist. I love the field of school psychology and believe in the importance of being involved in other facets of school and student life. In addition to the traditional duties of the school psychologist, I've had the pleasure of coaching many Scholastic Bowl teams and most recently, a team that competed on Brainstorm, a high school quiz show. I've also served on numerous Crisis teams for several school districts, sold concessions and worked the ticket booth at sporting events, and performed a salsa routine with one of our Spanish teachers (in the staff talent? show) to raise money for the Make a Wish Foundation.

It will be my pleasure to serve as an AASP Regional Director. Bill Mobley and I will look forward to communicating with you on a regular basis and addressing your needs. We will strive to strengthen our membership and the voice of school psychologists. Please feel free to contact us!

Kathy Bohan – Northern Region

Kellli Smart – Northern Region

Sarah Gaines – Southern Region

sgaines@asdb.state.az.us

I received my Masters in Developmental Psychology in 2006 and my Specialist’s Degree in Psychology in 2008 from Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C. After completing my internship with the Arizona State Schools for the Deaf and the Blind (ASDB) in Tucson, AZ, I joined the ASDB team as a full-time School Psychologist for ASDB. I am currently working part-time towards a Ph.D. in Special Education with a Learning Disabilities focus from the University of Arizona.

One of my goals as one of the Southern Regional Directors is to encourage the development of collaborative relationships among Arizona’s School Psychologists. I would also like to work on creating networks to help those of us who are new to the field to find support from mentors. I truly believe that one of our most valuable resources in this ever-changing field is the information and individual expertise we can share with each other.

Dawn Baugh – Southern Region

Jules Ohrin-Greipp – Western Region

I have been a certified school psychologist for over 30 years. After graduating from Temple University College of Education in Philadelphia with my certification in 1977, I worked in Pennsylvania and New Jersey schools for the next ten years. In addition, I have had contract work for sheltered workshops and mental health centers. These positions have provided the ideal combination of roles. Conducting evaluations, counseling, suicide intervention, parent workshops, in-service presentations, and teacher consultation have been a part of my professional experience. In 1989 I received my NCSP certificate; and received intensive training in play therapy, Sandtray Therapy, group therapy in locations across the country. I have held certificates in School Psychology from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Vermont and New Hampshire. Since relocating to the Southwest, I added certifications for Arizona and California, and maintained my certification for Pennsylvania. I have been in Yuma for five years and am employed by the Yuma Unified High School District. While in New Hampshire, I wrote the first state association website for NHASP, and gave several “Internet 101” workshops. These next couple of years will be very challenging. We have concerns from within and from without. Districts are finding ways of cutting expenses – which may involve fewer psychologists working in schools. Also, the very title we use is being threatened. I hope to get my region involved in being proactive in this process. I am also hopeful to have a few workshops to unite the Western Region, and at least one introductory meeting for all the schools psychologists in this region.

Claudia Weiss – Professional Development Committee

Barbara Konikowski – Communications Committee

bkonikowski@susd.org480-484-3540

Hi! I'm Barbara Konikowski and I am the Communications Chair and Intervention Newsletter Editor. I work for Scottsdale Unified School District.

I received my undergraduate degree in Expressive Art Therapy and Counseling from Prescott College. Afterwards, I began my career in Prescott by counseling at-risk youth and their families in shelters and working as a youth advocate with foster families. I then chose to become a substance abuse therapist (CADAC) and work with adjudicated teens with addictions. My career then took me on a different path in supervising a home visiting program and early intervention program. Next, I had the opportunity to work in a school with a school psychologist and with a play therapy program. Then, I wrote grants and did marketing for a youth treatment center. All these wonderful experiences and my internship in SUSD have led me to choosing the profession of being a school psychologist. It is the only profession that bridges the disciplines and allows us to work with kids and their families in a natural environment.

If you are interested in joining the Communications Team, email me!

Matthew Moix – Leadership Committee

Ron Glazier – Membership Committee

Birgit Lurie M.S., N.S.C.P. – Professional Standards Committee

blurie@susd.org

I'm a school psychologist who has worked in the Scottsdale Unified School District for the past 21 years. Currently I serve as the Lead psychologist for pre-school and elementary schools. I also serve as the psychologist specializing in autism within the district. In that capacity I am responsible for assessment specific to the diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders and for assisting in development of appropriate programming and training throughout the district. I also serve on the State a Autism Steering Committee sponsored by the Arizona Department of Education. The Committee supports planning, training and implementation of best practices across the state of Arizona when working with students diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder. I am past treasurer for AASP and currently serve as the Chair of the Ethics and Professional Standards Committee.

Kathleen Rahn – SPAN Coordinator