Orange County Association of
School Psychologists

2018-2019 OCASP BOARD OF DIRECTORS

President: Erin Spillane, MA

President-Elect: TBD

Past President: Giniena Tan, MA

Treasurer: Jenna Wood, MS, NCSP

Secretary: Giniena Tan, MA

CASP Region IX Representative: Arpita Mandal, MA, NCSP

Event Coordinator: Libby Barnish Kelly, MS, EdS, LEP

Membership & Media Coordinator: Tori Downing, MA EdS
Community Liaison & PAC Committee: Ashley Ausseresses

Newsletter Editor: TBD

University Liaison - Chapman University: Anaiza Valladolid

University Liaison - CSULB: TBD

University Liaison - APU: Kelsey Bayless

President-
Erin Spillane,MA

Past President and Secretary -

Giniena Tan, MA

President Elect - TBD

Treasurer - Jenna Wood, MS, NCSP

CASP Region IX Rep - Arpita Mandal, MA, NCSP

Event Coordinator - Libby Barnish Kelly, MS, EdS, LEP

Membership & Media Coordinator -

Tori Downing, MA EdS

Community Liasion & PAC Committee-

Ashley Ausseresses

Newsletter Editor:

TBD

University Liaison - Chapman University:

Anaiza Valladolid

University Liaison -

Cal State Long Beach:

TBD

University Liaison -Azusa Pacific:

Kelsey Bayless

Erin Spillane is in her eighth year as a school psychologist and works in the Saddleback Valley Unified School District. She is excited to begin this year as a School Psychologist on Special Assignment for the Career Start program which works to increase the independence of students with disabilities through job skills training and job placement. Erin is also a member of SVUSD’s Crisis Response team.

Erin earned her B.A. in Psychology at UC San Diego and obtained her M.A. in Educational Psychology and PPS in School Psychology at Cal State Long Beach. She initially became interested in school psychology while working as a reading tutor in low income schools in San Diego. She then went on to work with children and families as a one on one ABA therapist for children with Autism and as a substitute teacher. Outside of work, Erin enjoys traveling, trying new food, kickboxing, and going to the beach.

This is Erin’s third year serving on the OCASP board. If you would like to Erin, you may do so at spillanerin@gmail.com.

Giniena is currently working within Orange Unified School District at Cerro Villa Middle School. She obtained her Bachelor's degree in Psychology from UC Riverside and her Masters in Educational Psychology with a PPS credential at Alliant International University. She started working with children with special needs as a 1:1 Behavioral Therapist for children with Autism at LOVAAS Institute then as an instructional assistant in Irvine Unified and Tustin Unified School Districts. While having experienced working in various settings, she has found that Middle School is her favorite age group. She loves helping students become the best versions of themselves and also analyzing assessments. She also enjoys working on mindfulness techniques to assist students and staff as well as continuously promoting healthy mental and physical well-being for her team.

On her days off, Giniena enjoys going to the beach, reading, and traveling with her family. She currently lives in Orange with her husband, two-year-old son, and two dogs. This December, she is expecting a daughter so she's busy prepping for that!

Jenna Wood works as a school psychologist for multiple sites within the Garden Grove Unified School District. This is her ninth year with OCASP. She completed her Master of Arts and Educational Specialist in School Psychology degrees at Chapman University. In past years, she has presented journal review research on prevention and intervention for selective mutism with Dr. Randy Busse and ABA strategies applied within a three-tiered model at the California Association of School Psychologists (CASP) Annual Conventions in 2010 and 2011, respectively. Her paper with Dr. Busse on selective mutism was published in the 2011 issue of Contemporary School Psychology.

Originally from northern California, Jenna received her Bachelor of Science degree in Human Development at UC Davis. She has an extensive background in ABA with experience as a behavior therapist for children with autism and other developmental delays. When she is not working, Jenna enjoys spending time with her family and traveling the world.

Arpita Mandal is in her seventh year as a school psychologist at El Rancho Charter School in Orange Unified School District. She is also the special education department chair and holds various leadership roles within the school. She received her MA in Educational Psychology and PPS Credential in School Psychology from CSU Long Beach. Arpita received her BA in Psychology and Education from UC Santa Barbara. Go Gauchos!

Arpita is also a part-time lecturer in the school psychology graduate program at CSU Long Beach. She is continuing her eighth year on the OCASP board and her second term serving as the Region IX Representative for CASP. In 2011, she co-authored an article in CASP’s journal, Contemporary School Psychology, discussing Tier III assessments, data-based decision making, and interventions. In her spare time, she enjoys yoga, wine, reading and going to the beach.

If you would like to contact Arpita, you may do so at arpita.k.mandal@gmail.com.

Libby is in her 9th year at a transformation charter high school with Green Dot Public Schools in Los Angeles. She is the Lead School Psychologist, on the Green Dot Crisis Response Team, and also coordinates the intern program for Green Dot. As a certified PREPaRE Trainer, she trains mental health providers and helped develop the crisis prevention and intervention programs within her district. Additionally, Libby consults with and provides training for other districts to establish their crisis protocols and train mental health staff. She co-presented at NASP last year on conducting comprehensive threat assessments.

In her spare time, Libby enjoys photography, traveling, and playing soccer.

Tori is in her second year as a School Psychologist working in Norwalk-La Mirada Unified School District. She completed her MA in Educational Psychology and Ed.S. Degree at Chapman University in May 2017. Tori received her BA degrees in Biology and Environmental Science at UC Santa Barbara. Gauchos! Tori got her start working with children in Santa Ana Unified School District as an AVID tutor. She worked for Orange County Department of Education as a Title I Tutor for youth in group homes, foster care, and alternative day schools and worked as a Paraeducator at a dropout credit recovery program, Sunburst National Guard Youth Challenge Academy, in Los Alamitos, CA. Her professional interests are crisis and mental health counseling as well as helping to build RTI and MTSS structures at her school sites.

In her spare time, Tori enjoys traveling, hiking, snowboarding, watching sports and listening to live music. This is Tori's fourth year serving on the OCASP board. If you would like to contact Tori, you may do so at downing.tori@gmail.com.