School Mental Health Program Staff and Schools

Julianna Casella (she/her)

MEd, Education Studies
Predoctoral Intern
julianna.casella@som.umaryland.edu

Julianna Casella is a school and counseling psychology PhD candidate at the University at Buffalo. She is completing her pre-doctoral internship training in the school mental health track at the National Center for School Mental Health. Her clinical and research interests are broadly developing and implementing strategies to create safe and supportive school climates, as well as responsive and equitable school crisis prevention and response. Her goal is to help to foster school environments that support student well-being for all students through system levels approaches.

Eliya Bernstein (he/him)

MSW, LMSW
School Mental Health Counselor
ebernstein@som.umaryland.edu

Eli Bernstein received his MSW from the University of Maryland, Baltimore School of Social Work. He is a School Mental Health Counselor for the University of Maryland, School Mental Health Program (SMHP), where he was an intern. Eli provides mental health services to children enrolled in Baltimore City Schools and has been trained in Botvin LifeSkills. He is excited to continue working with SMHP and the Baltimore city youth.

Diamond Carr (she/her)

PhD, School Psychology, NCSP
Postdoctoral Fellow
Rosemont Elementary School
dcarr@som.umaryland.edu

Diamond Carr is a trained school psychologist who completed her internship with Loudoun County Public Schools, one of the few school-based APA accredited internships in the country. She has worked with students from preschool to twelfth grade providing a range of services from psychological assessment to counseling. She is passionate about systems-level change that is informed by people who serve in schools daily. Dr. Carr transitioned to the National Center for School Mental Health as a postdoctoral fellow with that in mind as she will continue providing mental health services and supporting schools statewide in their provision of such services. Her work is informed by Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory and the whole-child approach. She is unapologetically committed to addressing systemic barriers that perpetuate opportunity gaps for children of color. Dr. Carr has experience consulting with school districts to advocate for change using research, data, and students’ voices.

Misty Davis (she/her)

MSW, LMSW
School Mental Health Counselor
Augusta Fells Savage Institute of Visual Arts High, Billie Holiday Elementary School
misty.davis@som.umaryland.edu

Misty Davis graduated with her master's degree from the University of Maryland, Baltimore, School of Social Work. During her program, Misty was an intern with the School Mental Health Program (SMHP) at Franklin Square Elementary/Middle School, where her passion for mental health promotion and the ability to break down the stigma of mental health in the African-American community grew. Misty was inspired by her internship with SMHP by now continuing to work with children and families as a counselor.

Ebonee Dixon (she/her)

MSW, LMSW
School Mental Health Counselor
Rosemont Elementary/Middle School, North Bend Elementary/Middle School
ebdixon@som.umaryland.edu

Ebonee Dixon is a School Mental Health Counselor with the School Mental Health Program (SMHP). Ebonee obtained her bachelor's degree in Psychology from Wilmington University, where she began discovering the importance of mental health to youth. Ebonee graduated with her master’s degree from the University of Maryland, Baltimore, School of Social Work. Ebonee has experience in individual and group therapy, community organizing, and substance use recovery. Ebonee currently provides mental health services to elementary and middle school aged students of Baltimore City Public Schools. Ebonee discovered her passion for school based mental health during her first year of graduate school. She is driven by the opportunity to provide accessible services to families in the Baltimore Area.

Kristina Floyd (she/her)

MSW, LCSW-C
Lead Counselor, Clinical Trainer
kfloyd@som.umaryland.edu

Kristina Floyd has provided direct clinical services, supervision, case management, and consultations to children, their families, and colleagues within non-public and public school systems since 2009. She is currently a lead clinician and clinical trainer supporting multiple projects within the National Center for School Mental Health. Kristina has a Certificate in Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health, is a board approved supervisor for social workers and is a state-wide trainer for Botvin’s LifeSkills. She has presented at local, state, and national levels on evidenced-based curriculums and other issues related to school mental health. Since 2015, Kristina has worked for the Association of Social Work Boards as a subject matter expert to write and develop questions for the Master's level national social work exam using current, evidenced-based references and resources. She is also an adjunct professor at the University of Maryland School of Social Work.

Jennifer Lease (she/her)

MSW, LCSW-C
School Mental Health Senior Counselor
Wildwood Elementary/Middle School
jlease@som.umaryland.edu

Jennifer Lease is a Senior Clinician with the School Mental Health Program (SMHP), providing targeted therapy services to children and families as well as broader supports to the whole school population. Jennifer has worked in schools in West Baltimore for over a decade and is trained in a number of evidence-based practices, including Botvin's LifeSkills Training, The Incredible Years, Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Interpersonal Therapy for Adolescents (IPT-A). Jennifer is a statewide trainer of Botvin's LifeSkills and has a Certificate of Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health. She received her Master's in Social Work from the University of Maryland, Baltimore. She is dedicated to providing empowerment and opportunities for underserved communities.

Claire Noll (she/her)

MSW, LMSW
School Mental Health Counselor
claire.noll@som.umaryland.edu

Claire Noll graduated with her master’s degree from Salisbury University’s School of Social Work. As a graduate student, Claire spent two years as a trainee with the University of Maryland School Mental Health Program and discovered her passion for working with adolescents. During this time, she provided teletherapy to individuals, groups, and families of Wildwood Elementary/Middle and in-person mental health services for teens at Baltimore Polytechnic Institute. Claire plans to pursue her clinical license and continue to serve students and families in partnership with Baltimore City schools.

Alice Mullin (she/her)

MEd, Counseling, Clinical, and School Psychology
Predoctoral Intern
alice.mullin@som.umaryland.edu

Alice Mullin is a school psychology doctoral candidate at the University of California, Santa Barbara, currently completing her pre-doctoral internship within the School Mental Health track. Her research interests include reducing barriers to and improving engagement with evidence-based mental health treatments within youth systems, with a particular focus on the sustainment of successful interventions in schools. Her dissertation is examining the ways in which certain implementation constructs predict the sustainment of trauma informed practices in schools (TIPS), using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) as a guide.

Nikita Parson (she/her)

MSW, LCSW-C
Associate Director, School Mental Health Program
Western High School
nparson@som.umaryland.edu

Nikita Parson is a proud Alumni of Morgan State University and the University of Maryland, Baltimore. She is the Assistant Director and a Lead Clinician with the University of Maryland, School Mental Health Program. She has spent over 12 years providing comprehensive services including direct clinical care (e.g. individual, group, and family therapies), prevention activities, supervision, and crisis intervention in Baltimore City Public Schools. Nikita has extensive experience with providing education and training to school-based staff and partners as well as expertise in the application of evidence-based prevention and early intervention practices within school-based and community settings. She has implemented Botvin’s LifeSkills groups for students since 2013 and has been facilitating Botvin LifeSkills trainings to school districts and staff as well as community behavioral health professionals since becoming a certified instructor in 2018. She is passionate about decreasing the stigma on mental health and promoting a healthy social/emotional wellbeing especially among youth and young adults in underserved communities. Nikita is very active in enhancing racial and social equity in the field of social work as well as in the community, including leadership experience on the School Mental Health Program’s DEIAA Team, Western’s High Schools Culture and Climate Team, as well as current member with the Baltimore Legacy Association of Black Social Workers (NABSW) and Black Therapist Rock Group. In her role as the Trainee Coordinator with SMHP, Nikita enjoys being a gatekeeper in the social work field as well as having the chance to help mold, nurture and produce the next set of clinicians. She further supports that by being a Board Approved Supervisor for both Social Workers and Professional Counselors, while providing clinical supervision for those seeking full licensure. Of all her roles and accomplishments, Nikita’s favorite is being a mother to her beautiful baby girl.

Nyjae Pride (she/her)

MSW, LMSW
School Mental Health Counselor
npride@som.umaryland.edu

Nyjae Pride is a School Mental Health Clinician with the University of Maryland, School Mental Health Program (SMHP) providing services in Baltimore City Public Schools. Nyjae received her Bachelor’s in Sociology and Social Work from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore and Salisbury University. She continued her education graduating with her Master’s from the University of Maryland, Baltimore School of Social Work. Throughout this time, she had the opportunity to intern with multiple agency’s growing individually and professionally. While also expanding her clinical skills and knowledge for her newly developed passion, social work. Nyjae has experience in providing Psychiatric Rehabilitation Program (PRP), Therapeutic Behavioral Aide, and Counseling Services to children and families. She has experience in modalities such as CBT and Motivational Interviewing. Nyjae currently provides mental health services and supports to Elementary & Middle School aged children at Katherine Johnson Global Academy.

Jenna Russo (she/her)

MS, Psychology
Predoctoral Intern
jenna.russo@som.umaryland.edu

Jenna Russo is a clinical psychology PhD candidate at Mississippi State University, currently completing her pre-doctoral internship training in the school mental health track at the National Center for School Mental Health. Her research applies participatory and implementation science methods to disseminate and advance trauma-informed, evidence-based practices for all children, youth, and families. Her research focuses concurrently on reducing treatment gaps and improving prevention methods to reduce incidence altogether, specifically by prioritizing social determinants of health and resilience. Through several policy positions, Jenna’s work expands beyond individual behavior change to also promote structural and societal change. Motivated and informed by her clinical work, she commits to continue collaborating in community relationships that respect and advance the interests of individuals directly impacted and lay the foundation for capacity-building within and across organizations to promote accessible, equitable, and effective mental health services for all children, youth, and families.

Joseph Santangelo (he/him)

MSW, LMSW
School Mental Health Counselor
Digital Harbor High School
jsantangelo@som.umaryland.edu

Joseph Santangelo is a School Mental Health Counselor for the University of Maryland, School Mental Health Program (SMHP). Joseph graduated with his master’s degree from Morgan State University School of Social Work. He has worked in Baltimore communities for the past five years, helping connect families to affordable housing, training individuals to seek gainful employment, and advocating for those in crisis. Joseph was previously an intern with SMHP at Baltimore Polytechnic Institute and is passionate about working in Baltimore City high schools. He provides individual, group and family therapy to students, and has been trained in Botvin LifeSkills and Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.

Rikki Spiegler (she/her)

MSW, LCSW-C
Associate Director, School Mental Health Program
Baltimore Polytechnic Institute High School
rspiegler@som.umaryland.edu

Rachel “Rikki” Spiegler is a licensed clinical social worker and an ADHD-certified clinical services provider. She received her Master's in Social Work from the University of Maryland School of Social Work. For four years, Rikki worked in a non-public school providing individual, group, and family counseling services as well as social skills training to students ages 10-21 with diagnoses of Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD, anxiety, depression, language processing challenges, and learning differences. In private practice, Rikki provided therapeutic services to children, adolescents, young adults, and their families. Rikki is currently working in Baltimore City Schools as a school-based clinician and is passionate about taking a supportive, strengths-based approach to providing comprehensive services to children and their families.

Janai Springer (she/her)

MSW, LCSW-C
School Mental Health Counselor
Dorothy I. Height Elementary School
springer@som.umaryland.edu

Janai Springer completed her MSW program at the University of Maryland School of Social Work and is excited to contribute her skills and knowledge to providing mental health counseling for elementary school students in Baltimore City. After completing her social work internship at Furman Templeton Elementary School, and working with many other student populations, including special needs and ESOL students, she realized her passion for helping young learners thrive in all aspects of their lives. Janai is interested in pursuing her clinical license and making a lasting positive impact in the local community through providing mental health education and support to under-served children and families.

Maya Wallace (she/her)

MSW, LMSW
School Mental Health Counselor
maya.wallace@som.umaryland.edu

Maya Wallace graduated with her master’s degree from the Morgan State University School of Social Work. Her area of specialization is in urban youth, children, and families. Maya was a trainee with the School Mental Health Program (SMHP) at Western High School, where she provided a continuum of effective mental health promotion and intervention to build on strengths and address the needs of students and families. Maya was inspired by her internship with SMHP to continue working with children and families and is now a SMHP Counselor at Franklin Square Elementary Middle School.