EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
MY EDUCATION
Dr. Donna Kelsch earned undergraduate degree from the University of Steubenville in 1985 with a BA in psychology, theology and secondary education. In 1989 she earned her master’s degree in counseling from Dusquene University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in counselor education with a minor in theology.
Dr. Kelsch earned her doctoral degree in Education Psychology at Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 1998. Her doctoral dissertation was on adolescent girls self-esteem and was based on a program she developed while working as a middle school counselor. The program is termed GOLD (Girls Only Leadership Development) and it is being utilized in Georgia, PA, CO, New Hampshire and a few other eastern states as well as in the UK.
Dr. Kelsch is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) in the state of Montana and Colorado. She is a licensed school counselor and school psychologist in Pennsylvania and Colorado and a licensed school psychologist in Arizona and Montana.
MY WORK EXPERIENCES
Over the past 28 years Dr. Kelsch has worked in schools as a school counselor, administrator, psychologist and university professor. While working in education, Dr. Kelsch has always worked part-time as a therapist. She obtained the doctoral degree to open her own practice and work with teens, couples and families, which is what she is finally able to do full-time.
School Counselor: September 1985-June 1989.
Quigley High School, Baden, PA
Responsibilities: Provided academic, career, and personal social services to 350 high school students; provided counseling and coordinating services involving at-risk youth; writing and directing educational plans for disadvantaged students; facilitating individual conferences with all junior students
Initiated: District wide alcohol and drug policies; built wide teacher-guidance consultation meetings to monitor student progress; student forum and peer leadership; freshmen orientation program.
Psychologist/Therapist- Part Time: Summer 1989-Spring 1992
Laughlin Children's Center, Sewickley,
Responsibilities: Provided therapeutic services to families, children and adolescents; provided cognitive and social emotional assessments for children.
Initiated: Improvement for child therapy room; suggestions for adolescent responsibility groups.
School Counselor/Assistant Principal: Fall 1989-Summer 1991
A.W. Beattie Vocational Technical School, Allison Park, PA
Responsibilities: Provided academic, career and personal social services to 450 high school students; coordinated student admissions, student placement, and maintenance of student accountability for attendance and grades; established consistent discipline practices for all students using the counseling orientation of Reality Therapy; facilitated career counseling for college and job placement; provided personal counseling for students in group and individual settings from a Reality Therapy orientation.
Initiated: Responsibility training for classroom management based on Reality Therapy principles; improvements in student placement practices; student assistance program for vocational schools; high school career-planning programs in the nine northern area schools.
School Counselor: Fall 1991-Spring 1997
North Allegheny School District, Pittsburgh, PA
Responsibilities: Provided academic, career, and personal social services to 390 middle school students; coordinated and provided consultation services for school district guidance review process and for building-based services surrounding special education including assessment of cognitive and social needs, parent conferences, and staff meetings; served on the leadership team for the school district regarding training and planning for quality school and Total Quality Management.
Initiated: District wide in-service for counselors on Reality Therapy, intervention program for all eight grade girls (GOLD) and building based programs for career education with community involvement; Classroom guidance units for academic concerns, and personal support groups (Secrets, Girl Talk, Teen Talk and Carson Afternoon at the Movies)
Practicum Instructor- Part Time: Spring 1992-May 2004
The William Glasser Institute, Canoga Park, CA
Responsibilities: Teaching advanced and basic week practicum’s in Choice Theory/Reality Therapy/Lead Management to individuals who are in the process of obtaining certification in Reality Therapy
Courses taught: Basic Week Practicum’s; Advanced Week Practicum.
Initiated: International academic credit for persons completing training in United States or abroad.
Therapist/Psychologist- Part Time: Fall 1996-Spring 1997
Western Psychiatric Institute, Pittsburgh, PA
Responsibilities: Provided individual and family therapy; Supervised group leaders; Coordinated therapeutic support services in schools and home; Completed of hospital and insurance authorizations and forms.
Initiated: Multi-family support groups
School Psychologist: Fall 1997-Spring 2000
Colorado Springs School District 11, Colorado Springs, CO
Responsibilities: Provided cognitive and social assessments of elementary, middle and high school students; coordinated of multidisciplinary teams, community outreach services, and crisis intervention teams; served as Department Chairperson for
Special Education Department at West Middle School; taught affective education to students in regular education and
special education students; provided consultation for staff, parents, and community liaisons.
Initiated: Attendance buddies program; Funding and directed Girl's Only Leadership Development Program; Curriculum unit on students with disabilities to students in regular education students; Mentoring relationships between middle level and elementary level students.
Honoraria/Instructor- Full Time: Fall 1996-Fall 2000
Department of Counseling and Educational Leadership, College of Education,
University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, Colorado Springs, CO
Responsibilities: Taught graduate counseling students and advised prospective students
Courses taught: Role and Function of the School Counselor; Issues, Ethics and Trends in Counseling; Internship in School Counseling; Internship in Community Counseling.
Instructor- Part Time: Spring 2001-Spring 2001
Department of Behavioral Sciences and Leadership, The United States Airforce Academy, Colorado Springs, CO
Responsibilities: Taught second year cadets
Course taught: Psychology and Behavioral Science and Leadership
Assistant Professor of Counseling: University of Colorado at Colorado Springs: Fall 2002-May 2004 Department of Counseling and Educational Leadership, College of Education, Colorado Springs, CO
Responsibilities: Taught graduate counseling students, coordinated school counseling program, assigned academic advisor for 40 students, advised additional students as requested by the Department Chair; taught undergraduate psychology courses for summer sessions; primary professor for Air Force officers that attended at the direction of the United States Air Force to resolve issues of sexual harassment.
Courses taught: Roles and Function of School Counselor; Organization and Administration of the School Counseling Program; Techniques in School Counseling; Internship in School Counseling; Human Growth and Development.
Initiated: Courses for increasing academic rigor of school counseling programs; policy for accepting “endorsement only students”
Director of Exceptional Student Services : December 2006-May 2008
Benchmark Charter School, Phoenix, AZ
Responsibilities: Provided all cognitive and social assessments of elementary students; conducted multidisciplinary team meetings, supervised ESS staff, was district representative at ESS hearings, and facilitated support groups for students with
behavioral difficulties.
InItiated: Monthly meetings with all staff to review ESS regulations; annual 8 hour ESS in-service to educate all staff regarding IDEA regulations.
School Psychologist: September 2008-May 2012
Mesa School District, Mesa, AZ
Responsibilities: Provided cognitive and social assessments of high school students; coordinated multidisciplinary teams, counseled special education students and affective education to students; provided consultation for staff, parents, and community liaisons.
Initiated: Collaborative manner in which regular and special education teachers assist in the waiver process for eligible students; prepared revisions to the procedure for Functional Behavioral Assessments and Behavioral Intervention Plans; created policy for students attending Focus (Alternative) Schools in the school district; executive functioning training program for all staff in 4 schools
Owner and Therapist/Psychologist: Fall 2007-Present
Tri Therapy, LLC, Scottsdale, AZ, Bozeman, MT
Responsibilities: Offered services in psycho-educational and behavioral testing, advocate support for parents with children with disabilities, coordinated therapeutic support services between schools and families, and psycho-educational support for parents
Founded: Tri-Therapy which provides counseling services for teens, families and couples.
Initiated: Provided pro-bono work to assist parents in understanding their legal rights in the school systems; support groups for caretakers of children with mental illness and survivors of suicide support group.
Dr. Donna Kelsch earned undergraduate degree from the University of Steubenville in 1985 with a BA in psychology, theology and secondary education. In 1989 she earned her master’s degree in counseling from Dusquene University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in counselor education with a minor in theology.
Dr. Kelsch earned her doctoral degree in Education Psychology at Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 1998. Her doctoral dissertation was on adolescent girls self-esteem and was based on a program she developed while working as a middle school counselor. The program is termed GOLD (Girls Only Leadership Development) and it is being utilized in Georgia, PA, CO, New Hampshire and a few other eastern states as well as in the UK.
Dr. Kelsch is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) in the state of Montana and Colorado. She is a licensed school counselor and school psychologist in Pennsylvania and Colorado and a licensed school psychologist in Arizona and Montana.
MY WORK EXPERIENCES
Over the past 28 years Dr. Kelsch has worked in schools as a school counselor, administrator, psychologist and university professor. While working in education, Dr. Kelsch has always worked part-time as a therapist. She obtained the doctoral degree to open her own practice and work with teens, couples and families, which is what she is finally able to do full-time.
School Counselor: September 1985-June 1989.
Quigley High School, Baden, PA
Responsibilities: Provided academic, career, and personal social services to 350 high school students; provided counseling and coordinating services involving at-risk youth; writing and directing educational plans for disadvantaged students; facilitating individual conferences with all junior students
Initiated: District wide alcohol and drug policies; built wide teacher-guidance consultation meetings to monitor student progress; student forum and peer leadership; freshmen orientation program.
Psychologist/Therapist- Part Time: Summer 1989-Spring 1992
Laughlin Children's Center, Sewickley,
Responsibilities: Provided therapeutic services to families, children and adolescents; provided cognitive and social emotional assessments for children.
Initiated: Improvement for child therapy room; suggestions for adolescent responsibility groups.
School Counselor/Assistant Principal: Fall 1989-Summer 1991
A.W. Beattie Vocational Technical School, Allison Park, PA
Responsibilities: Provided academic, career and personal social services to 450 high school students; coordinated student admissions, student placement, and maintenance of student accountability for attendance and grades; established consistent discipline practices for all students using the counseling orientation of Reality Therapy; facilitated career counseling for college and job placement; provided personal counseling for students in group and individual settings from a Reality Therapy orientation.
Initiated: Responsibility training for classroom management based on Reality Therapy principles; improvements in student placement practices; student assistance program for vocational schools; high school career-planning programs in the nine northern area schools.
School Counselor: Fall 1991-Spring 1997
North Allegheny School District, Pittsburgh, PA
Responsibilities: Provided academic, career, and personal social services to 390 middle school students; coordinated and provided consultation services for school district guidance review process and for building-based services surrounding special education including assessment of cognitive and social needs, parent conferences, and staff meetings; served on the leadership team for the school district regarding training and planning for quality school and Total Quality Management.
Initiated: District wide in-service for counselors on Reality Therapy, intervention program for all eight grade girls (GOLD) and building based programs for career education with community involvement; Classroom guidance units for academic concerns, and personal support groups (Secrets, Girl Talk, Teen Talk and Carson Afternoon at the Movies)
Practicum Instructor- Part Time: Spring 1992-May 2004
The William Glasser Institute, Canoga Park, CA
Responsibilities: Teaching advanced and basic week practicum’s in Choice Theory/Reality Therapy/Lead Management to individuals who are in the process of obtaining certification in Reality Therapy
Courses taught: Basic Week Practicum’s; Advanced Week Practicum.
Initiated: International academic credit for persons completing training in United States or abroad.
Therapist/Psychologist- Part Time: Fall 1996-Spring 1997
Western Psychiatric Institute, Pittsburgh, PA
Responsibilities: Provided individual and family therapy; Supervised group leaders; Coordinated therapeutic support services in schools and home; Completed of hospital and insurance authorizations and forms.
Initiated: Multi-family support groups
School Psychologist: Fall 1997-Spring 2000
Colorado Springs School District 11, Colorado Springs, CO
Responsibilities: Provided cognitive and social assessments of elementary, middle and high school students; coordinated of multidisciplinary teams, community outreach services, and crisis intervention teams; served as Department Chairperson for
Special Education Department at West Middle School; taught affective education to students in regular education and
special education students; provided consultation for staff, parents, and community liaisons.
Initiated: Attendance buddies program; Funding and directed Girl's Only Leadership Development Program; Curriculum unit on students with disabilities to students in regular education students; Mentoring relationships between middle level and elementary level students.
Honoraria/Instructor- Full Time: Fall 1996-Fall 2000
Department of Counseling and Educational Leadership, College of Education,
University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, Colorado Springs, CO
Responsibilities: Taught graduate counseling students and advised prospective students
Courses taught: Role and Function of the School Counselor; Issues, Ethics and Trends in Counseling; Internship in School Counseling; Internship in Community Counseling.
Instructor- Part Time: Spring 2001-Spring 2001
Department of Behavioral Sciences and Leadership, The United States Airforce Academy, Colorado Springs, CO
Responsibilities: Taught second year cadets
Course taught: Psychology and Behavioral Science and Leadership
Assistant Professor of Counseling: University of Colorado at Colorado Springs: Fall 2002-May 2004 Department of Counseling and Educational Leadership, College of Education, Colorado Springs, CO
Responsibilities: Taught graduate counseling students, coordinated school counseling program, assigned academic advisor for 40 students, advised additional students as requested by the Department Chair; taught undergraduate psychology courses for summer sessions; primary professor for Air Force officers that attended at the direction of the United States Air Force to resolve issues of sexual harassment.
Courses taught: Roles and Function of School Counselor; Organization and Administration of the School Counseling Program; Techniques in School Counseling; Internship in School Counseling; Human Growth and Development.
Initiated: Courses for increasing academic rigor of school counseling programs; policy for accepting “endorsement only students”
Director of Exceptional Student Services : December 2006-May 2008
Benchmark Charter School, Phoenix, AZ
Responsibilities: Provided all cognitive and social assessments of elementary students; conducted multidisciplinary team meetings, supervised ESS staff, was district representative at ESS hearings, and facilitated support groups for students with
behavioral difficulties.
InItiated: Monthly meetings with all staff to review ESS regulations; annual 8 hour ESS in-service to educate all staff regarding IDEA regulations.
School Psychologist: September 2008-May 2012
Mesa School District, Mesa, AZ
Responsibilities: Provided cognitive and social assessments of high school students; coordinated multidisciplinary teams, counseled special education students and affective education to students; provided consultation for staff, parents, and community liaisons.
Initiated: Collaborative manner in which regular and special education teachers assist in the waiver process for eligible students; prepared revisions to the procedure for Functional Behavioral Assessments and Behavioral Intervention Plans; created policy for students attending Focus (Alternative) Schools in the school district; executive functioning training program for all staff in 4 schools
Owner and Therapist/Psychologist: Fall 2007-Present
Tri Therapy, LLC, Scottsdale, AZ, Bozeman, MT
Responsibilities: Offered services in psycho-educational and behavioral testing, advocate support for parents with children with disabilities, coordinated therapeutic support services between schools and families, and psycho-educational support for parents
Founded: Tri-Therapy which provides counseling services for teens, families and couples.
Initiated: Provided pro-bono work to assist parents in understanding their legal rights in the school systems; support groups for caretakers of children with mental illness and survivors of suicide support group.