School Psychologists
Sarah Olitzky, PhD, LP, NCSP
DrSarah@PediatricPsychServices.com
Sarah Olitzky, PhD, LP, NCSP is a licensed psychologist specializing in toddlers, preschool- and school- aged children. A native of Michigan, Dr. Olitzky attended Columbia University in New York City, where she graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and Spanish, Phi Beta Kappa, Summa Cum Laude. She received her PhD from Fordham University in New York, during which time she received advanced training at the New York University Child Study Center and Columbia Presbyterian Hospital. Pre-doctoral internship was completed at the University of Minnesota Autism Spectrum and Neurodevelopmental Disorders Clinic and within Minneapolis Public Schools. She completed her post-doctoral fellowship at Fraser Child and Family Center in Minneapolis where she continues to provide assessment and treatment services.
In addition to Dr. Olitzky’s licensed psychologist (LP) credential, she is also a Minnesota Board of Education School Psychologist and holds distinction as a Nationally Certified School Psychologist (NCSP). Having worked extensively in both clinical and educational settings, Dr. Olitzky is uniquely able to support your child and family no matter where you are in your mental health or special education journey.
Dr. Olitzky lives in St. Louis Park with her husband and four young children. As the mother of four children under the age of 8 (including a set of twins), she understands that you work daily to ensure what’s best for your child, but sometimes the next best step is not always clear when concerns arise. Dr. Olitzky looks forward to working with you to develop an evidence-based intervention plan that fits the unique needs of your child and family.
Steph Horton, PhD, NCSP
DrSteph@PediatricPsychServices.com
Steph Horton, PhD, NCSP (“Dr. Horton”) is a Minnesota Board of Education School Psychologist and Nationally Certified School Psychologist who specializes in working with children of all ages in school-based settings. Dr. Horton grew up in Plymouth, MN before earning her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she graduated Phi Beta Kappa. She completed her school psychology internship in Northern California, where she supported students with significant mental health needs. Following her internship, Dr. Horton joined the school psychology team in Minneapolis Public Schools, where she has provided school psychology services in a school for children needing high levels of emotional and behavioral support for 14 years.
Dr. Horton’s areas of expertise include: evaluation/assessment services, behavioral and emotional supports for children with educational classifications of Autism Spectrum Disorder, Emotional or Behavioral Disorder, learning disabilities and various mental health diagnoses and teacher/administrative consultation. Dr. Horton is passionate about opportunities to develop intervention plans designed to help students succeed both at school and in their everyday lives.
Dr. Horton lives in Plymouth with her husband and three young children and enjoys spending time with her family, hiking, traveling and being outdoors. She looks forward to supporting students and staff within your school.
Abbey Karich, PhD, NCSP
DrAbbey@PediatricPsychServices.com
Dr. Karich is a Minnesota Board of Education School Psychologist and Nationally Certified School Psychologist specializing in school-based assessment and consultation. Dr. Karich was raised in Duluth, Minnesota. She graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and Business Marketing from the University of St. Thomas. Following her undergraduate degree, Dr. Karich became a AmeriCorps member for a nation-wide alternative teaching certification program and was placed in New Orleans, Louisiana. In New Orleans, she taught English Language Arts to high school students in Jefferson Parish. She graduated with her doctorate in Educational Psychology from the University of Minnesota. Her thesis examined how schools can positively affect intervention integrity among school staff.
In addition to her role on the Pediatric Psych Services School Psychology team, Dr. Karich serves as a school psychologist within Minneapolis Public Schools. Conducting strengths-based comprehensive, ethical, informative, and intervention-driven evaluations that are of value to the student, staff and family is a priority of hers. Beyond that basic tenet, she is most excited about systems-level thinking around Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS), Social Emotional Learning (SEL), and the educational opportunity gap that persists in Minnesota.
Dr. Karich lives in Lowry Hill situated between uptown and downtown Minneapolis. She regularly enjoys all of the city’s offerings including biking, walking/running trails, restaurants, music, plays, parks, and lakes. Her favorite summer spot is the shared family cabin in Ely, Minnesota.
Meredith Pecci, MSEd, CAGS
Meredith@PediatricPsychServices.com
Meredith is a school psychologist with over 20 years of experience working in schools. She specializes in evaluation, counseling and consultation with preschool through middle school-aged children. Meredith graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Bucknell University, majoring in Education and Spanish. She continued at Bucknell to get her Masters of Science in Education, graduating Summa Cum Laude. After working in public schools for 6 years, Meredith returned to graduate school in 2001 at Tufts University to earn her educational specialist degree, graduating Summa Cum Laude. She holds distinction as a Nationally Certified School Psychologist and is licensed by the state of Minnesota as a School Psychologist.
Meredith worked as a school psychologist for a school district north of Boston for 19 years, working with children from preschool age through grade 6. Her responsibilities included evaluation for special education eligibility, counseling small groups and individuals and consultation to parents and teachers. Having relocated in 2016, Meredith in enjoying supporting schools in her new home of Minnesota. Her passions include guiding students, parents and teachers through the special education evaluation and eligibility process as well as teaching social skills and emotional regulation skills.
Meredith is mother to three children ranging from high school to elementary school and understands the unique challenges that each stage of childhood and adolescence can bring. She looks forward to working with students and their families to developing a plan for educational, emotional and social success in school.
Laura Jensen, Ed.S., NCSP
Laura@PediatricPsychServices.com
Laura Jensen, Ed.S., NCSP is a licensed school psychologist in the state of Minnesota. Laura received her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Minnesota State University, Mankato, where she graduated Summa Cum Laude. She completed her Master’s and Educational Specialist’s Degrees at the University of Wisconsin, River Falls, in which she graduated with honors. During her graduate program, Laura completed her practicum and internship in her hometown of Owatonna, and is currently working as a part-time school psychologist specializing in early childhood and the assessment of English Learners in Eden Prairie. Beyond her work in schools, Laura has been a board member for the Minnesota School Psychologist Association since 2013.
Throughout her career, Laura has worked with children aged birth through twenty-one years old. She has been trained extensively in Response-to-Intervention (Multi-Tiered Systems of Support), behavioral interventions/strategies, Autism Spectrum Disorder, due process/assessment, functional behavioral assessments, and cultural and linguistic diversity. Her particular skill set has prepared her to work in a variety of educational settings with diverse needs. She looks forward to assisting with the needs of schools ranging from the systematic to individual student levels.
Laura lives in Lakeville with her husband and two children. She enjoys being active by running, swimming, biking and rollerblading throughout the year and spending quality time with her family and friends. Laura also loves to travel and takes every opportunity to explore new countries and cultures.
Rebecca Nelson, EdS, NCSP
Becca@pediatricpsychservices.
Rebecca Nelson, Ed.S., NCSP is a licensed school psychologist in the state of Minnesota. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and Communication from the College of St. Benedict and St. John’s University, where she graduated Magna Cum Laude. She worked as a Psychometrist for seven years, administering neuropsychological test batteries at a Twin Cities neurology clinic, before transitioning to a career in School Psychology. She completed Master’s and Education Specialist Degrees at the University of Wisconsin, River Falls, including a practicum in the Bloomington Public Schools and an internship in the Forest Lake Area Schools. She went on to work as a school psychologist in the Forest Lake, Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan, and Edina Public School Districts. She is a member of the Minnesota School Psychologists Association and National Association of School Psychologists. Rebecca enjoys working with students of all ages, collaborating with teachers and parents to support student needs, and helping motivate students to perform at their potential.
Rebecca enjoys spending time with her husband, three children, and friends. She also enjoys exploring new cultures and ideas through travel, reading, and film.
Kelly DeGezelle, M.S.Ed.; Ed.S.
Kelly@pediatricpsychservices.
Kelly DeGezelle, M.S.Ed.; Ed.S.; is a licensed School Psychologist in the state of Minnesota She obtained her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and Human Services from the University of MN Morris, graduating Summa Cum Laude. She completed her Master’s and Educational Specialist’s Degrees from the University of WI, Stout, graduating Summa Cum Laude. Kelly completed a counseling practicum in Wisconsin and her school psychology practicums in MN. Her internship was completed in Prior Lake, MN where she continued to work for the following three years at an elementary school, middle school, and high school. The past twelve years Kelly has worked in a large metro school district where she has worked with early childhood through high school age students. She had the opportunity to work with high needs programming for students with developmental delays, significant mental health concerns, and autism. Additionally, she has worked at schools that are culturally and socioeconomically diverse and at a Spanish Immersion school.
Kelly’s professional areas of expertise and interest include behavior intervention and strategies, functional behavior assessments, culturally responsive assessment, mental health and trauma, autism, and early childhood. Her experience includes facilitating child study and problem-solving intervention teams. She is passionate about advocating for students, consulting with educators, and continuing to grow in her profession. Her training has included nonviolent crisis intervention, conscious discipline, and teacher child interaction training.
Kelly lives in Mahtomedi with her husband, three children, and two pets. She enjoys traveling, reading, yoga, going to concerts, and spending time with her family and friends.
Martha Long MA, MEd.
Martha@pediatricpsychservices.
Martha Long, MA, MEd is a school psychologist with over 20 years of experience working in schools. She specializes in evaluation, counseling and consultation with school-aged children ages 3-21. Martha graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Tufts University, majoring in English Literature. After completing two years as a charter corps member of Teach for America, she returned to graduate school and obtained her Masters of Arts in Counseling Psychology at Boston College. She continued on to gain her Masters of Education in School Psychology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Martha is licensed by the state of Minnesota as a School Psychologist and also holds current licensure in Special Education Administration from the state of Ohio.
Martha worked as a school psychologist across the United States for over 20 years, supporting the special education needs of students ages 3-21. She has been licensed in five states, and has held positions as both a School Psychologist and Special Education Director. Her responsibilities have included evaluation for special education eligibility, specializing in gifted, twice-expectational, and dual-language assessments. Her responsibilities have also included leading school-based special education teams and consulting with parents, teachers, and administrators.
Having relocated in 2015, Martha enjoys supporting schools in her new home of Minnesota, particularly guiding students, parents and teachers through the special education evaluation and eligibility process. She is the proud mother of boy/girl twins, who will graduate from high school in 2020. Martha looks forward to working with students and their families to develop an educational plan for their academic, social, and emotional well-being and success.
Special Education Consultants
Sarah Rabe, MA
SarahR@PediatricPsychServices.com
Sarah Rabe, M.A. is a licensed Minnesota special educator with certifications in Deaf Education, Elementary Education, Autism Spectrum Disorders and Intellectual Disabilities. She received her Bachelor’s Degree from Augustana University in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where she graduated Summa Cum Laude. She completed her Master’s Degree at the University of St. Thomas in St Paul, MN, in which she graduated with high honors. She was awarded the Top Minnesota Teacher award in 2009.
Sarah has been working with students with a variety of unique needs aged birth through twenty-one years old for the past fifteen years. She has highly qualified working with students who have language delays, sensory impairments, developmental disabilities, and/or Autism Spectrum Disorders. She is also extensively experienced in due process/assessment, whole-to-part reading interventions and adaptive educational strategies and is proficient in American Sign Language. She looks forward to assisting schools in supporting students to bring out their full potential. Sarah lives in Eagan with her husband and four children– two sets of twins! She enjoys reading, knitting, and kayaking swimming and spending quality time with her family and friends.
