5 school mental health leaders you should know

Welcome to our School Mental Health blog! 

Teachers, administrators, school counselors, and all of us who serve youth have been in the trenches during the last two years. Daily, we see, hear, and feel the surge of anxiety, depression, grief, and loneliness in our students. 

By nature, we want to help… to be confident in how we talk with students about mental health…to cultivate safe, healing classrooms that promote joy, learning, and community…and to make it easier to infuse the latest social-emotional-behavioral health resources and research into lessons. 

This blog will help you do just that—a blog designed for K-12 teachers, service providers, and administrators that has actionable insights, tips for success, and evidence-based practice recommendations.

Once a month, you will hear from leading school mental health researchers, experts, and practitioners. They dig deep into the research, clarify the data, and transform it into grab-and-go resources and reflections for you. You guzzle it up and then activate in your school or classroom. 

So, who are some of these experts and leaders you will hear from? And why should you delve into their content? Check out 5 of our future blog contributors and how they are changing the school mental health landscape in Iowa and beyond: 

#1 Dr. Allison Bruhn, Executive Director

Youth softball coach + breast cancer survivor + education professional with 17+ years of experience in K-12 schools and at the university level

Originally from Iowa, Allison began her career as a middle school teacher, where she gravitated to students with disabilities, challenging behavior, and traumatic home lives. Her passion for the most vulnerable students led her to a career in academia, where she has spent the last 14 years researching how to best meet the needs of students with or at risk for emotional/behavioral disorders. 

Allison, former NCAA Division I softball student-athlete and coach, co-authored a book, Managing Challenging Behaviors in Schools: Research-Based Strategies That Work, and two mobile apps (MoBeGo and Score It). Her research has been published in multiple peer-reviewed journals.

Allison also serves as a professor of special education at the University of Iowa and holds a Ph.D. in special education from Vanderbilt University.

#2 Dr. Kari Vogelgesang, Director of Professional Development 

Runs 40-50 miles per week + avid baker and reader + mom of 2 boys + 30+ years experience in the education field

At 16 years old, Kari started working with children at a before-and-after-school program. Following high school, she attended the University of Iowa, earned a BA in elementary education, and spent almost a decade as a classroom teacher.

Understanding first-hand that for students to succeed, teachers must thrive, Kari shifted her focus to serving and preparing future educators. She returned to UI to earn a Ph.D. in special education with a focus on social, emotional, and behavioral disorders.

Since then, Kari has focused much of her professional work on understanding and developing programs to enhance the wellness of professional educators and school communities. She has directed 100+ professional development programs for districts and teachers across the state of Iowa and beyond. She also serves as the Director of Professional Development for the University of Iowa Baker Teacher Leader Center and is a clinical associate professor in the Department of Teaching and Learning.

#3 Dr. Gerta Bardhoshi, Director of Research and Training 

Multilingual + first-generation college graduate + enthusiastic gardener + chief merrymaker for 2 daughters + 13+ years experience in school mental health research and practice

At 17 years old, Gerta came to the U.S. from Greece to study counseling and mental health. She attended Northern State University to earn a BS in psychology and an MS in clinical mental health counseling, and The George Washington University to complete her Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision with a specialization in child development and school counseling.

After working as a Management Analyst for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, she decided to enter academia to use her research, clinical, and supervision skills to directly train the next generation of counselors. 

Gerta’s research focuses on best practices in counseling assessment and interventions with school-aged youth as well as the factors that enable school counselors to practice effectively despite stressors. She was recently recognized as a 2022 American Counseling Association Research Award honoree.

#4 Dr. Alissa Doobay, Director of Clinical Services 

Grew up in Nevada, Iowa + performing arts enthusiast + mom to 3 + culinary connoisseur + more than a decade of experience advocating for the needs of children who present a variety of learning, developmental, and mental health differences

Alissa’s high school psychology class sparked her interest in helping others find a path toward a better life.

Now, a licensed psychologist, she has managed clinical and administrative aspects of a mental health clinic for school-aged youth and is eager to use her experience to support more students across the state.

Alissa spent 11 years at the Belin-Blank Center for Gifted Education at the University of Iowa running a clinic of psychologists that specialized in the needs of gifted and twice-exceptional students. She earned her Ph.D. in counseling psychology from UI where she also serves as a professor.

#5 Dr. Barry Schreier, Director of Higher Education Programming 

Founded and owned a candy store for many years + local community theatre director and actor + unquenchable sense of humor + 30+ years in the campus counseling center profession

Barry brings a unique and deep history of experience in the evolving world of campus mental health. This includes the critical relationship between mental health and wellbeing through the entire campus pipeline, from students to faculty to staff to families to administrators. Equity, access, and dignity anchor Barry’s work. 

Since 2015, Barry served as the director of the University Counseling Service at the University of Iowa. As a Counseling Psychologist, he approaches mental health with a positive psychology focus on our campus community’s strengths and resilience. 

In addition to his role at the Center, Barry will also serve as a clinical professor in College of Education. He holds a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University of Missouri–Kansas City.

These are only 5 of hundreds, if not thousands, of school mental health champions making a difference across our state. Come along as our network of experts, authors, and perspectives grows.

And, if you know of someone doing transformational work in this space or who would be a perfect guest contributor, please connect with us. We can’t wait to learn and grow together. 

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