Meet Our Board of Directors
Joan Kappus, President/FASP Liaison
My interest in school psychology began when I met Cecil Reynolds. I studied with him at TAMU and had the opportunity to explore many facets of neuropsychology and participated in countless research projects. I became a school psychologist and NASP member 34 years ago and worked for several school districts in central Texas before moving to Miami. I began working for M-DCPS in January of 2006 and continued my career here. Additionally, I do field research as an examiner for Pearson and enjoy participating in the standardization of new instruments.
I joined DASP upon my arrival here and proudly served on the executive board for over three years. I am currently in my fifth term as the South Regional Rep and my second year as the CE Coordinator for FASP. I believe my continued involvement in state and county organizations has kept me abreast of current issues in school psychology. I volunteer because I believe it is a great way to promote and advocate for our profession. My specific interests lie in the areas of neuropsychology, counseling interventions, and differential diagnosis.
Norka Conception, Treasurer
Norka Gonzalez Concepcion has served as treasurer on the DASP Executive Board for several years. She began her career in Special Education working as a special education teacher servicing the severely emotionally disturbed (SED) with The Bertha Abess Children’s Center agency, a co-venture special day treatment program serving the most severe children in Dade County Schools. She then became a center chairperson and ultimately a Psycho-educational Specialist for district office supervising the BACC 57 centers. Her career as a school psychologist began in 2004 until her retirement in 2015.
She also served as an EBD clinician, has trained, supervised and mentored graduate students for many universities. Her areas of interest and expertise have always been behavioral/emotional disorders as well as autism and learning disabilities. Advocating for children’s rights has always been her passion. Currently, Norka is retired and working a thriving private practice as well as providing care and support for her 6 grandchildren.
Anaeli Rodriguez, Out of Area Representative
Anaeli M. Rodriguez-Borjas is a Nationally Certified, bilingual School Psychologist, licensed in the State of Florida. After having completed her undergraduate degree in Psychology at the University of Florida, Anaeli decided to focus on working with children and pursued a graduate degree in School Psychology, with a specialization in Early Childhood Development. After earning her Master’s degree in 2003, Anaeli moved back to Miami to complete her internship at the Institute for Child and Family Health (formerly the Children’s Psychiatric Center).
Anaeli began working as a school Psychologist with Miami-Dade County Public Schools in the fall of 2004. She has enjoyed serving the children and families of MDCPS over many different capacities during her 15 years as a School Psychologist. Anaeli has served both as a region-based and district school psychologist. Currently, she specializes as a Prekindergarten School Psychologist conducting evaluations of children ages 3-5, who present with Developmental Disabilities, and works as the Co-Chair of the Prekindergarten Diagnostic Teams within MDCPS.
Anaeli is excited to serve DASP as the Media and Communications Chair. She previously served on the DASP executive board, as treasurer, for four years.
Dr. Gil Lopez, Legislative Committee Chairperson
Dr. Gil Lopez has been a School Psychologist at MDCPS for the past 44 years and has been a member of DASP since its inception. He is a Florida Licensed and Nationally Certified School Psychologist. He served as DASP president during the 2008-09 school year and currently serves on the Executive Board in the capacity of chairperson of the Legislative Committee. In addition to his role as a school psychologist he has worked as an EBD Clinician, has trained, supervised and mentored graduate students and promotes and advocates the role of school psychologists as mental health practitioners at local, state, and national levels.
Kat Norona, Membership Chair
Kathleen (“Kat”) Norona has been a school psychologist for over 17 years in the Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS). She received her Bachelor of Science in Psychology at the University of Florida and pursued an Educational Specialist degree in School Psychology at the Florida International University. She began her career in school psychology in 2003 and served primarily as a region-based psychologist with an interest in students who are within low-incidence populations. Currently, she serves as a clinical supervisor for graduate students, as well as a mentor for school psychologists new to M-DCPS. Kat previously served on the executive board of the Florida Association of School Psychologists (FASP) as the South Regional Rep in 2008-2010 and was an active member of DASP in those years. She is excited to return to DASP in an effort to continue advocating for the profession and the needs of the children and families we serve.
Cristy Pena, Professional Development Co-Chairperson
Cristy started her career as a school psychologist over 35 years ago. Throughout those years, her varied experiences show the different roles/opportunities available to all school psychologists. Early in her career, she worked as the school psychologist assessing students and counseling students with emotional and behavioral disabilities, both assigned to particular schools and as part of a mobile team traveling throughout the District on the “Mec Unit.” One of the highlights of Cristy’s career was when she became the District Chairperson of the Division of Psychological Services in Miami-Dade County Public Schools. In this role, Cristy was part of an exceptional team that developed, implemented and provided trainings on several Division initiatives and was part of groups that presented at both the Florida Association of School Psychologists and the National Association of School Psychologists conferences. Another career highlight was serving as the district coordinator of school psychologist interns.
Cristy has also been active in her professional societies, serving on the board of the Dade Association of School Psychologists and Chairing the annual meeting of the Florida Association of School Psychologists. Cristy is excited to be back in the schools working directly with students, staff, parents and school psychology interns. Every day she is reminded that our field gives us the opportunity to use many skills, from assessments to counseling, giving presentations, and working with parents – we can make this field whatever we want it to be.
Dr. Sue Buslinger-Clifford, Professional Development Co-Chairperson
Dr. Sue L. Buslinger-Clifford began her career as a school psychologist 26 years ago when she was hired as a District School Psychologist for children with a hearing loss. She was privileged to work out of the District for Mr. Joseph Jackson and was afforded many leadership experiences which were helpful in transitioning to the Instructional Supervisor position upon Mr. Jackson’s retirement.
She remained in the supervisory position for 14 years and resigned her position reluctantly so she could again directly serve the children and families of Miami-Dade County Public Schools in the years prior to her retirement.
Linda Richmond-Moran, South Area Representative
Linda Richmond-Moran, Ed.S.(formerly known as Soden) has served on the DASP Executive Board as Treasurer for the past 13 years. She has been a School Psychologist for 19 years. Linda started her career as a Pre-Kindergarten teacher where she worked in the private school setting. As the Business Manager of a nonprofit organization, she managed a large budget, handled accounts payable, payroll and monthly financial reports.
Linda then returned to school and realized her dream of becoming a psychologist. Working as a School Psychologist merged her interests in education, working with children and psychology. She started her career at Florida International University as the Program Coordinator of the Assessment Intervention Program, a grant funded by the Children’s Trust. Later she returned to the University of Miami, Mailman Center for Child Development where she previously had a fellowship, as the supervisor of evaluations in the Early Childhood Department.
Finding the long hours competing with family obligations, she came to M-DCPS in 2006. Her areas of interest and expertise include Pre-K, Autism Spectrum Disorders, ADHD, students with emotional disabilities, counseling and trauma recovery.
Mirtha Brennan, Central Region Representative – Bio coming soon.