Mental Health

DCSD Mental Health Resources

NRE's Amazing Mental Health Team

Andrea Klingler (Ms. K) — School Counselor

Ms. K supports the social-emotional well-being of Northridge students and helps students build the skills they need to be successful at school. She provides individual check-ins and small-group skill building for general education students and supports students through challenging situations. Ms. K also supports the school’s 504 and Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) processes. When students experience a crisis or significant concern, she provides support and helps coordinate appropriate school-based responses, including behavioral support, suicide risk assessments, and threat assessments.

Veronica Olesen — School Social Worker

Ms. Veronica supports the mental health and social-emotional needs of students receiving special education services. She provides mental health services, collaborates with families and staff through the IEP process, and supports Functional Behavioral Assessments (FBAs) and Behavior Intervention Plans (BIPs). Veronica also conducts social-emotional evaluations as part of the special education process. In addition, she provides crisis support and assists with behavioral concerns, suicide risk assessments, and threat assessments.

Cassie D’Orazio — School Psychologist (.4)

Ms. Cassie is Northridge’s part-time school psychologist and is on campus Tuesdays and Fridays. She provides weekly Discovery Mental Health lessons and supports the mental health needs of students in the Discovery program. Cassie also supports the special education process for Discovery students, including IEPs, Functional Behavioral Assessments (FBAs), and Behavior Intervention Plans (BIPs). She conducts cognitive evaluations as part of the special education process and provides crisis support, including behavioral support, suicide risk assessments, and threat assessments.

Kristi Jex — School-Based Behavior Technician (Treehouse)

Ms. Kristi provides Tier 2 behavioral and emotional support to both general education and special education students. She works with students who may need additional support with emotional or physical regulation outside of the classroom environment. The Treehouse provides a supportive space where students can practice regulation strategies, including sensory activities, heavy work and body-pressure activities, and low-stimulation strategies. Kristi also assists with behavioral crisis response and helps students return to a regulated state so they can successfully rejoin their learning environment.