About The Board

Howard Wakkinen has been a school psychologist and assistant principal (3 years) since completing his pre-doctoral internship in 2007-2008. He has served K-12 schools and students in Colorado and Wyoming. Since 2009, he has served in K-12 schools for Laramie County School District #1 in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Howard earned his B.A. in Psychology and Ph.D. in School Psychology from the University of Northern Colorado (UNC) in Greeley, Colorado (and an administrator endorsement from the University of Wyoming). Before transferring to UNC during his undergraduate, he attended the University of Montana where he played football for the Griz for three years (GO Griz!). He has served on the Wyoming School Psychology Association (WSPA) board in several different roles as well as previously on the Wyoming Association of Secondary School Principals (WASSP) board as the Southeast Regional Representative. Howard’s current assignment in LCSD1 is at a traditional high school in Cheyenne, and he enjoys coaching football and wrestling when time permits. Outside of school, Howard enjoys the outdoors and chasing his three children around with their various activities. Finally, Dr. Wakkinen enjoys numerous research areas, but his favorites include anti-bullying, MTSS/RTI (interventions to reach all students), solution-focused consultation / collaboration, and resilience / assets / SEL curricula. 

Scott McGuire has worked as a School Psychologist in Newcastle since 2010 and in Wyoming since 2007. He was born and raised in North Dakota and received his School Psychology Educational Specialist degree from Minot State University.  He has been employed in many different occupations and can easily relate to a diverse group of people and situations. Scott is trained in evaluating student special education eligibility, RtI consultation, and IEP development.

Stacy Meester is a school psychologist with Campbell County School District #1 in Gillette, WY. She joined the CCSD #1 team in 2020, after previously working as a school psychologist in her home state of North Dakota. She earned her BS in Psychology from the University of North Dakota with special emphasis in the Psychology of Education & Learning; and Biological & Physiological Psychology. Stacy received her Masters and Specialist (PsyS) degrees in School Psychology from Minnesota State University, Moorhead, and is also a Nationally Certified School Psychologist. She has served on the WSPA board since 2021. 

Stacy’s professional interests include RTI, MTSS, SEL and mindfulness, Gifted & Talented education, collaboration with her colleagues, and data collection. In her free time, she enjoys reading, running, and hiking in the WY mountains with her husband and sons.

Eldon Clifford Ph.D. is a school psychologist with Johnson County School District #1 in Buffalo, WY. He earned his B.S.Ed. from Black Hills State University, his M.S. in Counseling from South Dakota State University, and his Ph.D. in School Psychology from The University of South Dakota.  He is a Licensed Psychologist and an LPC.  He has worked in private practice, public schools,  and as an adjunct community college faculty member during his 20-year career in education.  Eldon has held a number of elected and appointed positions with WSPA for the past 14 years.

Kristin Cuddy works in Park County School District #1 in Powell. She received her Educational Specialist degree from the University of Northern Colorado and bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas. Kristin is a Nationally Certified School Psychologist and has previously worked in Mississippi, Colorado, and Montana. She spends about half of her time at the high school and half doing district-wide assessment. She enjoys being a high school drama coach and hiking.

Brenda King is employed as an Education Specialist with Natrona County School District #1 and is a Nationally Certified School Psychologist (NCSP). She was born and raised in Colorado, enlisted in the United States Air Force and served her country in Germany during Desert Shield/Storm as a Mental Health Technician. She received her Bachelor of Science degree from University of Southern Colorado (now known as Colorado State University – Pueblo).  She worked in Human Resources before attending University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, CO, and received her Ed.S. degree May 2016.  She was a School Psychologist in Southern Colorado prior to moving to Wyoming. Brenda has a keen interest in Special Education Law and excels in supporting team members with development of IEPs and BIPs, and psychological testing. 

Brenda and her husband reside in Casper and love the opportunities to attend multiple events: concerts, arts, outdoor hiking and camping, and enjoying excellent dining experiences! Brenda is passionate about animal rescue and has two rescue dogs.

Stacey Kern, Ph.D. is the Director of Special Services for Carbon County School District #1. She received her B.A. in Psychology from Tabor College, her M.S. in Clinical Psychology from Emporia State University, her Ed.S. in School Psychology from Emporia State University, and her Ph.D. in Educational Leadership from the University of Wyoming. Dr. Kern is a nationally certified school psychologist who has practiced in the state of Wyoming for thirteen years. Prior to becoming an educator, she was a licensed master’s level psychologist working with incarcerated males in the state of Kansas. She advocates for the children of Wyoming through her work at the local, state, and national levels. She currently serves on the board of directors for the Wyoming School Psychology Association and is a member of the Wyoming Association of Special Education Administrators and the Council of Administrators of Special Education.

Bart Lyman is originally from Cody, Wyoming and currently works as the Outreach Program Director for Region V B.O.C.E.S. in Evanston, Wyoming. He has a Bachelor of Science in Business Management with a minor in Psychology from the University of Wyoming. He completed an Educational Specialist degree in School Psychology from Brigham Young University.  Bart is a Nationally Certified School Psychologist (NCSP) and has a certificate in Educational Leadership.  He previously held a Diplomate in School Neuropsychology. Bart spent thirteen years serving as a school psychologist in southwest Wyoming and four years working as the Wyoming Multi-Tiered Systems of Supports (MTSS) Coach.  He is a member of the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) and the Wyoming School Psychologists (WSPA).

Lindsey Schumaker is an Education Specialist and Nationally Certified School Psychologist currently serving Carbon County School District #1. She completed her B.A. in Psychology at Minot State University in Minot, North Dakota and her Ed.S. in School Psychology at the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, Colorado. Her interests include special education law, behavioral intervention, and supporting mental health within the school setting. 

David Briggs, Ed.S., NCSP is a nationally certified school psychologist. He earned his bachelor’s degree in psychology from Brigham Young University-Idaho (2006), and then attended the University of Northern Colorado-Greeley, where he earned an educational specialist degree in school psychology (2010). Most recently, he finished a master’s degree in educational leadership from the University of Wyoming (2017). He has worked for ten years full-time in various school settings in Wyoming including: Green River, Pine Bluffs, Cheyenne, and Evanston. He also has five years of part-time clinical experience in various settings. While he specializes in the diagnosis (testing and assessment) and treatment (group or individual) of various disorders/deficits, including: depression, anger management, assertiveness, anxiety, developmental disorders (ex.- learning and cognitive disabilities, ADHD, and autism), executive dysfunction, and social skills deficits. His professional interests include: neuropsychology, special education law, early intervention, and resiliency.

Don Rentz is currently a school psychologist at Laramie County School District #1 (Cheyenne, WY). He previously worked for 18 years as a school psychologist at Natrona County School District (Casper, WY). He earned his B.S. in Psychology at BYU and his M.Ed. and Ed.S. in School Psychology at Idaho State University. He is originally from Southern California (Rialto).

Brandon Weiss has worked in Wyoming as a Nationally Certified School Psychologist since 2015. He has worked in three different states and served grades K-12. Brandon earned his B.S. in Psychology, M.Ed. in Educational Psychology, and Post Masters in School Psychology. He is presently employed in Lovell, WY.

Shawn Milam is an Educational Specialist and Nationally Certified School Psychologist currently serving in Laramie County School District #1 in Cheyenne. Shawn has been a School Psychologist in Wyoming since 2016. Before working in Cheyenne, Shawn worked for Sweetwater County School District #1 in Rock Springs and Natrona County School District #1 in Casper.  Shawn earned his Ed.S. School Psychology graduate degree from Northern Arizona University and his undergraduate B.S. in Psychology at Colorado State University—Pueblo.  His interests include MTSS, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Reading Interventions, and Dyslexia.

Keri Prichard has served K-12 students as a Nationally Certified School Psychologist in Kansas, Arkansas, and Wyoming. She has worked for the Laramie County School District 1 since 2019. Keri earned her B.A. in Psychology from Baylor University (2003) and Ed.S. in School Psychology from the University of Kansas (2005).  Keri loves hanging out with her husband of 14 years and their amazing daughter. She also volunteers as a Girl Scout Troop Leader and as one of the Key Spouses for the 20th Air Force. She is excited to join the board this year as the WSPA Membership Chair.

Brennan Proctor is originally from Johnstown, Colorado and has worked in education for the last 11 years in various capacities (academic advisor, school counselor, and school psychologist) in both Colorado and Wyoming. He is currently a school psychologist with Laramie County School District 1. He graduated with a B.A. in Spanish Language and Literature and a B.A. in Linguistics from the University of Colorado-Boulder in 2008 and received his Ed.S. in School Psychology from the University of Northern Colorado in 2013. His professional interests include PBIS, Assessing Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Students, and Self-Determination in Special Education. 

Tara Waddell received her undergraduate training at the University of Buffalo in Buffalo, NY and her graduate training at Niagara University, in Niagara Falls, NY.  She currently is an Associate Lecturer in the Department of Psychology at the University of Wyoming. Tara teaches at both the undergraduate and graduate level in the areas of clinical assessment, developmental disabilities, and supervises graduate student assessments in the Psychology Clinic. Tara also works with ACSD#1, predominately at Linford Elementary.