We Want You to Know Who You Are Hiring
Passion.
Training.
Experience.
Passion.
Founder and Lead Consultant, Evan Gallena, M.Ed., Ed.S., Nationally Certified School Psychologist (NCSP), Certified School Psychologist in Colorado & Maryland, began his Advocacy and Consulting journey in 2010 when he volunteered as a Program Aide for Kennedy Krieger Institute's (KKI) Nonpublic Middle School in Montgomery County. His experiences at KKI revealed the immeasurable joy that comes from seeing the world through the eyes of children with differences in development.
Evan is passionate and energized by helping kids progress along their journeys of personal growth. He loves being able to work with the important people in a child’s life to learn about the child, and engage in collaborative and creative problem-solving to remove obstacles and barriers to growth. Evan values and seeks-out opportunities to help others better understand the strengths and needs of children. He finds satisfaction and purpose through empowering individuals to confidently, effectively, and efficiently navigate complex school systems and policies and procedures governing access to resources and supports.
With experience advocating for children, families and staff in various schools and a hospital setting, Evan has a deep appreciation for the efforts of the helpers working in these systems, recognizes the complexities of navigating systems of support, but effectively and persistently advocates for creative and efficient solutions to support students from birth through age 21.
Training.
Evan earned his Bachelor’s Degree from Elon University in 2010 in Psychology with a Minor in Human Services. He graduated with Magna Cum Laude Honors.
Evan completed his Graduate Studies in School Psychology at the College of William & Mary (Williamsburg, Virginia), where he trained in various Urban & Suburban/Rural Districts. He earned his Masters in Education with a Concentration in School Psychology in May of 2011. He earned his Educational Specialist Degree with a Concentration in School Psychology in May of 2014.
Evan completed his School Psychology Internship in Howard County, Maryland in the Spring of 2014, and subsequently worked as a School Psychologist for Howard County until the Summer of 2022. Subsequently, Evan obtained priceless experiences, training, knowledge, and familiarity with IDEA.
Evan is currently certified as a School Psychologist through both the Maryland Department of Education and Colorado Department of Education. He also has an active Nationally Certified School Psychologist (NCSP) credential with the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP). Evan is also an active member of the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates, Inc (COPAA).
Questions? Feel Free to Request a Copy of Evan’s Resume
Experience.
Over the course of Evan's training and career as a School Psychologist employed by a School System, GPS Education Consulting, LLC's Founder attended hundreds, if not thousands, of IEP (and IFSP) Meetings for children from Birth to 21.
As an expert in Assessment, Special Education Legislation and Policies/Procedures, Academic Interventions, Instructional Consultation, Behavioral Intervention, Social and Emotional Interventions, Data Analysis, and Program Evaluation, Evan spent countless hours attending, and co-facilitating IEP, IFSP, 504, and Instructional Intervention Team Meetings.
Within the Schools, Evan completed hundreds of Psychological Assessment Reports for children of various ages. Evan collaborated on an almost daily basis with Children, Parents/Caregivers, General Educators, Special Educators, Speech Language Pathologists, Occupational Therapists, Physical Therapists, Behavior Specialists, Administrators, and Private Clinicians (e.g., Psychologists, Physicians, Counselors, etc.). Evan is familiar with many formal and informal assessment measures, and excels at meeting clients where they are at when providing explanations and support related to results and possible ways the results may impact children in and outside of the classroom.
Evan regularly helped to support children in distress, and has a set of tried-and-true techniques to help prevent triggers for emotional distress, teach skills and strategies to communicate uncomfortable emotions, encourage the use of coping strategies, and support the deescalation of emotional and behavioral distress.
Evan regularly connected children, families and school staff with community service referrals, helpful information tailored to the specific needs of the child/family, and provided suggestions and strategies to help children grow.
Since moving to Denver, Colorado in the Summer of 2022, Evan began working as a Psychometrist in the Neuropsychology Clinic at the Children's Hospital of Colorado in Aurora. Evan's close partnership and working relationship with the Neuropsychologists at the Hospital has provided GPS Education Consulting L.L.C. with additional expertise and professional connections related to: administering Neuropsychological Assessments within the Medical System (e.g., Cognition, Academics, Language, Memory, Visual Processing, Visual-Motor, Fine Motor, Executive Functions, & Attention), supporting children with complex medical profiles and their support network, and navigating Colorado's Educational System. Evan left his position as a Psychometrist at CHCO in March of 2024 in order to devote his full professional energy, passion, and resources to supporting the GPS Education Consulting Client Family.
Questions? Feel Free to Request a Copy of Evan’s Resume