About Us

Tinsley Institute

Tinsley Institute for Human Services is a nonprofit organization founded 1988 in upstate New York with the purpose of providing research-based consultation services and professional development to schools and community agencies. Some of its recent projects have included:

• working with collaborative partners to develop and provide training in effective practices for early childhood educators and program assessment for the New York State Education Department;
• designing training for preschool teachers in the City School District of Washington D.C.,
• working with area schools and early childhood programs to provide technical assistance in curriculum planning and positive behavioral supports. 
• sponsoring a series of workshops each year on topics of interest to educators and parents which provide continuing education credits through the American Speech-Language Hearing Association.

Jennifer Bashant - Director

Jennifer Bashant is the Director of the Tinsley Institute. She began working at Tinsley in 2008 and brings her experience as a researcher, administrator and social worker. Dr. Bashant’s experience includes working as a Research Scientist in the Center for Information Technology and Evaluation Research at the NYS Office of Mental Health, and as a Research Consultant for the School of Social Welfare at the University at Albany. Her research interests include school violence, adult and child mental health, and differentiated instruction in order to meet the educational needs of all children.

Dr. Bashant earned her Masters in Social Work and Masters in Criminal Justice from SUNY Albany in 2000, and earned her Doctorate in Social Welfare from SUNY Albany in 2005. She has served as an adjunct faculty member at the School of Social Welfare and taught masters level courses such as research methods and macro social work.

Lynda Dranichak

Lynda Dranichak has spent the past 20 years as a teacher, trainer, college adjunct and mentor in the field of early childhood special education. Lynda began her career as a special education teacher, providing both center based and community based services to children aged birth-5. She has served as the coordinator of a preschool special education program, supervising staff, developing curriculum and providing case management for students. In addition to her work with children and families, Lynda is an experienced trainer and adult educator. She was the lead trainer for the Training Together for Tots Early Intervention Training Program, a New York State Department of Health grant project. In this role, Lynda used her Early Intervention expertise and experience to customize training sessions for Early Intervention constituents (municipal staff, providers and families) in 19 counties. Lynda has also served as an adjunct professor at SUNY Empire State College since 2000. In her role with the college, she has developed undergraduate coursework and evaluated experiential learning for students in the fields of early childhood education and special education. 

Lynda continues to provide itinerant special education services through Capital District Beginnings. As of September 2010, Lynda assumed the role of consultant for the Tinsley Institute. Her focus at this time is Positive Behavioral Support (PBS), a curriculum that promotes social emotion competence in young children. Currently she is providing staff support and guidance in Positive Behavioral Support for pre-k's in the Lansingburgh school district.

Cheryl Ledet

Cheryl Ledet provides administrative support for the Tinsley Institute. She has 18 years experience in scientific research and has a focused interest in the education process.  She holds a bachelors degree in Medical Technology from the University of Rhode Island and has spent the majority of her career in medical research industry and in academic research.  She held numerous clinical research management positions at the Albany Medical Center and has consulted for several pharmaceutical and biomedical device companies.