NASP Dialogues

School psychologists will learn the steps they can take to transform their position to a broad-based role within MTSS with the support of district and school leaders. What services do stakeholders (teachers, administrators, parents) expect from school psychologists—across ALL tiers—and what supports will be needed to ensure successful transition to a new service delivery model (e.g., professional development, peer support and supervision, and new evaluation systems)? This featured Mini-Skills Session is invited by the Convention Committee.

To dream the impossible dream, to reach for the unreachable star—this presentation will describe one school psychologist’s personal and professional quest, underpinned by a quixotic passion for acceptance, fairness, and equity. The presenter will use the Legends Address to describe his career—from attending one-room schoolhouses in rural Michigan to obtaining a doctorate, co-founding and editing a professional journal, and publishing tests and materials used in schools internationally—including its focus on equitable assessment practices and the extent to which serendipity has influenced his life. Through this address, he will encourage others to dream, and follow, their “impossible dream.”

This session is intended to empower attendees to support refugee students and their families as they navigate the challenges of adjusting to life in receiving countries following the stressful and potentially traumatic experience of emigrating from home countries. The session will consist of a panel presentation, and facilitated discussion amongst panelists and attendees.. This session is sponsored by the Convention Committee.

Tools, such as NASP Practice Model, will be presented as a means of data collection and service delivery. Psychological services data can be used to advocate for essential student services.

Given the need for preventing and intervening in social–emotional issues in school, this mini-skills session provides attendees with information and resources to implement a social–emotional screening process in secondary schools. Presenters will review a universal screening measure (Connections Survey), including administration instructions, steps for decision making, and how to build buy-in. This featured Mini-Skills Session is invited by the Convention Committee.

This mini-skills session will provide participants with an understanding of privilege and poverty in the context of power systems such as schools and their detrimental effect on academic achievement and discipline practices. Strategies that embrace socially just practice will be provided, with opportunities for interactive engagement during the session. This featured Mini-Skills Session is invited by the Convention Committee.

School resource officers (SROs) and school psychologists both play critical roles in establishing safety. However, legal guidelines are often misinterpreted, collaborative barriers exist, and/or their expertise is not used efficiently or effectively. This session will clarify the laws pertaining to collaboration and information sharing, outline how to establish effective collaboration to promote systems change, and provide alternatives to suspension strategies to improve the behavior and mental health of children. This session is sponsored by the Convention Committee.

Executive functioning (EF) has become a near catch-all phrase for many higher cognitive skills. This session will focus on understanding what is and what is not EF and how the brain functions as a dynamic and interdependent systemic network.

Knowing what to do when students are experiencing grief and bereavement can be a challenge for school psychologists. Dr. Brown and Dr. Jimerson give ideas of how to effectively intervene with these students and how to track their progress over time.