Missouri Association of School Psychologists
2020 Fall Conference
September 17th and 18th, 2020
Zoom Virtual Conference
Day 1 Keynote: The Power of Possibility: Using Positive Psychology to Promote Happiness, Optimism,
and Resiliency in Students
Featuring:
Wendy Price, Psy.D., NCSP
Day 2 Keynote: SLD Assessments with ELL Students
Featuring:
Desiree Vega, Ph.D., NCSP
About the Keynote Speakers
Wendy L. Price, Psy.D., NCSP
Dr. Price completed her doctorate in School Psychology at William James College in August of 2015, following a year-long clinical internship at Walden Behavioral Care (a residential eating disorders clinic). In her role as a school psychologist at Whitman-Hanson Regional High School, Dr. Price is involved in a number of activities, including: assessment, counseling, consultation, supervision of school psychology interns, and mentoring of staff. She is also a Crisis Team and Student/Teacher Assistance Team member.
She travels around the country, presenting to associations and school districts on positive psychology, eating disorders, and self-injurious behaviors.
Dr. Price has been involved in leadership at both the state and national level, and is currently the NASP President 2020-2021.
Desiree Vega, Ph.D., NCSP
Dr. Vega received her B.A. in Psychology from Binghamton University-State University of New York (SUNY) and both her M.A. and doctorate in School Psychology from The Ohio State University. She completed her pre-doctoral internship in the Omaha Public Schools (OPS) district through the Nebraska Internship Consortium in Professional Psychology, an APA accredited and APPIC approved internship program. Dr. Vega worked as a bilingual school psychologist at OPS from 2010-2013. Prior to joining the faculty at the University of Arizona, she was a faculty member in the School Psychology program at Texas State University from 2013-2016.
Dr. Vega’s research focuses on three primary areas: 1) The assessment of culturally and linguistically diverse students, including utilizing best practices and training culturally competent school psychologists; 2) Identification of the significant factors, which contribute to the academic success of African American and Latino youth in the K-12 pipeline (i.e., culturally responsive intervention and instructional practices); and 3) Access to higher education among urban youth, including the role of school psychologists in the transition from high school to college. Dr. Vega also focuses on the training of bilingual school psychologists and served as a co-principal investigator on the U.S. Office of Special Education Programs, U.S. Department of Education, $1.03 million, 5-year grant at Texas State University.
Keynote Topic
Thursday, September 17, 2020
9:00 am – 11:30 am
The Power of Possibility: Using Positive Psychology to Promote Happiness, Optimism, and Resiliency in Students
Presented by: Wendy L. Price, Psy.D., NCSP, NASP President
School psychologists are active and vocal advocates for students to ensure they receive the appropriate supports needed for them to thrive. Assessments often lead to uncovering of disabilities/personal weaknesses/deficiencies. How much time do we spend focusing on what the student CAN do? What are their strengths? How can we build on those to foster a sense of optimism when a student is met with challenges or obstacles? How do we build resiliency? The answer can be found within the realm of Positive Psychology.
Learning Objectives:
After this workshop, participants will be able to:
1. Explain the fundamentals of Positive Psychology
2. Explain the broaden and build theory (Frederickson, 2001) and how it leads to an increase in positive emotions
3. Use specific intervention strategies to build on a student’s strengths
Break-Out Sessions
Thursday, September 17, 2020
First Break-out Session Choices (12:45-1:45pm):
Is ‘Equivalency’ Adequate? Ethical, Legal, and Empirical Considerations for Remote Testing
Presented by: Ryan Farmer, Ph.D., BCBA
The transition to teleassessment is more complicated for some types of assessment than others despite recommendations for rapid adoption by some policy makers and publishing companies. Caution and careful consideration of individual and contextual variables, the existing research literature as well as measurement, cultural and linguistic, and legal and ethical issues is warranted. The decision to use remotely administered achievement and intelligence tests is best made on a case-by-case basis. I discuss each of these issues as well as implications for ethical practice.
Learning Objectives:
1. Attendees will become familiar with the research literature for remote assessment of standardized tests
2. Attendees will become familiar with types of construct irrelevant variance and those types unique to remote assessment
3. Attendees will learn about pre-screening methods for identifying construct-irrelevant influences
The Intersection of Social Justice and Ethical Decision Making in School Consultation (Part One)
Presented by: Sarah Owens, Ph.D., NCSP, Licensed Psychologist & Cheryl Offutt, Ph.D.
This presentation will provide an overview of the intersection of ethical codes of conduct, ethical decision-making, and how it intersects with upholding social justice and equity in schools. Specifically, the presentation will provide participants an overview of ethical decision-making models, identify how the Principles of Ethics support social justice, and provide practice for employing the ethical decision-making model to social justice dilemmas in consultation.
Learning Objectives:
1. Participants will learn how the Principles of Ethics apply to social justice topics in consultation
2. Participants will utilize an ethical decision-making model to navigate social justice dilemmas
3. Participants will develop a plan for continued sustainability in applying an ethical decision-making model to future systemic consultation conversations
School Psyching with Google: Strategies for Organization & Work Productivity
Presented by: Rachele Teson, Ed.S., NCSP & Jenna Franklin, EdS, NCSP
Do you feel distracted or overwhelmed? We are going to talk about “block scheduling” as a way to set up our workflow. We are also going to explore how Google products can help boost our efficiency, make us more effective practitioners, and more collaborative with the school-based teams we serve. The goal is to automate what we can, so we have more time doing what we love and reduce stress.
Learning Objectives:
1. Participants will learn how block scheduling can boost productivity
2. Participants will learn how Google products can increase effectiveness and collaboration
3. Participants will learn about additional resources for further exploring productivity and learning more about Google products
Second Break-out Session Choices (2:00-3:00pm):
The Intersection of Social Justice and Ethical Decision Making in School Consultation (Part Two)
Presented by: Sarah Owens, Ph.D., NCSP, Licensed Psychologist & Cheryl Offutt, Ph.D.
This presentation will provide an overview of the intersection of ethical codes of conduct, ethical decision-making, and how it intersects with upholding social justice and equity in schools. Specifically, the presentation will provide participants an overview of ethical decision-making models, identify how the Principles of Ethics support social justice, and provide practice for employing the ethical decision-making model to social justice dilemmas in consultation.
Learning Objectives:
1. Participants will learn how the Principles of Ethics apply to social justice topics in consultation
2. Participants will utilize an ethical decision-making model to navigate social justice dilemmas
3. Participants will develop a plan for continued sustainability in applying an ethical decision-making model to future systemic consultation conversations
THIS IS WHY you go to college
Presented by: James Yancy Merchant, B.S. Business Management
This presentation will focus around the book THIS IS WHY you go to college -how to graduate in real life studies outside the classroom and beyond. The THIS IS WHY Publication is carefully compiled from the experience and advice of college graduates who are now successful career driven individuals, business owners, teachers, doctors and lawyers. It’s a how-to-guide focused on strategies developed to successfully take advantage of the college experience. The goal is for students to find success in the classroom and to flourish outside the classroom by igniting the passion that allows every student to realize their greatest potential. “There is more to college than just going to class”
Learning Objective:
1. Participants will learn how students can brand themselves
2. Participants will learn networking strategies
3. Participants will learn time management
Implementing Reading Interventions in a Virtual Setting
Presented by: Matthew Burns, Ph.D. and McKinzie Duesenberg
The COVID-19 Pandemic continues to change education in this country and to present new challenges. School psychologists are well position to lead through these unique times, especially in supporting students with significant learning needs. This interactive session will provide information about how to conduct small-group and one-on-one reading interventions and monitor progress in a virtual setting. Participants will see videos that demonstrate different interventions and how to monitor progress, and will discuss how to interpret the resulting data.
Learning Objectives:
1. Participants will learn how to conduct virtual assessments
2. Participants will learn how to implement different interventions (and how to keep students engaged when in a virtual setting)
3. Participants will learn how to understand the importance of progress monitoring
Keynote Topic
Friday, September 18, 2020
9:00-11:30am
Language Difference or Specific Learning Disability? Assessing Emergent Bilingual Students
Presented by: Desiree Vega, PhD, NCSP
The assessment of emergent bilingual (EB) students is a complex process, particularly distinguishing between a language difference or learning disability. This session will focus on understanding how cultural factors such as language influence the assessment process. Additionally, this session will review considerations in instrument selection, interpretation of test results, and discuss a model to guide the evaluation process for EB students to assist in the special education eligibility decision-making process.
Learning Objectives:
1. Participants will be able to describe the language acquisition process and its impact on test validity.
2. Participants will be able to select appropriate assessment tools for the evaluation of emergent bilingual students.
3. Participants will be able to discuss and implement the steps involved in completing an evaluation of emergent bilingual students.
MASP 2020 Fall Conference Agenda
Thursday
September 17, 2020
8:30 am – 9:00 am: Welcome and Introductions
9:00 am – 10:00 am: Keynote: Wendy Price
10:00 am – 10:30am: Breakout discussion & Break
10:30 am – 11:30: Keynote (continued)
11:30 am – 11:45 pm: Complete Keynote Evaluation Form
11:45 am –12:30 pm: Lunch (on your own)
12:30 pm – 12:45 pm: Welcome Back and Door Prize/Drawings
12:45 pm – 1:45 pm: 1st Breakout Session
1:45 pm – 2:00 pm: Complete Breakout Session Evaluation & Break
2:00 pm – 3:00 pm: 2nd Breakout Session
3:00 pm – 3:15 pm: Complete Breakout Session Evaluation
3:15 pm – 4:30 pm: MASP Board Meeting
Friday
September 18, 2020
8:15 am – 9:00 am: MASP Membership Meeting
9:00 am – 10:00 am: Half-day Keynote: Desiree Vega
10:00 am – 10:30 am: Breakout discussion & Break
10:30 am – 11:30 am: Keynote (continued)
11:30 am – 11:45 pm: Wrap-Up and Complete Conference Evaluation Forms
*Continuing education CPDs may only be provided to participants who attend the entire session
