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2009 Summer Conference

2009 NASP Summer Conference - Washington, DC

General Sessions

Tuesday, July 14, 2009
8:15–8:45 a.m.

Welcome & NASP Overview (all 2009 Summer Conference, PREPaRE, and PPI participants)
Anthony Adamowski, MEd, Conference Chair, Chicago Public Schools, IL

Tuesday Morning General Sessions

(90 minutes each—all 2009 Summer Conference, PREPaRE, and PPI participants)

General Session 1: 8:45–10:15 a.m.

Collaborative School Improvement Planning: School Psychologists and School Administrators Working Together for Effective Change

Richard F. Barbacane, MS, Professional Outreach Associate and Past President NAESP, Lancaster, PA

Across the country, school psychologists are actively involved in the implementation of RTI, early intervening services, crisis prevention, and direct intervention services—all of which are integral to school improvement initiatives. Participants will learn how to implement a model for school improvement that:

  • integrates these and other essential services with student supports
  • invites collaboration between school administrators and school psychologists in the planning process
  • makes optimal use of school psychologists’ skills and expertise
  • is supported by involvement in communities of practice

General Session 2: 10:45 a.m.–12:15 p.m.

Advancing School-Wide Positive Behavior Supports in Policy and Practice

George Sugai, PhD, University of Connecticut, Storrs

School-wide positive behavior supports (SWPBS, also referenced as PBIS) provides a framework or approach for establishing a continuum of evidence-based behavioral interventions for all students. Participants will learn:

  • the practical steps and policies needed to advance SWPBS at the local and state educational agency levels
  • how SWPBS has been integrated into school systems
  • the proven positive outcomes for elementary and secondary students
  • how PBIS naturally fits with the Response to Intervention process
  • specific policy, practice, and advocacy recommendations for school psychologists for moving the process forward

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Wednesday Afternoon General Sessions (90 minutes each—all 2009 Summer Conference, PREPaRE, and PPI participants)

General Session 3: 1:15–2:45 p.m.

Advancing Positive Psychology in Schools Through Community and Corporate Partnerships

Karen Reivich, PhD, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia

Dr. Reivich is one of the lead authors of the Penn Resiliency Program Curriculum, an evidenced-based group intervention for elementary and middle school students that teaches cognitive–behavioral and social problem-solving skills. She was hired by the Pepperidge Farm Corporation to develop the Fishful Thinking program, which provides parents with tools to help teach their kids how to navigate obstacles, overcome failure, and achieve what they want. In 2008, NASP joined this partnership as a way of promoting optimism and resiliency in children and youth. Participants will learn:

  • core components of the Penn Resiliency Program Curriculum and the Fishful Thinking program
  • how both programs promote use signature strengths and simple strategies to promote optimism and resilience
  • strategies to engage parents and educators
  • how school psychologists can advance positive psychology in schools

General Session 4: 3:00–4:30 p.m.

Student Achievement and the Role of the School Psychologist: Advocating for Change That Matters

Kevin P. Dwyer, MA, NCSP, American Institutes for Research, Washington, DC

Changing school systems to produce better outcomes for students requires careful, consistent, and creative efforts using extensive targeted human resources. Participants will learn:

  • challenges and opportunities in providing school psychological and consulting services in urban and suburban school reform efforts.
  • what has and has not worked in these efforts
  • general lessons learned in moving from what is “in the books” to what is in the classroom
  • how to approach practical problems such as: Why is successfully educating children of poverty and children of color an issue? Why do teachers hate problem-solving teams? How can schools find solutions that people will do? How do schools get beyond vision statements to leaders supporting best practices?

This session promises to challenge commonly held beliefs and practice while inspiring you to achieve new levels of professional performance.