2022 Award Recipients
2022 School Psychologist of the Year
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April Turner, PhD, NCSP, School Psychological Services Supervisor, Maryland State Department of Education, Baltimore, MD
Dr. April Turner is currently the School Psychological Services Supervisor at the Maryland State Department of Education in Baltimore. Prior to this position, she served as a school psychologist in Baltimore City Public Schools (BCPS) for 9 years. April's focus has been on professional advocacy and data-collection systems to support data-based decision-making that supports student success. In addition, April has a strong commitment to building and strengthening sustainable pathways to leadership for school psychologists.
At the school level, April's efforts have focused on implementing evidence-based practices. In her work with general education and special education students, April addresses the individual and systemic barriers to student success in her therapeutic interventions. She understands the need to focus on what students carry with them each day to school and learning.
Her work has also focused on families through programming and supports to increase family engagement and involvement by focusing on communication and community buy-in. In the face of the dual pandemics of COVID-19 and racial injustice, April was instrumental in organizing an affinity support group for school psychologists of color to navigate both working remotely and managing racial inequities and stressors.
April is the NASP Delegate for Maryland, cochair of NASP’s Membership Committee, and chair of the Maryland School Psychologists’ Association’s Diversity Committee.
2022 NASP-ERT Minority Scholarship Program Awards
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David U. Ifediba
David is currently pursuing his Education Specialist degree at the California State University, Long Beach. He aspires to create educational interventions that bridge the gap between public and private school education among minority populations.
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Brianne P. Kanu
Brianne Kanu is a student at Northern Arizona University, where she is pursuing her Educational Specialist Degree. Her goal is to help deconstruct the school-to-prison-pipeline and support Black LGBTQ+ children in reaching their academic dreams.
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Bryanna O. Kinlicheene
Bryanna is a third year School Psychology trainee at San Diego State University and a lead scholar on SDSU’s Native American specialization project. She aims to amplify youth voice, advocate for mental wellness, and foster the complex phases of resilience.
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Obed Narcisse
Obed Narcisse is a first-year student in the School Psychology graduate program at Fairleigh Dickinson University. He is committed to advocating for diverse students by providing comprehensive academic, socioemotional, and mental health services.
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Heena Panjwani
Heena Panjwani is pursuing her EdS in School Psychology from Baylor University’s Dallas Campus. She has a passion for advocating for families, vulnerable student populations, and making evaluations more accessible and accurate for minority students.
2022 Paul H. Henkin Memorial Scholarship Award
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Miu E. Hart
Miu Ezra Hart, EdS, is a doctoral student at the University of Washington School Psychology program. Their NASP poster presentation utilizes data from L.A.U.G.H. (Let Art Unleash Great Happiness), an arts-based mindfulness program.
GOVERNMENT AND PROFESSIONAL RELATIONS AWARDS
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Lauren Rich
Lauren Rich, NCSP, is the Assistant Director at the Blind School Campus Programs for the Utah School for the Deaf and Blind. In addition to her professional work, Lauren has been an advocacy leader for the Utah Association of School Psychologists, serving as legislative chair, PR co-chair, president-elect, president, past-president, and trustee.
Jonathan M. Solomon
Dr. Jonathan Solomon, NCSP, is committed to mental health inside and out of the school building as a participant on the County Crisis Team and as faculty leader of the Active Minds chapter at Oakland Mills High School. Dr. Solomon earned his M.S. and Ph.D. in school psychology from Syracuse University.
Kathryn Salveson
Kathryn Salveson, NCSP, is a school psychologist in the Lake Washington School District in the state of Washington. Outside of her work in the school building, Kate is a tireless advocate for equity and inclusion in all areas of her school community. Kate received her Ed.S. and Master of Educational Psychology degrees from Azusa Pacific University.
Katya J. Sussman -Dawson
Katya is an engaged advocate and leader in the Missouri school psychology community, serving as the President of the Graduate Association School Psychologist at the University of Missouri-St. Louis and advocacy co-chair for the Missouri Association of School Psychologists, among other leadership roles. She is an active advocate leading efforts around dyslexia, school vouchers, and special education criteria.
Congresswoman Judy Chu
Congresswoman Judy Chu currently serves on the House Ways and Means Committee's, Subcommittee on Health, giving her oversight over healthcare reform and crucial safety net programs, Worker and Family Support, and Oversight. She is the lead sponsor of the Increasing Access to Mental Health in Schools Act, and also cosponsors critical legislation like the Keeping All Students Safe Act, the Safe Schools Improvement Act, and the Save Education Jobs Act.
Senator Jon Tester
Senator Tester is a member of the Senate Commerce, Indian Affairs, Banking, and Appropriations Committees. Senator Tester has been a long-standing advocate for children, families and education. He is the lead sponsor of the Increasing Access to Mental Health in Schools Act, which if enacted would help more students receive the supports they need to be successful in school and in life. He is also a supporter of the Equality Act and the IDEA Full Funding Act.
2022 NASP GRADUATE STUDENT RESEARCH GRANTS
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K. Leigh Monahan
K. Leigh Monahan has experience working with kids, adolescents, and families in both school and clinical settings. Her dissertation research includes examining the impact that secondary traumatic stress has on educators in an urban setting. Clinically, Leigh especially enjoys working with diverse youth and their families with a variety of presenting challenges.
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Elaine Scenters-Zapico
Elaine Scenters-Zapico's thesis is a qualitative study exploring teens' attitudes and perceptions of race and racism following participation in a Social Justice camp. This study sets out to explore how learning about race and racism may influence adolescents' attitudes and behaviors about different racial and ethnic groups and provide insight on practices that may influence youths' awareness of social justice and injustice.
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Adelle Sturgell
Adelle Sturgell’s thesis project intends to study the extent to which systemic decision-making processes lead to differential outcomes for students of color. Beyond her thesis, Adelle hopes to research strategies to counteract these biases within decision-making and ensure equitable academic outcomes for all students.