KANSAS ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGISTS

Empowering Children, Educators, and Families


Kansas Association of School Psychologists





Summer 2022 Edition

Jill Marzolf, Editor Brittany Reed, Associate Editor


KASP Vision and Mission

KASP VISIONKASP visibly leads in promoting proactive, research-based practices and partnerships which foster the academic and psychological well-being of children, for their benefit and that of their families, schools, communities, and the profession of School Psychology.

KASP MISSION:  KASP exists to advocate for the psychological and educational well-being of Kansas children, while serving the needs of the membership and promoting school psychology as a profession.


President's Message

Dear Fellow Psychs,

I hope that your year is starting off smoothly and you are getting back into the groove of things! I spent some time reflecting on what I would like to do different this year and what are some areas that I need to grow in or learn more about. I urge you to take some time and set goals for yourself this year; professional and personal development is so important in our field. It is also important to set boundaries, because we know how easy it is to respond to an email at 8:00 PM or work on evaluations reports all weekend long.

Your KASP board has been working hard on our strategic goals to continue advocating for our profession and positive outcomes for students. During our Summer retreat we reflected on some of the work we have done. Some of the work includes making updates to the KASP Diversity Graduate Student Scholarship, ESPS grant, updates to the KSPEP, and work on some surveys that will be shared with the membership to gain a better understanding of our current needs in the state.

I have also been meeting with the presidents of the Kansas School Counselor Association, Kansas School Social Workers Association, and Kansas School Nurses Organization. We are collaborating using our unique skills and roles to find ways to better support students, families, and staff.

We have some exciting professional development opportunities:

The all-region meeting on September 14th will be virtual and Dr. Ben Springer will be presenting. This is an incredible professional development opportunity, and it is only $5 for KASP members! 

Fall Convention will be here before we know it and I am excited to see everyone in person at Junction City on October 13th and 14th. Along with our wonderful featured speakers, Dr. Celest Malone and Dr. Andrea Amador, we will have seven breakout sessions. Additionally, Mark Ward, J.D., who is the attorney at the Kansas State Department of Education will be providing us legal updates. The convention presentations are centered around advocacy and I am very excited to learn from these incredible presenters.

Looking forward to seeing you in person in October!

As always, humbled to be your President,

Lina Kitson, Ph.D., NCSP




Lina Kitson, Ph.D., NCSP

KASP President

KASP IN SOCIAL MEDIA

 We send updates and information  via social media. This is also a great space for collaboration!

Board News and Announcements

Board Minute Summary by Angie Howard, Secretary

Members of the KASP Board convened in Wichita, Kansas on the evening of Friday, August 12th and on Saturday, August 13, 2022 beginning at 8:30 a.m.  The Board reviewed and approved the minutes from the prior board meeting.  The Board discussed and worked to finalize details regarding the upcoming Fall 2022 Conference.  Upcoming board elections and Fall 2022 Convention award nominations were discussed and a plan for seeking additional nominations was developed.  Updates were provided by the Government and Professional Relations (GPR) Representative regarding development of a legislative platform, progress on legislation regarding Emotional Disturbance label change and the Mental Health Lobby Day. Progress was noted by the GPR Representative and President regarding collaborative efforts between KASP and other School Mental Health Organizations (school nurses, social workers, and counselors).  The Communications Director shared information regarding KASP’s reach via social media and efforts to continue seeking involvement and interaction among Kansas School Psychologists via these platforms.  The Communications Director discussed upcoming Fall Awards and encouraged continued efforts by all Board members to seek nominations for these awards.  The Student Representative reported that students of school psychology continue to express interest in conference attendance and that students did not express interest in presenting posters at this time.  The NASP Delegate gave a report regarding upcoming Regional Leadership Meeting (RLM) and Equity Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) trainings available to Board members and discussed opportunities to consult with NASP leadership.  The Executive Manager gave report including information on mailings sent to membership and the need to consider providing additional related to Ethics to assist membership in completing required hours for NCSP.  Region Representatives shared details regarding the upcoming Combined Region Meeting and clarification was provided regarding eligible participants.  The Board also discussed concerns related to disproportionality among KASP Membership Regions and agreed to discuss this topic at a future meeting.  The Editor and Associate Editor requested content to be included within the forthcoming newsletters.  The Treasurer reported on current account balance, status of the KASP certificate of deposits and mileage increase, and continued development of processes and procedures for the position of KASP treasurer.

The Board reported on previous progress and engaged in continued Strategic Planning work addressing the following areas: Minority Scholarship Changes (now KASP Diversity Graduate Student Scholarship); ESPS Grant; Practice Model/ESPS Video; NASP Self-Assessment; Beyond the Ratio Survey; Funding Sources; Funding Survey; KSPEP; Shared Conversations, Initiatives and Conventions (School Counselors, Social Workers, Nurses and Administrators); Exposure Project: Undergraduate Programs; National School Psychology Week; KASP Lobbyist Recruitment; Increasing Equitable Access for and Treatment of Marginalized Groups; and Membership Recruitment for Committee Work. 

The Board revisited details and action items related to the Fall 2022 Convention and the meeting was adjourned at 3:03 p.m. 

KASP needs your nominations and submissions for our fall awards and scholarships! 


Visit http://kasp.org/Awards-&-Nominations for more information about requirements and forms. 

All applications must be received by September 15th.

School Psychologist of the Year and Edna L. Harrison Awards:

We’re looking for exceptional School Psychologists. Do you know a Psych that embodies the characteristics of a School Psychologist of the Year? Or perhaps an innovative School Psychologist that utilizes available resources to advocate for children, families and home/school relationships? The Kansas Association of School Psychologists is looking for active members of our association to recognize for their hard work for children and families in Kansas. Please take a moment to look through the nomination forms and submit a nomination for one or more School Psychologists that you feel should be recognized as either a School Psychologist of the Year or with the Edna L. Harrison award for innovation and advocacy with regard to mental health provision for children and families.

KASP Diversity Graduate Student Scholarship:

The purpose of the KASP Diversity Graduate Student Scholarship is to support the graduate training of promising school psychology students in the state of Kansas. Two students will be awarded $1000 per year each fall. Students are eligible to reapply for a second year of funding.

Action Research Grant Award:

Looking to collect data to drive evidence-based decisions in your district? Wish to implement a new program to help students in need? In our current economic climate, funding for innovative projects is nearly non-existent. The purpose of the action research program is to encourage and support innovative practices in school psychology.


Kansas School Psychologist Evaluation Protocol (KS-PEP)


KSPEP is available on our website. The purpose of the KSPEP evaluation tool is to provide a framework for input by supervisors and other personnel through a description of key roles and responsibilities of school psychologists.  This tool would also assist school administrators' recognition of effective school psychology practice and support ongoing professional development for their school psychology staff. Alignment of evaluation standards with the NASP Practice Model (2020), affords consistency of practice, defines contemporary school psychology, and promotes the delivery of broad based school psychological services to children, families, and schools

It has been updated to reflect the NASP 2020 standards of practice and the document on the website is a fillable word document that can be downloaded and completed for the purposes of evaluation without using the KEEP system.

Districts will need to email Ann Yates at KSDE and request that the KSPEP be imported into their KEEP system for use. 

Report from the Treasurer

In January 2022, the KASP board approved the president's budget for 2022. The full report can be found in the Winter 2022 newsletter.  If you have questions or comments about the budget, feel free to contact me:  juliezschoolpsych@gmail.com 

Julie Zollinger, KASP Treasurer

Convention News

KASP Fall Convention 2022 - Advocacy in Action

Where:  Courtyard by Marriot, Junction City, KS

 When:  Thursday, October 13th and Friday, October 14th 2022

Thursday 10/13

Keynote Speaker: Dr. Celeste Malone, NASP President

Breakout sessions

Mark Ward Presentation

Friday 10/14

Workshop: Dr. Andria Amador, Senior Director of Behavioral Health Services at Boston Public Schools

KASP awards banquet and general membership meeting

Visit the convention website for more information about registration and hotel accommodations.



Fall 2022 Virtual All Region Meeting

KASP is sponsoring an all region virtual professional development opportunity for members. Visit the website for registration information!

Happy Kids Don't Punch You in the Face: Managing Aggression in the School Setting

Join Dr. Ben Springer for his insightful and humorous take on managing aggressive behavior in the school setting. Attendees will gain access to a 24/7 online platform designed for Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) complete with ready-to-use tools and strategies to support students and their teams. 

Advocacy Corner


School is back in session for almost everyone at this point. As I was sitting in inservice for my cooperative and the districts I serve, I realized the importance of advocacy. With new administrators come changes. Although sometimes uncomfortable, change can be good. Change can help us learn new skills and expand our practices. However, a new administrator in one of my buildings, made a statement something along the lines of “we will no longer be allowing kids to take breaks outside the classroom unless it is in their IEP.” While I do believe that this statement was well-intentioned, this particular building has spent the past 2 years explicitly teaching kids how to take breaks in a pro-social manner. This sometimes included leaving the room in order to regroup and refocus. 

I simply watched as several teachers passionately requested that the new administrator re-think his stated position. Once the concerns of both parties were expressed, a resolution was reached that the building staff believe will be beneficial for kids. This is advocacy. The act of asking or pleading for a desired outcome. I realize that we do this everyday with our teams, our families, and our administrators. To advocate, all you have to do is imagine the world you want to live in and share with decision-makers the steps in reaching that vision. This does not and should not need to be an act of partisanship- members of both parties send their kids to public schools. Don’t be afraid to share your vision with others!

The theme for the 2022 KASP Fall Convention is Advocacy in Action. Be sure to register before September 13 to save. This will be an in-person event.  I am excited to hear how advocacy has been used to promote equitable school based services and how practicing advocacy can help us reach our shared vision for schools, families, and communities!

National School Psychology Week

During the week of November 7-11, 2022, schools throughout the country will celebrate National School Psychology Week (NSPW) to highlight the important work school psychologists do to help students thrive.

Visit NASP's website for some great ideas of activites to celebrate! For example:

Celebrate NSPW during morning announcements. On the first day of NSPW, explain that it is National School Psychology Week and this week is all about shining together. Explain that throughout the week, you will share what "Together We Shine" means.  

Monday, 11/7/2022 - Connect with others: Reach out to a staff member or peer who you don't speak with regularly and learn something new about them.

Tuesday, 11/8/2022 - Reflect on resiliency: Think of a time when you had to overcome a challenge. What did you learn from that experience, and how did it you help you accomplish something today?

Wednesday, 11/9/2022 - Hope and healing through wellness: Identify one thing you can do for yourself or another that supports personal well-being and prepares you to be a positive contributor to the community.

Thursday, 11/10/2022 - Time to thrive: Think about a goal or habit that you have wanted to create. Take one step (no matter how large or small) towards your goal. Identify one community support and one personal quality or "glow" you can engage to propel towards your goal. 

Friday, 11/11/2022 - (Read on Thursday if school is closed today.) "As National School Psychology Week comes to a close, we invite you to reflect on how you shined your light and made connections with others to have a positive influence on the community." 

Student Section


It is officially that time! The summer seemed to fly by as it always does, and now, it is time to dive into a new school year. For many of our KASP members, this may be your first year entering the schools as a practicum student or intern. It is important to remember in these eventful times there are several key elements to having a successful learning experience. There will be so much information thrown your way and opportunities to learn and observe from the best in the profession. As you take advantage of these experiences, remember to prioritize planning, establishing relationships, and practicing mindfulness.

First, planning is one tool that all school psychologists must implement to be successful. When starting the year, planning can include creating lists of students that will be on your caseload and finding ways to make time for those students. One valuable tool has been Google Sheets. Google Sheets is a tool perfect for planning in those situations since you can input data on caseloads while keeping you prepared and ready for deadlines. Another great tool is ClickUp. This is an app perfect for daily planning and productivity. It includes notepads, docs, and whiteboards. This tool is perfect for students, practicum students, interns, and practicing school psychologists. Planning for the year is the best way to have a head start and relieve some of that stress and anxiety that a new school year can bring.

Next, building strong relationships with your peers, classmates, professors, and new staff will be essential. As you continue your classes, it is pivotal to have peers and classmates who can be there to give valuable feedback on papers, assignments, and portfolios. In the schools, building those relationships with faculty and staff can lead to a successful year. Having administration support and staff support in implementing general education interventions and maintaining updated data will lead to stronger referrals. In the first few weeks, it is important to reach out to those staff members and let them know that you are there to assist students and to provide support to special education teachers as well as general education teachers. Relationships in the school setting are an invaluable tool to a positive year, especially when beginning your professional career.

Lastly, mindfulness is key in maintaining a positive perspective. Graduate school can be difficult, and it is important to stay mindful and positive. It can also be challenging while in your first year within a school setting. It may be overwhelming. Take time to learn from your mistakes and encourage feedback from your staff to improve for the future. Constructive criticism can go a long way, and it can show areas of growth that will lead you to becoming an even better practitioner within the schools. On difficult days, it is vital to remember that it is the beginning of your career and make sure to take time for yourself. Self-care is a huge aspect of mindfulness. Know when you need to take time for yourself. Go on walks, spend time with family and friends, and do what makes you feel happy and relaxed.

As we all start this year off strong, lets remember that we have lots to learn, and this will be a great year. Some valuable information to remember is our upcoming Fall Convention on October 13th and 14th in-person in Junction City! This will be a fantastic time to connect and reflect while building those strong relationships. I hope everyone has a great start to the year and remember to be mindful, prioritize relationships, and plan for the future. Here’s to a great year!

Sincerely,

Shelby Reichard, B.S.Ed, M.S.

Student Representative

Kansas Association of School Psychologists (KASP) is approved by the National Association of School Psychologists to offer continuing education for school psychologists.  KASP maintains responsibility for the program.                                         

 KASP is a NASP approved provider of CPDs.   KASP is approved provider #1030

No person will be denied access to or full participation in any KASP program, event or activity on the basis of sex, race, color, national origin, disability, or age. 

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