| KANSAS ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGISTS
Empowering Children, Educators, and Families |
Kansas Association of School Psychologists
Winter 2024 Edition
Mandy Thomsen, Editor Cori Bohnenblust, Associate Editor
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Dear KASP Members, With immense enthusiasm and gratitude, I will serve as your KASP President for 2024, working with a fantastic and enthusiastic executive board. I am honored to lead a dedicated group of professionals in continuing to progress the KASP Strategic Plan and moving forward to best serve school psychologists across our state. I am excited to share that my primary focus as President will be advocacy at local and state levels for our profession. These efforts are already underway with the recent KASP publication of the 2024 Report on the Shortages of School Psychologists in Kansas: Beyond the Ratio and accompanying infographics. These resources are designed to be used by our membership to bring attention to the factors that impact workloads and job satisfaction of school psychologists across the state and include recommendations for Kansas School Psychologists, Employers, Graduate Programs, and Lawmakers. I hope that together we can work toward creative solutions that will help recruit and retain school psychologists, ultimately ensuring that the invaluable contributions of our profession are recognized and adequately supported. I want to also remind you to keep an eye out for updates on our 2024 Fall Convention, Power and Purpose: Building Collaborative Strength, which will be held in Lawrence, Kansas. Dr. Ross Greene, the originator of the Collaborative & Proactive Solutions (CPS) and author of works that include Lost at School and The Explosive Child, will be featured as our speaker for the Friday workshop. We hope also to provide a range of breakout sessions to build collaborative strength to address the ever-growing needs of the communities we serve. I am genuinely looking forward to the journey ahead and am grateful for the opportunity to serve as your President for this year. I hope that we can work together to advocate and be the catalyst for change within our state and beyond, ensuring that every student receives the support that they deserve. If there is anything that I or the board as a whole can do to better serve the membership or Kansas students, please do not hesitate to reach out. Warm Regards, Amy Drinnon, Ed.S. KASP President |
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Board Minute Summary by Angie Howard, Secretary The KASP Executive Board convened in Overland Park, Kansas on the evening of Friday, January 19, 2024, and on Saturday, January 20, 2024. Board members engaged in roll call and introductions. The minutes from the October 2023 Board Meeting were approved after short discussion. Members of the board reviewed accomplishments of the 2023 year and engaged in onboarding procedures. Board members engaged in small and large group discussions regarding the strategic priorities, noting progress made and establishing plans for continued advancement toward goals during the 2024 calendar year. Board members toured the KU Edwards Campus to determine feasibility as a conference location. Members of the board reviewed a draft of the KASP 2024 Shortages Report and crafted recommendations for inclusion within the report. KASP members Josh Blake and Monika Jasso presented a proposal for initiation of a Collaborative Networking System aimed at connecting Kansas school psychologists to resources and/or other school psychologists within the state when professional development or consultation surrounding specific school psychology competencies is needed. The group engaged in discussions regarding feasibility of the project as well as potential ethical and legal concerns and determined that next steps would include reaching out to other state organizations that facilitate similar list-servs. The Treasurer gave the 2023 End of Year Budget Report and the board worked to establish and approve the 2024 budget. Members of the board proposed and approved an addition to the standing rules clarifying that KASP will pay for the current KASP President’s hotel suite during the Fall convention if this is not negotiated as part of the contract with the convention hotel. The GPR representative reported on legislative activities, including the introduction of HB2480, and reviewed plans for the upcoming School Mental Health Awareness Day. The NASP Delegate shared information regarding the upcoming NASP Regional Leadership Meeting. Region Directors engaged in discussion and planning related to region meetings. Updates were provided by the President and Conference Chair related to upcoming conferences and the board engaged in planning for the events. Upcoming board meetings were scheduled, and the meeting adjourned at 4:05 p.m. |
Report from the Treasurer |
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Register today for our virtual spring conference!
KASP, in collaboration with KSDE, presents Let's Get Ethical: Fortifying Educators for Ironclad Legal Practice. On Friday, April 19th from 8:30-11:30, you'll hear the latest from our KSDE Attorneys as they review current legislation and answer your questions. A form will be available to registered participants to submit questions ahead of time! This workshop will be applicable for many professionals including school psychologists, administrators, and service providers.
The spring conference is affordable and will be easily accessible via Zoom. Participants will earn up to 3.0 hours of continuing professional development. Register today at kasp.org!
Also, don't forget to save the date for our 2024 Fall Convention in Lawrence on October 17th and 18th! Dr. Ross Greene will present our Friday workshop. More information to come!
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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.