President's Message
Welcome to Spring, NCSPA Members!
If you have been following local news and social media I think it goes without saying that your NCSPA board has been hard at work advocating for our profession! Our advocacy work is making a difference and we want to thank you for all the things you are doing to support this work! Later in the newsletter you’ll get a more detailed look at each of the events and efforts.
Call to Action! The Legislative Public Policy Committee shared NCSPA’s history of advocacy at the April Board meeting. I think it’s important for all of our membership to be aware that nothing in the history of our association has been as synergetic for supporting our profession other than RIGHT NOW! Beginning May 16, the Short Session of the General Assembly is upon us! What does this mean? All of the NC House Representatives and NC Senators officially return to Raleigh to begin proposing and passing legislation based on information that has been presented to them in the last couple of months (in person, by emails, and by phone). Who has been representing NC School Psychologists? NCSPA’s lobbyist, committees, executive board, and regional representatives have been putting advocacy into action in Raleigh and across the entire state, coast to mountains! If you wonder what members have been receiving, then please review the information below and educate yourself through our communication loops (i.e., Facebook, Twitter, the monthly newsletter) and reach out to your local legislators as soon as possible!
The latest update includes the House School Safety Committee Recommendations; please review this document as a concise summary of important legislative matters as it relates to our profession, mental health, and support personnel.
Why is it important for us to have Nationally Certified School Psychologist reciprocity?
Considering our shortages, reciprocity for the NCSP would allow for a streamlined licensing process especially as it relates to out-of-state recruitment
31 other states have NCSP reciprocity
It is FREE
Fun Fact about School Safety Committee Recommendations: “School Psychologists” are mentioned at least 25 times in the four-page document.
Districts across the state are making choices for prevention and intervention with budget proposals that include increased staffing or pay for student support personnel
This includes increasing supplement pay, signing bonuses and requests from county commissioners
Shortages and ratios aren’t going to be problem-solved overnight: Advocate for the 12 counties who have no psychologist and the 74 vacancies we have across the state
What do I share about “comprehensive school psychology services” within an MTSS and/or teaming with other student support personnel to support preventative frameworks for our children when my role is more traditional?
If your current role does not allow for comprehensive service delivery as a school psychologist and/or work with other student support personnel within a collaborative MTSS framework, that in itself is a strong message! You don’t have to have access to these practices to advocate for them.
It takes a village - your voice matters! Regardless of your comfort level for systems change (small, medium, large or extra-large), please challenge yourself to act either within your comfort zone or to stretch yourself. You might be surprised how powerful a “retweet” or a cup of coffee with a legislator could be!
Here are specific advocacy actions that school psychologists across NC have bravely done (at a very busy time of the year) and now NCSPA needs you to be involved to push our advocacy even more as May 16 approaches. Choose 1-2 of these ideas and if you need help, reach out to fellow school psychologists:
Meet with your House or Senate representatives in your community. They want to hear from you. You are their constituents and represent a vote for them.
Talk to superintendents in your district.
When you meet with these individuals, take a buddy (teacher, school psychologist, parent, administrator, neighbor, etc.).
Make a video or podcast to tell your story of how you serve your schools. This can be delivered via Twitter or Facebook or provided to your representative if you cannot get to their office in your community.
Talk to your PTA at your child’s school or the school you work at and get them to present our Infographic in their newsletter or bulletin.
Call your local newspaper and work with a reporter to tell your/our story.
Call your local radio station to provide information about the shortages. If they want to interview you and you’re nervous, take a friend and just do it.
Talk about how school psychologists ‘team with and collaborate with’ others in school to support mental health for all students.
Remember, you don’t have to spend time thinking of what to say. Use the talking points along with the NCSPA Infographic, NCSPA 2018 Fact Sheet, and NCSPA Legislative Agenda, which are all found on the NCSPA website.
I want to personally thank our lobbyist, Mrs. Rachel Beaulieu, and the NCSPA Legislative Public Policy Committee for your energy, thoughtfulness, networking, coaching, communication loops, and perseverance!
Judy Elliot, a nationally renowned MTSS Consultant, says a phrase that we all should consider latching onto during this opportunity for our profession: “Gentle pressure, relentlessly applied.”
Thank you,
Heather Lynch Boling
NCSPA President
Student Profile: Megan Stovold, Western Carolina University
Megan grew up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and attended grades K-12 in Philadelphia. Megan completed her undergraduate studies at Temple University and majored in psychology. During her time at Temple University, Megan participated in the Psychology Association and helped out in the community via the Psychology Association.
After completing her undergraduate studies at Temple, Megan worked as a paraprofessional educator for two years at a high school in Pennsylvania. Megan got to provide direct services to students, engage in one-on-one tutoring, assist with classroom management, grade assignments, and work with small groups of students. Megan became interested in school psychology while working as a paraprofessional educator and decided to apply for a specialist degree graduate program.
Megan is currently a 1st year student at Western Carolina University (WCU) in the Specialist Degree in School Psychology program. Megan was currently elected the NASP Student Representative at WCU for the 2018-2019 school year. Additionally, Megan has accepted a position as Program Coordinator for the Catamount Gap Study Abroad program. Megan will be in Dortmund, Germany for a month traveling with new WCU freshmen who are participating in the Catamount Gap Abroad summer learning program. She will be helping the director of the program with planning and will be supporting the students academically, socially, and emotionally. Megan will be completing her school and clinical practicum next year.
Megan attended the Fall NCSPA 2017 Conference and is planning to attend the fall conference in 2018. As a future school psychologist, Megan hopes to work in a high school setting. She would like to learn American Sign Language, implement strategies to improve school safety, and to promote self-efficacy in students. Megan’s hobbies include hiking and traveling of any kind.
A Seat at the Table: NC Superintendent's Working Group on Student Mental Health
By Racheal Gliniak, NCSPA North Piedmont Regional Representative
Dr. Deni and I were invited to join the State Superintendent’s working group of experts for student mental health. The workgroup is comprised of 20 members from various state agencies, departments and school districts. The first meeting was held in Raleigh on April 20th. Dr. Deni represented the group as an Appalachian State University School Psychology Trainer and the NCSPA Immediate Past-President.
The working group was charged with making policy recommendations to Superintendent Mark Johnson in regards to the School-Based Mental Health Initiative. During the first meeting, the members discussed what is currently being done for student mental health and safety. Members reviewed programs used by local school districts, agencies, and private providers. The conversations then focused on what trainings and policies have already been proposed. Attendees also reviewed trainings for suicide prevention, human trafficking, and the Student Mental Health Initiatives.
We advocated for recommendations in regards to student support personnel, specifically school psychologists. Proposals for student support personnel included reciprocity for holding national certification and salary increases. The group discussed school psychologist and other support personnel ratios. We were able to educate others on the comprehensive roles that school psychologist can and should have.
We will meet again on May 11. The group will finalize short-term recommendations to Superintendent Mark Johnson at that time. We will also be utilized as a long-term committee that will continue to make recommendations as needs arise. Being part of this working group is a wonderful way for us to get our voices heard. We will be able to advocate for the needs of our students, teachers, families, and our profession. These connections with the other agencies, departments, and stakeholders is crucial to being able to provide whole child, comprehensive, and cohesive services. It is our hope that we will minimize communication barriers and maximize effectiveness of services. Most importantly, NCSPA has a seat at the table (and to be more precise: two seats)!
Contact NCSPA
Email: ncspamembers@gmail.com
Website: http://www.ncspaonline.com/
Location: PO Box 12661, Durham, NC 27709
Phone: 000
Facebook: facebook.com/NCSchoolPsychology/
Twitter: @NC_School_Psych