Get School Psych'd

Hello LSSPs,

Welcome to the final GSP of 2018!

As we power through the weird weeks between holiday breaks, I can't help but feel a theme of change all around. The temperature is dropping along with the leaves on the trees, ushering in the change of seasons. Another New Years is around the corner, and with it the promise of change in our behavior.

Unlike the resolutions to go to the gym more and get our finances in order, all of you are involved in very meaningful and hopefully lasting change. I believe that you all have the power and the expertise to be agents of change with your districts and organizations. The LSSP skillset is so unique in the school setting and so needed in this day that is short on connection and empathy, and sorely in need of both.

So to that end, I ask you to consider ushering in the new year with a commitment to change. Consider some of the challenges your students are facing and look for ways to help support change. I know things are busy, especially with the referrals that will be coming, but building supports and strategies into our schools is key to the success of our students. If you have an idea but need some help and support, please reach out to me and let me support your efforts. I am here to serve and would love the opportunity to be a change agent alongside you.

Have a Happy New Year and enjoy Getting School Psych'd!

-Keya Saleh

LSSP Consultant @ Region 10

Here is a quick highlight of some great articles/websites/videos to check out:

The Innovators' Compass

The Innovators' Compass is a cool resource for organizing your information about problem solving. This can be a valuable resource for students, teachers, or yourself.

Writing to Heal

Great article on the power of memoir writing as a tool for processing trauma.

Video: Hand Model Visual for Explaining the Brain

Dr Daniel Siegel presenting a model of the brain explained using only your hand. A great example of a visual you can provide to students to help them visual and address when they are 'flipping their lid'.

Based on the positive response to the idea, we are moving forward with the plans for the 1st ever Region 10 LSSP PLC!

TAQ (Theoretically Asked Questions):

What is a PLC?

• A Professional Learning Community, or PLC, is an ongoing process in which educators work collaboratively in recurring cycles of collective inquiry and action research to achieve better results for the students they serve. Professional learning communities operate under the assumption that the key to improved learning for students is continuous job-embedded learning for educators.

What is the goal of this PLC?

• The LSSP PLC is designed to create an opportunity for LSSPs to meet and collaborate on issues impacting their students and to learn and share practices and resources relevant to the practice of School Psychology.

How will the PLC work?

• This initial PLC will begin to meet in January and meet once a month for the remainder of the school year. Dates are TBD. To help address travel issues, meetings will likely be a combination of in-person meetings at Region 10 and online meetings through a collaboration tool, such as Google Hangouts or Zoom meeting. Meetings will be from 1-2 hours, depending on the goals of the meeting.

Who is this PLC for?

• The original audience for the PLC was 'lone-wolves' (those who are the only LSSP in their district) and early career LSSPs (under 5 years in the profession), but anyone interested in being a part of the PLC is welcome to sign-up.

What would I have to do as part of the PLC?

• The success of the PLC depends on a couple of key factors: collaborative mindset, belief in best practices, and a commitment to continuous improvement. The other major factor would be your presence. If these are qualities and attitudes you hold and can carve out a few hours each month, this is the opportunity for you!

I'm somewhat interested in this idea, how do I learn more?

• Please contact me with any specific questions you may have and I will be happy to answer them. (Email Me or call 972-348-1598)

I've heard enough. This sounds perfect for me. How do I sign up?

• You can indicate your interest by completing the following Google Form. Please submit your information no later than the end of the day on FRIDAY, DECEMBER 14th. Information will be sent out the following week, so please submit your information as soon as possible.

When reviewing the sign-in sheets for my upcoming trainings, I noticed LSSPs seemed to be using a hodge-podge of titles in their Region 10 profiles. Apparently the title of LSSP was not available in the system. To address this, I am happy to say that the tech team has now added LSSP as an option for your Region 10 profile! No more administration, mental health professional, or Other! Call yourself an LSSP and be proud! (Also, selfishly it makes it easier to set up trainings and notifications in our system).

If you have a few minutes and want to help us out, here are the steps to update your profile:

1. Go to https://accountsso.region10.org/ and enter your login information

2. Find the title Drop-down and scroll through and find the LSSP option

3. scroll to the bottom of the page and click update

If you do not have a Region 10 workshop profile, there is no better day than today to set one up. You can use the link above to create a new account as well.

One of my biggest goals of GSP is to get information about our LSSPs. I know your time is valuable and I don't want to ask you to spend half a day filling out tons of information, so I have settled on what I am calling the Two Question Quiz. Every so often, I humbly ask for you to answer two questions about yourself to help us get a better picture of the LSSPs in Region 10.

Here's a small sampling of what we having coming up at Region 10. Get over to the Calendar of Events to register.

Face-to-Face Trainings:

12/18/18 - Social Emotional Learning Instructional Planning

• 9:00-12:00, Session ID# 2622344 OR
• 1:00-4:00, Session ID# 2262362

1/14/19 - Youth Mental Health First Aid

• 8:30-4:00, Session ID# 2621027

1/22/19 - Behavior Development and Consultation of Effective Strategies

• 9:00-12:00, Session ID# 2621502 OR
• 1:00-4:00, Session ID# 2621707

1/25/19 - Using Interpreters in Special Education

• 9:00-12:00, Session ID# 60005
  

1/31/19 - Strategies for Motivating & Managing Students

• 9:00-4:00, Session ID# 2621722

2/12/19 - 504: It's Not The Same as IDEA, So What Is It and How Do We Comply?

• 8:30-4:00, Session ID# 2617584

2/12&13/19 - CHAMPS: A Proactive and Positive Approach to Classroom Management

• All Day 2/12 and 2/13, Session ID# 2620759
• $75.00 is the material fee for the book you will receive for in region participants
• Email a copy of Purchase Orders over to monica.allen@region10.org after checking out.
• No partial credit will be given. You must attend both days to receive the 12 hours of Professional Development credit.

Webinars:

12/5/18 - Life Long Learning Through Social Justice and Community Service Projects

• 4:00-5:30, Session ID# 2620631

12/11/18 - Play Based Assessments

• 10:00-12:00, Session ID# 2619681

2/6/19 - Feedback - Specific and Clear

• 4:00-5:30, Session ID# 2620633

This month's resource comes from Veronica Trevino, Behavior Specialist from Region 2 Education Service Center.

She has compiled Behavior Resource Documents, specifically for parents of students receiving special education services. These resources include web links, guidebooks, and diagnosis-specific information, designed to help you address behavior, provide positive supports, understand behavioral and emotional disorders, take action against bullying, work through death/loss/grief, and target suicide prevention. It is a page you certainly don't want to miss!

If you have any questions or need support in your campus/district, give me a shout!

Email: keya.saleh@region10.org
Website: www.region10.org/programs/evaluation-special-education/overview/
Location: 904 Abrams Road, Richardson, TX, USA
Phone: 972-348-1598
Twitter: @getschoolpsychd