Missouri Association of School Psychologists
2016 Fall Conference
November 6th and 7th, 2016
University of Missouri, St. Louis (UMSL)
218 Millennium Student Center
1 University Blvd
Saint Louis, MO 63121
In cooperation with:
The Graduate Association of School Psychologists (GrASP)
Featuring:
Melissa Louvar Reeves, PhD, NCSP, LPC
National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) President
About the Keynote Speaker:
Melissa Louvar Reeves, PhD, NCSP, LPC, is the current President of the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP). She is a nationally certified school psychologist, licensed professional counselor, and licensed special education teacher. She is an adjunct instructor at Winthrop University and currently serves as a pre-K-12 school psychologist as well as a Crisis Management and Psychological Recovery expert in the private sector. She has worked in public and private schools, as well as day and residential treatment programs. Dr. Reeves is a co-author of the NASP PREPaRE School Crisis Prevention and Intervention curriculum and travels both nationally and internationally, training professionals in crisis prevention and intervention, threat and suicide assessment, the impact of trauma and PTSD on academic achievement, and cognitive-behavioral interventions. She also works with schools on establishing a positive and safe school climate that focuses on prevention programs and positive discipline measures. She is co-author of multiple books and publications and the recipient of numerous awards in her field. As a speaker and trainer, Dr. Reeves is known for her ability to translate high-level knowledge and expertise into practical application with her personal stories and presentation style.
Keynote Topic (Sunday, November 6, 2016):
Cognitive-Behavioral Strategies for Children and Adolescents: Evidenced-Based Interventions for the School Setting (1:00 pm – 4:15 pm)
Presented by: Dr. Melissa Reeves
This workshop will provide participants with specific cognitive-behavioral intervention strategies to utilize with children and adolescents in a school setting. Specific topics to be covered include anxiety, school refusal, depression, ADHD, aggression, traumatic stress, bullying. Specific workshop objectives include an overview of the components underlying cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), how to utilize and teach cognitive-behavioral strategies in a school setting, and the integration and generalization of skills to the educational setting and academic instruction. Specific examples of techniques and activities will be shared.
Learning Objectives:
- Participants will learn the components, basic tenets, and goals of CBT
- Participants will understand the research-base and efficacy underlying specific components to CBT
- Participants will learn how to utilize and teach cognitive-behavioral strategies in a school setting
- Participants will learn specific types of activities that can be conducted with students
- Participants will learn how to integrate and generalize skills to the educational setting and academic instruction
Break-Out Sessions
Monday, November 7, 2016
1st Break-out Session Choices (12:30 pm – 2:00 pm):
Helping Traumatized Students and Those Who Experience Grief, Loss, and Mourning
Presented by: Dr. Melissa Reeves
This workshop is designed to enhance participants existing knowledge base about trauma, grief, loss, and mourning. Participants will achieve a better understanding of factors that influence grief and mourning, and develop specialized skills for helping children and adolescents cope more successfully with these intensely felt emotions.
Learning Objectives:
- Participants will increase their levels of comfort in dealing with trauma and grief
- Participants will better understand the differences between normal and complicated grieving
- Participants will learn intervention strategies to address grieving
Advocating for the Equal Education of All Children: A Practical Guide for School Psychologists
Presented by: Kara Long, University of Missouri – St. Louis
Equal education for all students is an issue schools face nationwide as well as within Missouri. The current legislative session will be an important one for educators in Missouri with implementation of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) in our state. It is important school psychologists understand this piece of legislation and how it can be used to help provide equal education to all students. This presentation will initially focus on the inequalities seen within the Missouri educational system and discuss how school psychologists can improve our educational systems. Advocacy will be presented through simple steps practicing school psychologists can use to improve practices in their schools as well as in the State. Participants will a) broaden their understanding of how inequalities in education based upon race and income are detrimental to all citizens, b) learn how to access data on educational systems within their state and schools, c) understand how to best influence legislation, and d) gain strategies that can be used to advocate for education at federal, state, and local levels as well as within their individual schools.
Learning Objectives:
- Understand inequality more broadly within education and how it can be addressed
- Learn practical strategies for advocacy at federal, state, local, and school levels
- Understand ESSA and its importance to school psychologists
2nd Break-out Session Choices (2:15 pm – 3:45 pm):
What We Need to Know about Dyslexia as School Psychologists
Presented by: Pamela August, PhD, Licensed Psychologist
Dyslexia is a hot topic these days, and many parents bring their questions and concerns to the schools. We will help you answer those questions by reviewing some current research on the diagnosis and treatment of dyslexia, and exploring how it relates to Specific Learning Disabilities and Special Education services. You may find that you are more of an expert on the topic than you realized! The purpose of this session is to empower school psychologists to have meaningful and productive conversations with parents and school teams about Dyslexia.
Learning Objectives:
- Compare and contrast the labels of Dyslexia and Specific Learning Disabilities
- Identify best practices in remediation of Dyslexia
- Determine where students may fall on the continuum of services when they have a Dyslexia diagnosis
Intelligent Intelligence Test Interpretation
Presented by: Scott Crooks
Explore new tools and methods of understanding comprehensive test results and gain an understanding of when it can help with educational planning (and when it can’t).
Learning Objectives:
- Be able to answer why we test what we test
- General, Broad, Specific – learn when is each useful
- Be able to access more tools and resources to improve test practices
Workshop Session (Held During Break-out Sessions 1 & 2)
The following session is a 3 hour workshop that will be provided during the 1st and 2nd break-out session (12:30 pm – 3:45 pm):
Screening for Behavioral and Emotional Risk in Schools: Using Data to Guide Interventions
Presented by: Dr. Katie Eklund & Dr. Stephen Kilgus
While schools commonly utilize multi-tiered models of support for academics, practitioners receive less training and experience in developing models for behavioral and emotional support. Systematic screening can be utilized as a first step in a multi-tiered system of support by linking assessment results to evidence based interventions. This workshop will provide an overview of universal screening for social-emotional and behavioral risk and how practical and accurate screening methods can help better inform schools about where to focus resources for at-risk children. Participants will learn how to implement and utilize school-wide screening and problem identification data to inform intervention-related decisions. Attendees will also learn how to collect and track school-wide academic, discipline, and behavioral data to evaluate the impact of screening and early intervention efforts.
Learning Objectives:
- Participants will be able to identify the impact of student social-emotional and behavioral problems on school functioning.
- This session will help participants make data-based decisions for prevention and early intervention services based on screening and problem identification data.
- Participants will be able to utilize best practice considerations for selecting and implementing multiple gate assessment and intervention strategies to meet the needs of youth at-risk for social-emotional and behavioral concerns in the school setting.
MASP 2016 Fall Conference Agenda
Sunday, November 6, 2016
8:00 am – 9:00 am: Registration
9:00 am – 9:15 am: Welcome and Introductions: Scott Crooks, MASP President
9:15 am – 9:30 am: Special Awards
9:30 am – 11:00 am: Networking Time (Please visit any poster presentations, exhibitors, or other tables to learn more about MASP, legislation, NASP, students, internships, etc.)
11:00 am – 11:45 pm: Round Table Panel for Students-early career discussion & interviewing (all attendees are welcome-not limited to students)
11:45 pm – 1:00 pm: Lunch on your own
1:00 pm – 2:30 pm: CBT Strategies and Interventions in the Schools*- Dr. Reeves
2:30 pm – 2:45 pm: Break
2:45 pm – 4:15 pm: CBT Strategies and Interventions in the Schools* (conclusion)
4:15 pm – 4:30 pm: Complete Conference Evaluation Form (Door Prize and Children’s Fund Raffle drawings will be held)
4:45 pm – 6:45 pm: MASP Happy Hour (Come relax, network, and make some new friends! Everyone is invited!)
Monday, November 7, 2016
8:00 am – 9:30 am: MASP Membership Meeting/ State Legislative Update (all members encouraged to attend)
9:30 am – 9:45 am: Break
9:45 am – 11:15 am: Hot Topics*
11:15 am – 12:30 pm: Lunch on your own
12:30 pm – 2:00 pm: 1st Breakout Session*
2:00 pm – 2:15 pm: Break
2:15 pm – 3:45 pm: 2nd Breakout Session*
3:45 pm – 4:00 pm: Complete Conference Evaluation Forms
* Continuing Education Credit may only be provided to participants who attend the entire session
