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A community to support the practice of School Psychologists in New Hampshire. |
Upcoming NHASP Events:
NHASP is hosting weekly Professional Learning Community (PLC) events for members.
Upcoming topics are listed in the calendar tab.
Events are free, but preregistration is required.
Upcoming Events
- No upcoming events
In The NewsDave Smith is the NHASP 2019 Lifetime Achievement Award Winner. Kathy Secinaro, is the NHASP 2019 School Psychologist of the Year.
Did You Know? February 17th is |
NEW - NASP Practice Model Resources for Members
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Welcome to NHASP
The mission of NHASP is to provide a community for school psychologists in New Hampshire. The Association serves its members by:
- Creating a dynamic and vital organization of support for the profession
- Enhancing our skills and creating opportunities to expand our services
- Influencing policy regarding 1) the practice of school psychology; 2) the quality of education; and 3) the provision of comprehensive services to children, youth, and families
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NHASP Provides Information for Educators
During COVID-19
A group of NHASP leaders, led by Nate Jones, has developed a guidance document on school psychology and the return to learning. Recommendations for screening and individual evaluations are given, as well as considerations for how to maintain a broad scope of practice.
School Psychology and the Return to Learning-Final.pdf
The NHASP Study Group on Executive Skills, led by Peg Dawson, has developed two documents. First is a set of "Tips for Caregivers and Parents on Schooling at Home: What Role Do Executive Skills Play." This wonderful set of tips can be used by everyone working with our students during this time of remote learning. The second is a Message for Teachers on Stress and Executive Skills.
Tips on Schooling at Home EF Dawson[3435].pdf
Stress and executive skills-by P Dawson.pdf
Additionally, the NHASP Ethics Committee has provided a guide on the "Delivery of School Psychological Services in New Hampshire During COVID-19 School Closures." This guide outlines many of the important considerations for school psychologists during this time.
The NHASP Executive board created a practice guidance document on Social Justice. It outlines the role that school psychologists and NHASP has in Social Justice. This is a commitment to have social justice as a core value, underlying the work of school psychologists in New Hampshire.
Social Justice Practice Guidance
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NHASP Approves Position Statement on The Appropriateness of Educational Teams Using Conditions and/or Diagnoses Identified by School Psychologists
On May 20, 2020 the NHASP Executive Board voted to approve a position statement on The Appropriateness of Educational Teams Using Conditions and/or Diagnoses Identified by School Psychologists. This statement addresses a long standing concern among educators in NH about whether school psychologists and other similar educator can identify diagnoses for students. The statement clarifies that this is appropriate and that education teams can use these diagnoses to make educational decisions, including regarding eligibility for special education or section 504 services. The leadership of NHASP is proud to announce this statement and provide this guidance to our field.
Position Statement-Appropriate Use of Diagnoses
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NHASP announces the 2019 Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient!
Dave has been a vibrant and essential member of the New Hampshire Association of School Psychologists, working with countless children, adolescents, families and educators in his 30+ years as a school psychologist in New Hampshire. Dave engaged in a wide range of activities, including counseling, consultation, program development, and assessments throughout the state, including school districts in Lebanon, Dover, Hampton, Barrington, Northwood, Nottingham, Strafford, Laconia, Winnisquam Region, Gilmanton, and Franklin. Dave has a passion for being a lifelong learner and continues to engage in opportunities to further his knowledge in school law, school administration, learning disabilities, adventure based counseling, language disorders, and computer programming.
Dave has made essential contributions to the NHASP executive board for 29 years, taking on the roles of Newsletter Editor, Treasurer, and President. He is also a former School Psychologist of the Year. Dave has a keen attention to detail and understanding of what is needed to support the school psychology profession across NH. He was always considered the fiscal hawk and voice of reason on the board, and his understanding of ethical practice and common sense judgement led others to his counsel. NHASP thanks Dave for everything he has provided to others, and continues to do so.
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NHASP announces the 2019 NH School Psychologist of the Year!
NHASP is pleased to announce that Kathy Secinaro was awarded the 2019 School Psychologist of the Year award this past June, and honored at the ED’ies award ceremony for the work she does as a school psychologist in New Hampshire. Kathy is described by her colleagues as an individual whose "...enthusiastic initiative and efforts have made a tremendous positive impact in the lives of the children, parents, and staff at Barnstead Elementary School." She provides a full range of school psychological services to her community, demonstrates strong communication and collaboration skills, completes comprehensive evaluations, counsel’s students in crisis, and participates in systems change efforts to enhance the mental health of others. Mrs. Secinaro is described as a driving factor in the positive outcomes for kids and inspires fellow school psychologists to shine in their field.”
Another colleague writes, “As a current member of the New Hampshire Association of School Psychologists with many years of experience working in diverse school settings, Kathy brings an impressive toolkit to her work with students, staff, and families in our Barnstead school community serving approximately 500 students preschool through 8th grade. Kathy came to us highly regarded after several years of working collaboratively with school psychologists to deliver a broad range of assessments in the Rochester School District…working among 12 different schools. Prior to that, Kathy worked at Prospect Mountain High School, where she did all of the special education evaluations, as well as counseling for special education students…” Additionally, “Her broad range of experiences with students preschool through 12th grade, her strong communication and collaboration skills, and her strong ability to connect interpersonally with students, families, and staff have led her to be a key resource for our school.”
Congratulations to Mrs. Secinaro from NHASP and the education community!.
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NHASP announces the 2018 NH School Psychologist of the Year!
NHASP is excited to announce the 2018 recipient of the New Hampshire School Psychologist of the Year, Felicia Sperry. Felicia currently serves as the school psychologist at Mast Way Elementary School in Lee, which is a part of the Oyster River Cooperative School District. During her time in the field, she has far exceeded any criteria needed to earn this prestigious award through both her contribution to students’ lives and school psychology.
Although Felicia’s accomplishments are vast, her most recent leadership role on the district’s Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Committee is especially notable due to its far-reaching impact on the trajectory of students' mental health. Following tragic events within the district, the School Board tasked the two elementary schools with researching and implementing an evidenced-based social-emotional program that could be used across both schools. As the chair of the committee, Felicia led a group of educators and professional staff in researching applicable programs and determining which program best fit the needs of the schools. Following five years of committee work and discussions with administration, both elementary schools will pilot “Open Circle” during the 2018-2019 school year. While change takes time and can be contentious at times,
Felicia never once wavered from what was best for children. She remained energetic, committed, and persevered through a lengthy and arduous process. Due to her unwavering efforts, both elementary schools will begin to better educate the “whole child.” This pilot will also involve teachers completing the DESSA for all students in their classrooms, which is a social-emotional monitoring tool. This process will better allow for early intervention for mental health concerns and places mental health on an equal playing field with academic learning. In addition to this accomplishment, Felicia has developed and shared a school-based program to assist elementary school students with vital executive functioning skills. This involves her teaching students in all third-grade classrooms about specific areas of the brain and their relationship to various executive functioning skills. Felicia has also developed supplemental resources for classroom teachers to allow for greater generalization of learned skills, as well as has offered ongoing professional development to other practicing school psychologists.
I have been blessed to have Felicia as my mentor this year and have gained immense knowledge through our consultations and collaboration. Felicia is a school psychologist who has never lost her joy for the profession or her quest for further knowledge. She is in every form of the word, a true change maker. It is a pleasure to work with, laugh with, and learn from. All students and professionals who have the opportunity to work with her are better for it.
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NHASP announces the 2017 NH School Psychologist of the Year!
NHASP is pleased to announce that Nathaniel Jones, Ph.D. is the 2017 New Hampshire School Psychologist of the Year (SPY). Nate is a school psychology consultant working at SERESC in Bedford, NH, and is a NH and nationally certified school psychology, licensed psychologist, and board certified behavioral analyst (BCBA). Along with his consultation work for New Hampshire schools, Nate focuses his professional goals towards increasing coordination among educational, medical, and mental health agencies to improve outcomes for youth. This is seen in the professional development opportunities he facilitates and in his work as the coordinator of the Medical Educational Therapeutic Evaluation team at SERESC. Nate’s nomination letter included many wonderful comments from his colleagues who describe Nate as, “an exemplar of what it means to be a school psychologist. He inspires trust, shares his wealth of knowledge, and above all, puts kids first. As a mentor, he is somehow always magically available, even though he is busy working and volunteering a hundred different ways.”
Aside from his professional work, Nate’s advocacy as a school psychologist, in both state and national issues, is commendable. He is always willing to head to the “Hill” to support what is best for children and youth and keeps abreast of current issues in our field so that our association can disseminate information to others in our state. Nate has held many positions in our state association, including six years as state Delegate to NASP, NHASP President, co-chair of the NHASP Government and Professional Relations Committee, and our very own Webmaster. Nate is also the Western Region Representative for NASP on the national Ethics and Professional Practice Committee (EPPC).
The selection for SPY is always a challenging one for the nomination committee, as there are so many wonderful school psychologists among us doing incredible things for the students of New Hampshire. Nate is no exception to that, with his contributions being far-reaching and influential, so we would like to congratulate Nate with this award and thank him for all he does for school psychology.
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NHASP announces a new Graduate Student Assistant program.
NHASP has begun a new program to involve graduate students in school psychology in our association more directly. We have long had a graduate student representative as a member of our leadership team. This new program expands the role of graduate students by creating four student assistant positions.
For more information, please see the description of the program. For questions or if you are interested in applying, please contact NHASP Past-President
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Supporting NASP
Executive Board Meetings will be the 2nd Wednesday of each month.
Meetings will be held from 4:15-6:15 at the NEA-NH building located at 9 South Spring St, Concord, NH. For the 2017-2018 year, the meeting dates are as follows: 9/13, 10/11, 11/8, 12/13, 1/10, 2/7 (1st Wednesday due to NASP Convention), 3/14, 4/11, 5/9, and 6/13. All NHASP members are welcomed and encouraged to come to our meetings.
NHASP is proud to recognized
Jonas Taub
as
NHASP 2014
Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient
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NHASP Celebrates School Psychology Awareness Week: We're All In! Teams Work!
NHASP Members with New Hampshire Governor Maggie Hassan. Governor Hassan is recognizing School Psychology Awareness Week with a Proclamation.
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NHASP Photos
The NHASP Gallery is a collection of photographs and videos of various activities that NHASP is involved in. These photos are periodically updated. Enjoy viewing these artifacts!
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