2021 ISPA & WSPA Virtual Winter Convention

Workshop 1: Lessons learned during COVID-19: Opportunity out of crisis (1.5 PD Credit)
Presented by Ben Fernandez, M.S. Ed

The COVID 19 pandemic has not only changed how schools educate their students but also how they provide mental health services such as crisis intervention and suicide prevention.  Like any crisis, the pandemic has created the potential for positive and negative outcomes, which lead to lessons learned that can enhance the work of crisis intervention teams in future.  One of the biggest challenges faced is the continuity of operations given the ongoing uncertainty and changing learning environments, which has required many teams to quickly adapt and retool how they serve student needs.   This presentation will discuss challenges that school crisis intervention teams are experiencing as well as how teams have adapted to successfully meet these needs in their school communities.

Workshop 2: Stress and Anxiety (1.5 PD Credit)
Presented by David Jacobi, Ph.D.

11:30am- 12:30pm

Lunch /Awards Ceremony

-ISPA Room

-WSPA Room

12:30pm - 2:00pm

Workshop 3: Creating Culturally Affirming Environments for Minoritized Youth (1.5 PD Credit)
Presented by Celeste Malone, Ph.D., MS

Ample evidence suggests that PK-12 students experience racism and other forms of discrimination in school and that these experiences have a deleterious impact on their mental health. Several studies have shown a consistent and strong relationship between racial discrimination and negative mental health outcomes including increased depression and anxiety, decreased self-worth and self-esteem, as well as psychological maladjustment. The focus of this presentation is to provide an overview of the literature and identify strategies for school psychologists to work towards creating school climates that are safe for all students, but especially for those who are members of racial and ethnic minoritized groups. Specifically, attendees will learn strategies to advocate for culturally affirming school environments, engage in culturally responsive practices, and develop cultural humility.

Workshop 4: Let’s Get Ethical, Ethical: Using ethical problem solving to address challenges in school psychology (1.5 PD Credit)
Presented by Laurie Klose, Ph.D

This session will focus on the 2020 Principles for Professional Ethics as the framework for examining ethical responsibilities of school psychologists. Available resources will be presented and utilized in a problem-solving approach to resolving ethical dilemmas. Scenarios will be discussed that are relevant to practice in the current climate of public health crisis and social unrest. Be prepared to participate, learn something new and take away tools to make your professional functioning more ethical and just.

Virtual Happy Hour with Dueling Pianos (minus 1)

Student Spirit Competition

8:00am - 9:30am

8:00am - 12:00pm

Workshop 1: Back to the Classroom: Serving the Needs of Students with Disabilities Returning From Virtual Learning (1.5 PD Credit)
Presented by Matt Bell, EdS, JD

Brief Description:  Classrooms are opening up and students are returning from their extended quarantines and once again able to receive in-person instruction.  It is fantastic to hear the slam of locker doors, the recess bell ringing, and laughter in the hallways!   However, not all students have benefited from the virtual instruction provided during quarantine, and students with disabilities may have been particularly negatively affected.  What are districts’ responsibilities to address those negative effects and the legal consequences if they do not.  If districts do have a responsibility to address educational losses resulting from extended quarantines, how can that be accomplished?  Participants will be able to address these questions and further serve the needs of returning students with disabilities.

Job Placement Bureau 

10:00am -11:30am

Presented by Jessica Hasson, PhD

During this unprecedented time, teachers, students, and caregivers have been tasked with adapting to a new method of education: virtual and hybrid schooling. In addition to the obvious differences in delivery method (online versus in person), there are a number of other significant differences between in-person and virtual/hybrid schooling that can impact the educational attainment of students. For example, virtual schooling requires strong executive functioning abilities of students, often requiring more than what they are capable of doing on their own. As a result, caregivers are being asked to serve as educational facilitators, a role few have been prepared for. This placed more stress on the family system and this ultimately impacts education, as the student is less available emotionally, mentally, and sometimes physically, for learning. This presentation will discuss some of the differences between virtual schooling/hybrid schooling and in-person schooling. However, the focus will be on identifying methods to support virtual learning for both caregivers and students. A special focus will be on how to serve neurodiverse students and to assist caregivers in creating a home-learning environment conducive to their students’ unique learning style. I will also discuss strategies teachers and school staff can implement to assist with the learning needs of neurodiverse students.

11:30am -12:30pm
  

Lunch 

12:30pm - 2:00pm

Workshop 3: Striving to Be Your Best Self: The Application of Adult SEL Skills to Successful and Equitable SEL Virtual Practices (1.5 PD Credit)
Presented by Sybil Baker, L.C.S.W. & Caryn Curry, L.C.S.W.

Workshop 4: Self-Care in the Roaring 20s (1.5 PD Credit)
Presented by Lisa Kelly Vance, Ph.D.

Given such an unprecedented year, and unprecedented times, self-care is more important than ever.  School Psychologists have had their bandwidth taxed, and self-care is vital to build resiliency, while also preventing compassion fatigue and burnout.  Participants in this session will learn about self-care and will leave with tools for their toolbox, while providing opportunities for collaborative support.