Dear ISPA Colleagues,

As we move into the spring months, I find myself reflecting on the many ways our profession continues to demonstrate the power of connection and community. This year, our theme, “Building Connections, Creating Community” has guided our work as an organization and been especially evident in the initiatives and events for our members across Illinois.

Last month, Chicago hosted the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) Annual Convention, bringing thousands of school psychologists from across the country together to learn, collaborate, and celebrate our profession. Having NASP in our own background was an exciting moment for Illinois, and a powerful reminder of the strength of our professional community and the important role school psychologists play in supporting students and families across our schools. Thank you to Susan Whitney, Region Director 11, for hosting the first-ever ISPA region gathering at NASP. There is talk of making this a yearly event for all regions at NASP.

One of the major efforts of the ISPA Governing Board this year has been spending significant time engaging in thoughtful planning for the future of our organization. Through this work, we have developed a three-year strategic plan centered on two overarching goals: Organizational Excellence and Supports to School Psychologists. These priorities will guide the work of our committees and board as we seek to ensure that ISPA remains a sustainable organization while also providing meaningful support to professionals who make up our association.

Our focus on Organizational Excellence centers on strengthening the infrastructure of the organization so that ISPA can continue advocating for the profession and supporting members well into the future. This includes thoughtful planning, financial stewardship, leadership development and opportunities for members to become more involved in the association as we build a strong pipeline of leaders for the future of ISPA.

At the same time, Supports to School Psychologists reminds us that the work of ISPA is ultimately about supporting you, whether you are a practicing school psychologist, graduate student, trainer or retired member. Through professional development, advocacy, mentorship opportunities, and connections with colleagues across the state, we aim to provide resources that help you continue to grow professional while supporting the students, families and communities you serve each day.

Since my last update, we had the opportunity to gather together for our Annual Winter Convention and Job Fair in East Peoria, where members were able to reconnect, engage in professional learning, see posters of our graduate students’ research, support early career school psychologists seeking internships and employment, and play School Psych Bingo and Trivia at our All Association Party. Many thanks to our Convention, Professional Standards, and Career Services Committees for their continued work behind the scenes to make these events possible, as well as the many volunteers who contribute their time and energy to support ISPA mission.

Advocacy is a very important part of the work we do as an association. The ISPA Governmental Affairs Committee, in preparation for ISPA’s second Annual Hill Day (March 25th), hosted two advocacy training sessions to help members learn more about legislative priorities and how to effectively communicate with policymakers about the needs of students and the role of school psychologists. Participants who attended the trainings and Hill Day were eligible to receive free CEU credit, thanks to collaboration between the Governmental Affairs and Professional Standards committees. Advocacy plays a crucial role in shaping policies that impact our students, schools, and our profession. We encourage you to share the stories of the impact you make with your elected officials so they hear about the importance of having school psychologists in our schools.

Hosting NASP in Chicago reminds us that while school psychologists share common experiences across the country, the realities of practice can vary greatly from state to state. To better understand the experiences of school psychologists here in Illinois, ISPA will soon launch the first annual State of School Psychology in Illinois Survey, developed by ISPA’s Budget, Planning, and Development Committee.

This survey will be distributed to school psychologists across the state and is designed to help us better understand the interests, needs, and priorities of professionals working in the field. Through the survey, school psychologists will be able to share their professional interests, advocacy priorities, and the challenges - or “pain points” - they are experiencing in their work while also receiving personalized feedback showing how their experience compares with peers across Illinois, providing valuable insight into trends within our profession.

The survey will take less than 10 minutes to complete and will be available by April, 2026. While ISPA will be sending the survey out directly to our members, we know there are many school psychologists in Illinois who are not currently connected with the association. Please, when you receive the survey, we ask that you share the link with school psychology colleagues in your district and professional networks so we can hear from as many practitioners as possible. If you have questions about the survey, please reach out to Kaysa Pelofske at [email protected] .

The strength of our profession lies in the connections we build with one another and the shared commitment we bring to support students and families. Thank you for the work you do and for being part of the ISPA community. I am honored to serve as your president and to work alongside so many dedicated professionals who are committed to making a positive impact in our schools and communities.

Kind regards,

Kathy

Kathleen Loomos Ostry, Ph.D.

President, Illinois School Psychologist Association