NJASP Spring CONFERENCE

Keynote

8:30-9:30 AM

Reimagining School Psychologists as Healers

Dr. Celeste M. Malone, PhD, MS

Dr. Celeste M. Malone, PhD, MS, is an associate professor and coordinator of the school psychology program at Howard University. She received her master’s degree in school counseling from Johns Hopkins University and her doctorate in school psychology from Temple University, and she completed a postdoctoral fellowship in child clinical and pediatric psychology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Celeste’s primary research interest relates to multicultural and diversity issues embedded in the training and practice of school psychology. Specifically, her work addresses the development of multicultural competence through education and training, diversification of the profession of school psychology, and the relationship between culturally responsive practice and pre-K–12 student outcomes. Related to her interest in professional issues in school psychology, Celeste has continuously held leadership positions in psychology professional associations and has been recognized for her ongoing leadership and commitment to social justice in psychology by presidential recognitions from NASP, the Maryland School Psychologists’ Association, and APA Division 16 School Psychology. Celeste is the 2022–2023 NASP President and, notably, is the second person of color to ever serve in this role.

Morning Workshops

9:30 – 11:45 AM

WORKSHOP 1: Solution-Focused Counseling in Schools

• Speaker:  John Murphy, Ph.D.

  This session provides a first-hand experience of Solution-Focused Counseling (SFC) from the client and practitioner’s perspectives through “live” and video demonstrations, client examples, practice exercises, and debriefing conversations with the presenter. SFC is a brief, culture-sensitive, evidence-based approach applicable to any challenge experienced by preK-12 students and their caregivers, including trauma, behavior problems, and social-emotional difficulties. Participants will leave with practical tools for helping students and caregivers build solutions from their strengths and resources, and with the encouragement to approach every contact as a solution opportunity whenever, wherever, and however long it may be.

  Learner Objectives 

• Participants in this session will obtain practical skills and techniques to help them:

  1. Identify students’ best hopes/goals from counseling during the very first moments of contact. 

  2. Ask culturally responsive questions that address NASP Practice Domains 4 (Mental and Behavioral Health Services and Interventions) and 8 (Equitable Practices for Diverse Student Populations) by eliciting students’ resilience and other indigenous strengths and resources.

  3. Respond to so-called “resistant” students and caregivers in ways that engage their motivation and involvement.  

  4. Conduct solution-focused conversations with students and caregivers whenever and wherever the opportunity presents itself. 

  Dr. John Murphy is an internationally recognized practitioner, author, and trainer of solution-focused practice in schools, former finalist for NASP School Psychologist of the Year, and featured psychotherapist in two popular DVD training series— Victor Yalom’s Child Therapy with the Experts (psychotherapy.net) and APA’s Psychotherapy series. He is a popular workshop presenter and author of Solution-Focused Counseling in Schools, now in its newly released 4th edition (American Counseling Association, 2023). Dr. Murphy has trained thousands of school psychologists throughout the United States and overseas. 

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Speaker:  Deborah Grill, MA, NCSP

This workshop seeks to explore the variety of uses for the BASC-3. The discussion will include a dive into the scales and indexes included in the BASC-3 and how the information can be utilized in a variety of evaluation types, such as for a Specific Learning Disability.

Learner Objectives 

Participants will:

- Increase understanding of the BASC-3 composites

- Identify at least one new way in which to utilize the BASC-3 in evaluation practice

- Understand how to incorporate information gained to explain and address learning challenges

Deb Grill is a Nationally Certified School Psychologist earning her Master of Arts in School Psychology and Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study in School Psychology from Towson University in Maryland. Deb earned her BA in Psychology from Mercyhurst University in Pennsylvania. Deb maintains a current school psychology license in North Carolina and previously practiced in community mental health in Pennsylvania. As an Assessment Consultant with Pearson, Deb provides consultation and training to support best practice use of Pearson’s clinical assessment products.

WORKSHOP 3:  Multicultural Considerations in Supervision

Speaker:  Celeste Malone, Ph.D.

This workshop is a half-day workshop running only in the AM.

Multicultural supervision is defined as a supervisory relationship in which the supervisor and supervisee are of different cultural backgrounds and/or the discussion of multicultural issues in supervision. Attention to cultural issues in supervision is associated with positive supervisory relationships and trainees’ development in culturally competent practices.

Afternoon Workshops

1:00-3:30

WORKSHOP 4:

• See Workshop 1 for description

WORKSHOP 5:

See Workshop 2 for description

WORKSHOP 6:  Collaborative, Integrated, and Meaningful SLD Assessment

This workshop is a half-day workshop running only in the PM.

Speaker:  Terri Allen, Ph.D., ABSNP

This workshop will focus on collaborative assessment throughout each tier of the service delivery continuum. An integrated approach, using RTI and Alternative Research-Based Procedures, e.g., PSW, will be discussed as a student-centered method for assessment, identification, and eligibility purposes.

Session will help participants:

●      To expand their knowledge regarding cognitive processes and learning

●      Apply this understanding to the development of plans for hypothesis testing at the RTI and comprehensive assessment levels

●      Gain an understanding of the process of using alternative research-based procedures, including patterns of strengths and weaknesses models, to inform eligibility decisions and intervention planning

The workshop will emphasize the application of theory to practice. For attendees to reap the most benefit from this workshop, they are encouraged to bring redacted examples of procedures, practices, etc., from their district to better conceptualize how to integrate PSW practices into their settings.

Dr. Terri Allen is a school psychologist with board certification in school neuropsychology. She has worked as a school psychologist practitioner, graduate school trainer, researcher-clinician and independent evaluator and consultant.  She has presented regionally and nationally on a variety of topics, with emphasis on practical application.  Dr. Allen is actively involved in public policy and advocacy efforts at state and national levels. She serves on the Executive Board of New Jersey Association of School Psychologists.

NJASP Spring Conference 2023 Brochure.pdf

----PLEASE BE ADVISED, UNLESS IDENTIFIED AT REGISTRATION, ALL HANDOUTS WILL BE PROVIDED ELECTRONICALLY---

-----PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT ALL PARKING WILL BE VALIDATED AT THE REGISTRATION TABLE----