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OSPA
104 Mill Street Suite F
Gahanna OH 43230
Tel: 614.414.5980
Fax: 614.414.5982
Email: mail@OSPAonline.org
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| John Biltz's
2007-08
OSPA Presidental Updates |
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Summer 2007 (return
to top) |
I saw a bumper
sticker once that read, “The three best things about
being a teacher are: June, July, and August.” Some people
would take offense to that, but I think most people would
find it amusing. So here we are enjoying the hazy, lazy days
of summer. Having a career in education has allowed me to
continue using summer as my respite, as I have since I was
five years old entering kindergarten. For those of you keeping
score, that has been more than 40 trips around the sun.
There are some things that are naturally associated with summer.
Listening to the music of the Beach Boys puts me in a summer
mood. It just doesn’t seem right to play “Little
Deuce Coupe” in the middle of an Ohio January. Talk
about cognitive dissonance!
How about America’s pastime? The players are even called
“The Boys of Summer.” In Ohio we have the Indians
and the Reds. Up in my corner of the state, we have the Toledo
Mudhens too. So – you’re at the ballpark with
a hot dog and a Pepsi (or whatever) and the P.A. system is
blaring out the Beach Boys, and you’re not even thinking
about ETR, IEP, RTI, OISM…You are thinking ERA, RBI,
DH (oops – how did that get in there?) Now that’s
summer!
As educators, we need summers to recharge our batteries. I
hope you all had a chance to recharge your batteries because
this com¬ing school year promises to be an exciting one
for OSPA mem¬bers.
There is new leadership at the state level. Greg Maloney is
our new (maybe not so new anymore) State Director of Special
Edu¬cation. Dr. Maloney is also a former school psychologist.
Our new governor, Ted Strickland is a former psychologist.
Does any¬one else see stars and planets lining up?
OSPA has submitted public comment to the state about the new
standards. Probably the most controversial aspect is the identifica¬tion
of learning disabilities. As a professional organization,
we have a duty to stay current with research findings, lead
the way in best practices, and, at the same time, meet the
needs of our mem¬bers through professional development
opportunities.
Ever wonder where OSPA is headed over the next five to ten
years in professional development? All you have to do is download
NASP’s Blueprint for Training and Practice (http://www.nasponline.org/resources/blueprint/index.aspx),
and you will have a good idea of where we are going. What
is it that people do with blueprints? They use them to build
things! OSPA is going to use NASP’s blueprints to build
our future in professional development.
The Blueprints are based on two main outcomes:
1. Improve competencies for all children Build and maintain
capacities of systems These outcomes are based on the foundational
competencies of:
(1) Interpersonal and Collaborative Skills
(2) Diversity Awareness and Sensitive Service Delivery
(3) Technological Applications
(4) Professional, Legal, Ethical, and Social Responsibility.
And functional competencies of:
(5) Data-Based Decision Making
(6) Systems-Based Service Delivery
(7) Enhancing the Development of Cognitive and Academic Skills
(8) Enhancing the Development of Wellness, Social Skills,
Mental Health, and Life Competencies.
By addressing these competencies in a conscientious and
deliber¬ate way, we will build the future of OSPA’s
professional develop¬ment. Mark your calendars NOW for
Fall and Spring OSPA and start stowing away some of that
mileage money!
Fall conference will be November 8-9th at the Crowne Plaza
Hotel (formerly Columbus Marriott North). Spring OSPA will
be April 17-18th at the Easton Hilton Hotel (Columbus).
I have to close now, the Indians are playing the Reds, and
I have to grab a hot dog and a Pepsi before the game starts.
P.S. – Don’t forget the sunscreen! |
| Fall
2007 (return
to top) |
| What I Did
On My Summer Vacation
This summer NASP offered training for advocacy in Washington
D.C. Each state association was invited to send two participants.
I went along with Nathan von der Embse to represent Ohio.
Nathan is presently an intern school psychologist through
Miami University (in Ohio – not the one in Florida).
The training sessions provided information on advocacy that
we as school psychologists can take back to our states and
put into action. Ohio is very advanced in comparison to
most states. Our professional organization provides an excellent
framework for school psychology advocacy.
The highlight of the trip was going to Capitol Hill and
meeting with our representatives and their assistants. We
were scheduled to meet with Senator Sherrod Brown, but an
all-night filibuster the previous night kept him from his
appointed rounds the following day. We did meet with his
assistant, David Hodapp, for over a half-hour and discussed
issues educational.
Representative Paul Gillmor’s staff gave us a spectacular
tour of the Capitol Building, followed by a meeting with
Representative Gillmore himself. He was very concerned about
education and was receptive to our ideas. Nathan even slipped
in something about loan forgiveness legislation that Mr.
Gillmor said he would look into it. Nathan and I were both
shocked at his recent death, as is everyone.
OSPA provides so many opportunities for advocacy. Every
member should set as a professional goal for this school-year
to increase their advocacy by one activity compared to what
they did last year. For example, if you wrote two letters
over the course of last year to your political representatives,
then your goal for this year should be to write three letters.
If you did not attend any OSPA conferences, you should set
a goal to attend one. If you wrote an article for your local
newspaper, this year your goal should be to write two. This
is the time of year for new school-year resolutions. Get
involved in your regional organization. Strategically plan
how you will increase your advocacy activities.
Here are some dates to mark on the calendar to get you started:
The OSPA Fall conference will be November 8th and 9th at
the Crowne Plaza Hotel (formerly Columbus Marriott North).
The OSPA Spring conference is scheduled for April 17th and
18th at the Easton Hilton Hotel (Columbus). Also, NASP is
February 6-9, 2008.
Looking forward to seeing you this year as we work together
to provide quality psychological services to the children
of Ohio.
|
| Winter
2008 (return
to top) |
| I can’t
believe how fast this school year is zipping by. As
I write this it is almost Christmas and we have just
had a major snowstorm this weekend that has crippled
the whole state. Soon the first semester will be over
and so will the first half of the school year.
My term as OSPA president is going by fast too. Since
our spring conference is a bit earlier this year (April
instead of the typical May), my term as president
will be shorter too. Because I will be passing the
gavel to Terry Bendo in April instead of May, my actual
term as president will end up being 11 months instead
of 12 months. OSPA is earlier this year because NASP
is also early to coincide with Mardi Gras in New Orleans.
I hope you are planning to go to NASP and the spring
OSPA conferences. I went to NASP in New Orleans when
I was an intern. I’ve never had better coffee
and beignets than in New Orleans.
And about spring OSPA – I can’t wait to
hear Nancy Mathers talk about reading and math interventions.
I especially like that we are staying at the Hilton
at Easton Mall in Columbus. Every year at fall OSPA
a large group of us end up driving to Easton and having
dinner. I never realized how big Easton was until
this fall when we tried to follow a map of the mall
and got lost. I am not going to name names, but some
of the people listed on the inside back cover of this
journal have dubious map-reading skills.
The highlight of my presidency, so far, has been getting
to meet with Governor Strickland. Ann Brennan and
I, along with representatives from educational supports
such as guidance counselors and school nurses were
invited by the governor’s office to meet with
him last month.
The governor described his vision of education as
having schools conform to meet the needs of the individual
child rather than the child conforming to the school.
Ann and I talked with him about OISM and left him
some resources. He seemed very interested, but there
is much more work which still needs to be done.
Speaking of much more work to be done – how
have you been doing with your advocacy activities?
In the last President’s Message I urged everyone
to take stock of your advocacy activities from last
year and increase your commitment by at least one
activity for this year. We do this at our church every
year. And every year we try to do more than the previous
year.
If you had not yet had a chance to consider what you
can do to advocate for school psychology, make it
one of your New Year’s resolutions! Here is
my list:
1. 1. Exercise
2. 2. Eat Healthy
3. 3. Advocate for School Psychology
If you see me in the “Big Easy” in February
make a point to say hello. If not there – I’ll
see you in Columbus at OSPA.
Thank you for letting me be your president this year.
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