Remarks from OSPA Awards Committee Co-Chair Melissa Bestgen

The OSPA Awards Committee, along with the OSPA Executive Board, are pleased to present the F. Peter Gross Best Practices Award to Amanda Tandy. Amanda Tandy has worked in Akron Public Schools for only four years, but already has been instrumental in implementing a sustainable Intervention Assistance Team framework. Very early in her tenure, Amanda identified a need for improved intervention supports throughout the elementary and secondary schools, and worked with the district leadership to develop a successful IAT program.  She has conducted professional development in over fifty schools, providing staff with the training and tools needed to run building-based IATs.  She has created a series of training manuals, handbooks, and assessment rubrics to help future teams follow a research-based IAT process.  She has also developed a system to track IAT participation, encouraging accountability at both the building and district level.  After laying the groundwork for IATs, she continues to monitor progress and provide support through regular meetings with district leadership to review IAT data and providing continued professional development to school psychologists and other educators throughout APS.  For her outstanding service to the students of Akron Public Schools and exemplary professional practice, the OSPA Executive Board is honored to present Amanda Tandy with the 2015 Pete Gross Best Practices Award.