Advancing Into the Future

Volume 59, No. 2Spring 2009

A Message from the President

Advancing Into The Future

By Doug Siembieda

Editor’s note: The following is the speech CASP President Doug Siembieda delivered at CASP Convention 2009.

This year has brought about changes that have most people thinking about ways to adjust what is not working. With the election of President Obama, we have all been witness to history and should be able to recognize the significance of such an event. He, as well as the rest of us, has a great challenge ahead in trying to figure out ways to manage through the current economic climate. While this will not be easy, and many people will need to make do with less, we must remain optimistic that progress is possible and there will be a light at the end of the tunnel.

Several years ago I got involved with CASP and began to develop a relationship with my state professional association. At the time, and probably for a few years after, I did not recognize the history behind my association. At the time, I did not recognize that CASP had already been around for more than 50 years. At the time, I did not recognize that school psychologists in California have always been interested in advancing the profession.

During my time on the CASP board, I have had the opportunity to meet many of the people who have helped shape the field of school psychology and witnessed so many of the advancements. They have shared with me many experiences and stories about how the field has developed and changed over the past several decades.

In our 60 year history CASP has gone through a variety of events that seem relevant as we sit her today. We have had difficulties with the convention and threats to shut it down. We have experienced economic decline that has cost jobs and threatened the association’s existence. We have battled over title changes, and we have argued over the discrepancy model vs. RtI. Throughout all of this, we have continued to thrive and push forward.

Regardless of the challenges we have faced, we have continued to embrace change to advance into the future. However, today we are confronted with some of the biggest challenges we have ever faced as school psychologists. With issues like the ongoing budget woes facing our nation and state which lead directly to decreased funding for education, and the consideration to remove the exemption in the APA model licensure act, we must continue to demonstrate our strength and ability to help education through these difficult times.

Districts throughout California are in the midst of making significant cuts to programs, support services, and personnel. One cut to school district budgets that we have already experienced is in regard to professional development. Most school districts have stopped spending to support professional development. Many districts have started requiring employees to take personal necessity days to attend conferences. Our convention, like most others, is experiencing a decline in attendance this year. But we are still here and we are still offering a great opportunity to learn new ideas and share with other school psychologists. Your attendance here is a demonstration of your desire to learn and willingness to take ownership of your own professional development. Your commitment to your learning is recognized, and for that, you should be commended.

Today, we are experiencing budget challenges that are forcing education to restructure while maintaining a high standard for practice. We have already started to see the impact of the budget cuts in our schools and we anticipate further cuts. This week, many districts throughout California elected to layoff employees. Some of you might be affected by this already. While we have been through this before, it has not happened to this magnitude. Times like this can be frustrating, testing your desire and will to continue. You can’t let it get the best of you. You cannot let it diminish your passion to help those who you are committed to help.

On top of the concerns about finances, we must still focus our attention on the efforts of the American Psychological Association to remove the exemption in their model licensure act that allows for the use of the term psychologist by a person with less then a doctoral degree. This means that all specialist level or Master’s level practitioners would no longer be able to call themselves a school psychologist. This would affect approximately 70-75% of current practicing school psychologists, including me. If the APA chooses to remove the exemption from the MLA each state will still need to adopt this revision and align credentialing standards to meet the new model licensure act. While it may seem unlikely for this to occur in California, we cannot take that chance. CASP, along with our partners from NASP, has been actively engaged in combating this effort for well over a year and we will continue to represent all school psychologists in California to preserve the title and honor our training. The APA released the most recent version of the MLA this past week and the public has 90 days to respond. This is our opportunity to let the APA know what we think of this change. Please do not let the opportunity pass without action. (Editor’s note: Please see the CASP web site, , for action you and your colleagues can take.)

No matter the obstacles in our way, we must continue to work on improving our profession. One way to accomplish this is through the use of technology. The ongoing advances in technology are constantly changing the way we can practice. CASP has recognized this and already adapted by changing to an electronic format for our newsletter, CASP Today, and our journal, The California School Psychologist. Of course, not everyone is comfortable or proficient with technology. Not all of us know how to use podcasts, Twitter, Facebook, or YouTube, which is why we are offering a full day special session on “Technology for Practicing School Psychologists.” This is a free training and open to all, so please stop by to learn, or perhaps teach others something new. If all else fails, we can at least ask our children or the students we work with for help.

Speaking of students, this year’s convention may break a record for the number of students in attendance! Thank you for coming to the convention. As practitioners and trainers we must continue to support the next generation of school psychologists through high quality instruction and supervision. The graduate students who are studying to be school psychologists need to be exposed to high professional standards by their instructors and school site supervisors. Our training programs must continue to provide strong teaching for our students. School site supervisors must provide quality supervision. If you are a practicing school psychologist, take the time to sit with your interns and practicum students to help them learn and develop into outstanding school psychologists. While interns and practicum students provide great assistance to schools, they are there to learn. It is our job to teach them, not just ask them to jump in and do a job. It is a team effort to support our students. In fact, this year’s convention committee has made an extra effort to provide offerings to our students in attendance, and CASP is developing a student leadership council that will give our students greater access and opportunity to be involved with their professional association.

While we have continued to demonstrate our willingness to change and grow with the times, one area that has not been fully addressed, and I would challenge all of us to do so, is our lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgender/ and questioning population. It is time that we raise awareness and develop enhanced sensitivity about issues facing our students as well as our fellow school psychologists who are LGBTQ. We must support our colleagues who are LGBTQ and provide them with a forum to teach others who are working with students who experience the pain that can come with sexual identity development during adolescence. In addition to the prejudice we know some students encounter, within recent years we have seen students shot because they are, or are believed to be, gay. We must be willing to learn and listen if we expect to be able to provide support to others.

It is obvious that we are in a time that provides some despair, but also the opportunity for great hope. Continuing to advance will not be easy and will require both individual and collective strength. We must work together to manage through the changes that result from a declining budget, ensure our viability as a profession, as well as support the many needs of the students with whom we work. Henry Ford said, “coming together is a beginning: keeping together is progress: working together is success.” Whether it is fighting to keep jobs or fighting to maintain the title of school psychologist, it is time to work together. We must put aside our philosophical and professional differences to forge ahead to continue advancing the field.

Before I finish, I want to take this opportunity to thank a few people who have allowed me to get involved with CASP and pursue my passion. My wife, Linda, has not only supported my professional aspirations but has always accepted me for who I am, which for those of you who know me, is probably not always easy. Of course, I want to point out the reason we all do this. My son Dillin serves as a constant reminder of my desire to help kids. He is a great little guy who keeps me grounded and reminds me what is important. When everything gets hectic, don’t ever forget your reasons for becoming a school psychologist. It is a great profession, filled with great professionals. Be proud of what you do and continue to fight for your right to help kids.

CASP President Doug Siembieda during his General Session Presidential Address at CASP Convention 2009.