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2012 MSPA joint Day at the Hill with the Minnesota School Social Workers Association (MSSWA) and the School Nurses of Minnesota (SNOM)

By Marilyn Leifgren
MSPA Legislative Co-Chair

Excerpt from article in Spring 2012 issue of School Psychology Minnesota

Minnesota School Psychologist Association (MSPA) and the School Nurse Organization of MN (SNOM) were honored to join forces with the Minnesota School Social Workers Association (MSSWA) for the “Day on the Hill,” February 27, 2012. The “Day on the Hill” provided wonderful opportunities for school psychologists, school social workers, and school nurses to come together to educate state lawmakers about how we address student barriers to academic success in cost effective ways.

Participants gathered at Education Minnesota at 8:30am for a morning filled with speakers, updates, and preparation for their visits with their legislators. Nancy Reistenberg of MDE addressed our shared legislative agenda that addresses Bullying and Harassment: The impact on climate and achievement. Our lobbyists, Ralph Maves for MSPA, and Linda Sandvig for MSSWA & SNOM, provided legislative updates. Heather Alden Pope, of Education Minnesota, supported participants with talking points regarding our role as support staff in preventing and intervening with bullying.

The morning was filled with not only motivational and informative speakers, but also equipped the participants for successful meetings with their legislators. After lunch, together we headed off to the capital. With the exceptional organization and support of the MSSWA committee, groups of two or three participants were off to their scheduled meeting with either the members’ legislator or a legislator from the Education Finance or Policy Committee. Participants always had the support of the committee members for direction, support, and questions that greatly facilitated the success of the meetings.

MSPA extends its thanks to MSSWA for its continued invitation to join them for the Day on the Hill. It is great to participate in the collaborative efforts of both MSSWA and SNOM. Thanks to Aline Petzold, Ralph Maves, Carol Mecklenburg, and Dan Hyson for their participation.

We encourage you to join our next Day on the Hill in 2013. Friends and supporters of our organizations and public education are welcome.

10 Legislative conference committee meeting regarding high stakes testing Starts: 8:00 am Starts: May 10, 2013 Ends: May 10, 2013 - 9:00 am Location: Room 10 of the State Office Building Description: The first conference committee meeting (regarding high stakes testing legislation) is scheduled for Friday, May 10, at 8 am in Room 10 of the State Office Building. We encourage you to be in contact with your legislators regarding the elimination of the GRAD tests and any other items in the bills you feel strongly about. Make your voice heard! Visit for more information: http://www.mspaonline.net/2013/05/09/legislative-update-5-8-2013/ More details...

14 Free Webinar: The Neuropsychology of Reading Disorders: A Framework for Effective Interventions Starts: 10:00 am Starts: May 14, 2013 Ends: May 14, 2013 - 11:30 am Location: http://psychcorp.pearsonassessments.com/pai/ca/training/webinars/Cause-and-Effect-Webinar.htm Description: Free webinar! To Register: http://psychcorp.pearsonassessments.com/pai/ca/training/webinars/Cause-and-Effect-Webinar.htm Meeting Description: This webinar will provide educators and psychologists with an overarching framework for effectively diagnosing and treating reading comprehension disorders in children. There will be an overview of reading from a brain-based educational perspective, as well as a review of the neural underpinnings of literacy in children. Specific emphasis will be placed on frontal lobe functions such as executive functioning and working memory as the primary cognitive constructs that allow children to hold, manipulate, and self organize verbal information in an archived manner for more effective recall. Scores of evidenced based interventions will be shared including specific reading comprehension programs, as well as classroom strategies and accommodations. Lastly, specific case studies should provide participants with a better understanding of how various tests of memory, language, intellectual functioning, and executive functioning can be integrated to pinpoint common reading pitfalls that hinder literacy outcomes. More details...

16 Free Webinar: The Role of Executive Functions in Learning to Read and Reading Starts: 10:00 am Starts: May 16, 2013 Ends: May 16, 2013 - 11:30 am Location: Dial-In Number(s): See Invitation Description: Free Webinar! To Register go to this site and scroll down to May Webinars: http://psychcorp.pearsonassessments.com/pai/ca/training/webinars/Cause-and-Effect-Webinar.htm Meeting Description: This presentation will discuss how executive functions are involved in directing and coordinating the use of multiple cognitive capacities to read words and connected text passages, discuss assessment approaches (with an emphasis on the PAL-II) for identifying executive function-related reading problems, and discuss teaching strategies for helping students compensate for the effects of executive function difficulties. More details...

17 Addressing Bullying and Related Problems in Children and Adolescents Starts: 9:00 am Starts: May 17, 2013 Ends: May 17, 2013 - 12:00 pm Location: Metropolitan State University, Midway Campus in St. Paul, MN Description: Minnesota Psychological Association presents: Addressing Bullying and Related Problems in Children and Adolescents When: May 17th, 2013 Where: Metropolitan State University, Midway Campus in St. Paul, MN About the Program: This presentation aims to help participants understand the complex factors that often contribute to bullying and the problems that are commonly experienced by children and adolescents who are involved in bullying as aggressors, victims, or both. Participants will learn about school, group, and individual approaches to preventing and treating bullying and victimization, with emphasis on working with individual children and adolescents involved in bullying. Participants will: 1. Gain understanding about the complex factors that can contribute to bullying problems. 2. Understand problems commonly experienced by children and adolescents who are involved in bullying as aggressors, victims, or both. 3. Become familiar with the characteristics of school-based programs that are successful in reducing bullying. 4. Learn evidence-based approaches to psychological assessment and intervention when working with children and adolescents in bullying. Click here for more information and to register! http://www.mnpsych.org/event-registration?regevent_action=register&event_id=12 More details...

23 NASP Webinar: - What School Psychologists Need to Know about Law and Electronic Communication Starts: 2:00 pm Starts: May 23, 2013 Ends: May 23, 2013 - 3:00 pm Location: http://nasp.inreachce.com/Details?mediaType=bae80c37-9ab1-49da-b01a-1b5db926a477&groupId=584583fa-9638-4e21-b7cb-0428ffe6e8a4 Description: NASP Webinar: What School Psychologists Need to Know about Law and Electronic CommunicationWhen: 5/23/2013 Time: 2pm-3pm Central Cost: $20 for NASP members; $30 for non-members More information & to register: http://nasp.inreachce.com/Details?mediaType=bae80c37-9ab1-49da-b01a-1b5db926a477&groupId=584583fa-9638-4e21-b7cb-0428ffe6e8a4 Meets Ethics/Legal Regulation and School Psychology CPD Requirement for NCSPs: E-mail, text messages, Facebook, Twitter, Evernote and other forms of electronic communication make it easier for educators to communicate with their colleagues and with students and parents. However, significant legal issues arise when educators use these forms of communication as some schools have discovered too late. School attorney Karen Haase will review recent legal decisions involving electronic communication and will provide practice suggestions on how to avoid legal problems while still using these technologies. More details...