Hello ISPA Members,

I am excited to share this with you on behalf of the ISPA Executive Board! We are going to provide ONE $500 stipend to an ISPA Member who wants to attend NASP’s Public Policy Institute this summer. The institute will be held in Washington, DC on July 24-26th.

This stipend will not cover all of your expenses, but will be a nice incentive to have someone participate. If you would like to be considered for this stipend, please complete the linked GOOGLE FORM. The form also has additional information and expectations related to this opportunity.

Responses have a FIRM due date of April 18th at 11:59pm. This will allow time for the Executive Board to review responses and choose someone prior to the registration price increasing.

We hope you will consider this exciting opportunity! Those who have attended in the past found it very meaningful and informative. 

This is only available for ISPA members. If you are not a member, join now.

Thank you!

– The ISPA Executive Board

ISPA Members, 

Thank you all for your advocacy for our AEAs, the infrastructure that is unique to Iowa that we’ve relied on for so many years to provide us built-in support for one another and high-quality professional development. Though our voices were not entirely respected in the decisions that were made, we continue to follow our NASP ethics and promote healthy school, family, and community environments with our advocacy. 

Please know that your ISPA board remains committed to serving our membership. With the changes that may come, we will continue to adjust how we function in order to meet your needs and to advocate for school psychology best practice. As these changes do come, please do not hesitate to reach out to one of us and voice your ideas to help strengthen our organization. Is there something you need that the AEA system can no longer provide? Is there a need that has been exacerbated by these systemic changes that ISPA could help meet? Keep these, and related, questions in mind as we navigate uncharted waters. 

If you’re so inclined, take a listen to this short meditation done by Kathy Flaminio from MoveMindfully (posted on March 25) which follows the sentiment: “I can rest in not knowing.”

In solidarity,

Theresa Dehn
ISPA President

It has been a crazy week both in terms of the weather and the legislative session. It’s hard to believe this is only week one of the legislative session. So much has already happened!

Since HSB 542 was proposed on Tuesday, ISPA has been working hard talking to our lobbyist and creating TALKING POINTS for our members to use in their communications with legislators. Please use this document as you write and call your legislators. Also, feel free to share this document with friends, families, and colleagues. We need EVERYONE to contact their legislators. It is especially important to be contacting RURAL legislators and those on the HOUSE EDUCATION COMMITTEE. These legislators will hold the most influence over this bill. 

Further, to quote a colleague, “If you are going to get freaked out, support those who are supporting you!” ISPA is supporting you! If you know psychs who are not members please encourage them to become members of ISPA. If your membership has expired, please renew your membership. Members get the up to date legislative and advocacy news and supports, and they can attend our legislative lunch and learn events and Day at the Capitol for FREE! 

To close, we want to share a message from NASP President, Andrea Clyne, who was the Keynote at ISPA’s Fall workshop…

Dear Iowa School Psychologists,

I understand that you are facing a significant challenge related to some proposed legislation that would greatly impact your organizational structures and services to kids, families, and schools. I can only imagine the level of frustration and discouragement you must be feeling. Please do not underestimate the power of united voices here. I encourage every single school psychologist to advocate on this issue, and I thank ISPA for their leadership on your behalf. If any individual, or ISPA as an association, needs any support on this effort, the NASP Government and Professional Relations (GPR) committee is more than happy to provide support. Please hang in there, and know that we are behind you here at NASP!

Sending my very best,

Andrea

Andrea Clyne, PhD

NASP President (2023-2024)