President's Message

To LAUSD School Psychologists                 

Dear Colleagues:

I trust that your school year is going well and for those of you who are new to LAUSD, Welcome! As your LAASP President, I wanted to write a letter to you to encourage you to join LAASP, participate in LAASP activities and if you want, join the LAASP Board!

I know we are all busy with work schedules, families and personal obligations outside of work. However, I think it is important that each one of us participate in LAASP in some way. LAASP is the LARGEST affiliate to CASP and as such, LAUSD psychologists are highly represented on the CASP Executive Board. Beth Kauffman is the CASP Membership Chair, Monique Arbuckle and Larisa Crookston, are the Co-Chairs for CASP’s Cultural and Linguistic Diversity Committee. Several LAASP Past Presidents are currently on CASP’s Executive Board, Troy Leonard is President Elect, Christine Toleson was the CASP President last year, Jeannine Topalian is currently our CASP Region IV Representative and Seble Gebremedhin is the CASP Treasury. I understand many of you may not be interested in serving at the State level; however, locally, LAASP can use your creativity, time and experience to make our current outstanding affiliate into a phenomenal affiliate.

At the CASP conference I had the opportunity to meet other affiliate presidents and learn about what they are doing in their regions as well as share some of the things LAASP is doing. Additionally, I had the opportunity to meet Dr. Sam Goldstein and Dr. Milton Diehn, who offered to conduct workshops for LAASP!! Of the many events that LAASP has hosted, the one event that I am most proud of is the parent workshops that were held last year at Bell HS and Noble ES. There were 8-10 psychologists who volunteered to conduct a workshop for the parents. Topics ranged from Stress Management, Teenage Dating Violence, LGBTQ, Anger Management and Parenting. The workshops were well attended and the parents were very appreciative of the information they received.

LAASP is in the planning stages for events and workshops this year. For those of you who completed the LAASP survey, your suggestions have been heard and as best as we can we will accommodate some of your suggestions. LAASP will be participating in the District’s 5K Run/Walk to be held at Dodger’s Stadium on November 22, 2014. Your participation in this important event will not only help raise funds to support school based health clinics but it will also provide an opportunity for LAASP to share with the parents and community that we are available in the schools to provide mental health support and service to their children and to the schools.

As always, we will end the year with the Retiree/Outstanding School Psychologist Recipients/LAASP Memorial Scholarship Awardees Luncheon. Last year we recognized four LAASP retirees, seven OSP recipients and awarded three scholarships to deserving high school students. Your donation to the LAASP Memorial Scholarship fund allows us to award these young people an opportunity to follow their dream of graduating from college and pursue a career in education.

I hope to see you at one or more of LAASP’s events and wish you a wonderful school year.

Sincerely,
Beverly Williams, Psy.D.
LAASP President