Nominations for the offices of President-Elect, Secretary, Treasurer-Elect, and Parliamentarian are now open. Nominations must be sumitted to Warren Cohen by December 31, 2009 by email or postal mail. His address is on the nomination form

The MSPA Executive Board is again anticipating that funding will be available to support the Professional Training Grant program for FY 2010 – 2011.  Some changes were made last year in the application process and in the dollar amount of the grants.  Applications can now be completed electronically, the total amount of the grant was increased from $700.00 to $800.00 and the amount available for refreshments was increased from $70.00 to $100.00. Download the Request for Proposals (RFP) and Application, which outline the procedures necessary in order to apply for a grant.  Please look them over carefully!  For the 2010 – 2011 year, grants will again be funded according to MSPA’s fiscal year, which begins on July 1, 2010 and runs through June 30, 2011.  In addition to improving the Association’s own accounting procedures, this also corresponds to the academic year allowing more time and flexibility in submitting the grant application and in program planning.

The grant program was designed to promote professional development and to address pertinent issues at the local level.  MSPA encourages your LEA, association, or training program to take this opportunity to submit a grant proposal.

MSPA continues to look for ways to better serve the interest of all Maryland School Psychologists. If you have questions regarding the grants, contact: Ann Hammond, Supervisor of Psychological Services, FCPS, Chair, Committee for Professional Development, 103 Prospect Street, Middletown, MD 21769, Ann.Hammond a-t FCPS d-o-t org, telephone 240-236-1208

The Maryland School Psychologistsí Association is pleased to announce its Outstanding Practice and Outstanding Educator Awards program for 2010. With these awards we will recognize a school psychologist who exemplifies the highest level of professional practice as well as an educator who has supported quality mental health services and the practice of school psychology. These awards help recognize individuals who strive to improve psychological and educational services as well as serve to increase public awareness of the significance and stature of the profession. We realize that this is an extremely busy time of year, but we encourage you to take this opportunity to nominate individuals deserving of recognition.

The Outstanding Practice Award recognizes the efforts of an individual who has developed an effective school psychology program in his/her schools. After nominations are received, personal vitae will be requested from the nominee, together with four letters of support from an administrator/principal, the nominator, and psychologist colleagues or other school staff. A personal statement addressing a pressing issue facing school psychology will also be needed. All practicing Maryland certified school psychologists with the exception of MSPA Executive Board members are eligible for this award.

Individuals eligible for the Outstanding Educator Award are administrators or school-based professionals who have worked in partnership with school psychologists to build support for the provision of quality mental health services in schools. Persons who may be nominated include superintendents, area directors, guidance counselors, pupil personnel workers and teachers, as well as supervisors/ coordinators of psychological services. The nominating school psychologist, along with one other school psychologist, will be asked to write a letter of support.

The selection criteria along with nomination forms can be downloaded as a single zip file. Nominations will be accepted until March 26, 2010. Both awards will be presented at our Spring Conference on April 30, 2010.Submit by email or U.S. mail to Tina DeForge, MSPA Public Affairs Chairperson, 12117 Blue Paper Trail, Columbia, MD 21044; (410) 997-3736; cdeforge a-t comcast d-o-t net.

Sandy Steingart, longtime MSPA Webmaster has completely updated The Web-Connected School Psychologist.The book lists hundreds of reviewed and annotated Web sites that can make your job easier. It also includes a section on Internet basics such as mailing lists, newsgroups, netiquette, virus protection, and Web searches. The book is published by Sopris West and can be ordered online directly from the publisher. See Sopris West for more information on the book and online ordering. If you prefer, you can call the publisher at 1-800-547-6747 and place an order by telephone.

The Maryland School Psychologist's Association, (MSPA), became aware of the need for a more aggressive approach in relieving some of the financial pressures that are faced by our minority students pursuing school psychology training in the state of Maryland and the District of Columbia. Consequently, MSPA has established the Multicultural Affairs Committee as a means toward addressing this concern. The Multicultural Affairs Committee established a corporation, the School Psychologist Advancement of Minorities, Inc., (SPAM), to help in this process. SPAM has in turn established a scholarship program to provide financial support to minority students in school psychology training programs in Maryland and the District of Columbia. Minority is defined as any person who is a member of a recognized racial minority group in the United States. These awards were developed in response to our professional commitment to encourage promising graduate minority students to enter the profession of school psychology in the state of Maryland.

Download the Minority Scholarship Application for more information.