SPRING CONFERENCE REVIEW--SILVER ANNIVERSARY!!!

The annual Spring Conference and "Silver Anniversary" celebration of OSPA was by all accounts a "whopping success" with approximately 215 people attending the conference at the Ramada Plaza Hotel in Edmond! "Behavior Intervention Plans and IDEA" was the topic of the conference on

Friday, April 23rd., 1999, with Dr. Tim Knoster from the Instructional Support System of Pennsylvania as the featured speaker.

The speaker and conference organizers provided valuable information and handout material on behavioral interventions in the conference "packets" to help professionals augment their skills in this area and to be better prepared to meet the requirements of the new federal law and regulations. The Oklahoma State Department of Education, Oklahoma State University, and University of Central Oklahoma co-sponsored the conference with OSPA; and NASP provided complimentary copies of its new "Behavior Interventions" booklet for all conference attendees.

In addition, another "surprise" in the conference packets was a complimentary copy of the new Journal of Positive Behavior Interventions (JPBI), which first premiered in January of this year. Its publisher, Pro Ed, donated 200 copies or $2000 worth of journals to OSPA for its Spring Conference packets!! Dr. Knoster, the conference speaker, is also one of the associate editors of this exciting new psych journal.

The Spring Conference was also the 25th Anniversary of OSPA being founded in 1974 when 45 people met and elected Charles Simon, school psychologist from Yukon, as the first interim president and appointed the first acting board of the organization. A special "Silver Anniversary" celebration was planned and conducted at the luncheon portion of the conference, with many OSPA members and leaders from over the years being recognized for their important contributions to the birth, development, and success of the organization.

Dr. Paul Warden, beloved professor at OSU and one of the original founders of OSPA, was recognized at the conference luncheon for helping start, organize, and incorporate OSPA in 1974 and for being the leader and catalyst in developing its constitution. He was presented with a special, engraved clock and a recognition certificate.

Steve Crane, Government Relations Chairperson for OSPA, read aloud Governor Keating's Proclamation of "School Psychology Week in Oklahoma" for the conference. He and the other current officers of OSPA were recognized by President Sanders for their long, sometimes "late night" hours in their work on the board and in their preparations for the conference. All past Presidents and Officers of OSPA from 1974 to the present were recognized for their many contributions to what OSPA is today.

President-elect Debby Wheat presented the slate of new officers for the Executive Board for 1999-2000 to the audience and asked for other nominations from the floor. The proposed budget and ballot for OSPA for 1999-2000 was handed out at the conference with ballots for members to vote on.

Dr. Peggy Kerr, popular professor at UCO, was presented with the Fay Catlett "Outstanding School Psychologist in Oklahoma for 1999" Award by Jean Benson, Awards and Honors Chairperson for OSPA. Dr. Kerr gave her acceptance speech to the audience, thanking her peers, colleagues, and students. All former Fay Catlett Award recipients, from 1986 when it was first awarded to the present were also recognized. These included Helen Copp, Stephen Crane, Shelly Geyer Ph.D., Marshall Andrew Glenn, Ph.D., Joyce Lowrey, and Julie Shackelford, Ph.D.

Tray Fenton and Amy Gardner were awarded the first-ever school psychology graduate studies scholarships created by OSPA to encourage more people to go into this field. These scholarships were named the "Paul Warden and Mary Jo Keatley Awards" after these two very important

"pioneers" in OSPA and school psychology in Oklahoma!

Charter/founding members, Jane Bias, Bruce Cook, Ed. D., Jacques Cunningham, Michael Lacy, Ph.D., and Paul Warden, Ph.D. were recognized and received special award certificates. Paul Warden, Ph.D. was the only one of the five 25-year members and was recognized. Of the eight 20-year members the six who were in attendance, Jacques Cunningham, Stephen crane, Michael Lacy, Ph.D. Joyce Lowrey, Sharon Philbin and Sally Reed, were recognized with certificates. Others who received a special membership certificate at the conference were 15-year, 10-year, and 5-year members Special thanks go to the OSPA Executive Secretary, Helen Copp, for helping to compile, organize, and create the many membership longevity records and special award certificates for this part of the program, and to Elaine Frissell, OSU Student Rep on the board of OSPA, who helped procure some of the special award and gift items for this part of the program.

Darla Griffin, Executive Director, and John Corpolongo, Assistant State Superintendent, of the Special Education Services Division of the State Department, were the featured speakers for the luncheon program and are always appreciated for their long-standing support and assistance to OSPA. Darla is a current officer on the Executive Board, and both Darla and John are former Presidents of OSPA. They provided copies of the new IDEA federal regs and copies of the SAFE Schools brochure (1-877-SAFECALL) to everyone at the conference luncheon.

The Edmond Public Schools Psychological Services Department helped procure the beautiful fresh flower arrangements for the Silver Anniversary luncheon, and these centerpieces were also given away as "door prizes" to twenty lucky people! Special silver and blue "Silver Anniversary" napkins had also been imprinted and provided for conference guests to use at the Continental breakfast array at the beginning of the conference that day.

A special display of OSPA archives was arranged in the conference lobby by Helen Copp for members and attendees to enjoy "browsing" throughout the conference, with assistance from Charter member and current board officer, Dr. Michael Lacy. To help preserve all of the special awards and recognitions and the memories of this "Silver Anniversary" celebration, Executive Newsletter Editor Mary Ellen Jones took many photographs for the OSPA newsletter, scrapbook, and archives.

Behind the scenes, many other officers of the board worked very diligently to run the conference smoothly and without a hitch, including Treasurer-elect Judith Dwyer and President-elect Debby Wheat who supervised the conference registration table and NASP Delegate Joyce Lowrey who set up a display of valuable NASP information and handouts for members! OSPA Secretary Minna Hall and UCO Student Rep Marni Wyand helped with the conference speaker's arrangements for the day. All in all, it was a very special and memorable OSPA conference to attend and remember for many years to come!!

Submitted by: Linda Sanders , OSPA President

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