PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE: SPRING FORWARD, FALL BACK

As I look back at the OSPA Fall conference and reminiscence, I can't help but smile as I think of all the pleasant faces that I saw there, many familiar and some new. It was nice seeing old friends and acquaintances from around the state and greeting and meeting new people everywhere I turned. In all, approximately 170 people attended the conference, making it at least one of the largest and "coziest" conferences that we've ever had!! Besides sheer numbers, though, it was a success in that it accomplished what it had been designed to do: to meet the urgent needs of school psychologists and psychometrists this year as they upgrade their job skills to keep up with the new demands of IDEA. Sincere thanks go to all who "made it happen" and all who came!!

The feedback that I received from conference attendees about speaker Diana Browning Wright's presentation was overwhelmingly positive and appreciative, and some evaluations even stated that Ms. Wright was the most dynamic and "realistic" speaker that they had ever heard at a continuing education conference. She, likewise, commented to me afterwards that she "really enjoyed the Oklahoma group!" She went on to say that conference attendees may feel free to copy and share any of the many forms in her handouts to use in their respective school districts, even the ones that she had copyrighted for her nationwide workshop presentations: "Copy absolutely anything and everything. No one is in education for the money, I hope!" Did she ever know Oklahoma!!

As I plan and look forward to our next conference, Spring Conference 1999, I am also enthusiastic bout its topic and its intent to continue to meet the professional needs of our membership. It is designed to be "Part 2" or a continuation of the Fall Conference, picking up where Functional Behavior Assessment ends and starting with and going into more detail over "Behavior Intervention Plans," formerly called Behavior Management Plans. The conference speaker, Dr. Tim Knoster, from Pennsylvania, is one of the editors of the new psych journal being premiered by Pro-Ed in January, 1999: "The Journal of Positive Behavior Intervention."

The Spring Conference in April will also be the much-anticipated "Silver Anniversary" of OSPA, so it will again be a wonderful opportunity to see both familiar faces and new ones when we meet each other, this time in Edmond. It will also be a nice time to look back on and recollect-not just the previous year-but 25 of them in all!!

Until then, I sincerely hope that each of you and your families have a great holiday season and a Happy New Year!!! See you next year!-Best Wishes!

Linda Sanders, OSPA President

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