School Climate: # ConnectTheDots Keynote Talk and NASP Update

1. School Climate: #ConnectTheDotsKeynote Talk and NASP Update Todd A. Savage, Ph.D., NCSP President, National Association of School Psychologists Idaho School Psychologist Association October 1, 2015

2. Greetings! • A thrill to be here! • NASP president • UWRF faculty member • Spouse, father, advocate • Deeply grateful

3. School Climate • Beth Doll has characterized school climate as the ‘fourth leg’ of school success • School climate pertains to the social and psychological climate of the school • School climate is integral to academic success and it impacts attendance, motivation, engagement, and commitment

4. Quality of School Climate • Positive School Climate • People in a school are perceived as caring, fair, helpful, well-organized, and safe • Negative School Climate • People in a school are perceived as unwelcoming, unfair, disruptive, and aggressive • Power and privilege affect climate

5. Positive School Climate • Research consistently has reported positive school climates lead to… • Higher academic achievement • Higher test scores • Higher levels of self-esteem and self-efficacy amongst students • Higher levels of self-efficacy and satisfaction amongst faculty and staff members • Higher rates of pursuing post-secondary education opportunities

6. Components of School Climate • School connectedness • Positive behavior supports • Social-emotional learning • Anti-bullying education, including bystander education • Resiliency support (internal & external) • Safe and secure schools • Commitment to diversity and inclusiveness

7. School Connectedness • “The belief by students that adults and peers care about their learning as well as about them as individuals.” (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2009) • Perceptions of connectedness matter

8. Positive Behavior Supports • Data-based decision-making approaches employed to support student and staff behaviors • Application of behaviorally-based, evidence-informed systems approaches to enhance the learning environment • Tiered-approach • Teaching people the cultural capital they will need to succeed

9. Social-Emotional Learning • Knowing oneself • Intrapersonal awareness • Knowing others • Interpersonal awareness • Thinking skills • Interpersonal problem-solving abilities • CASEL (http://www.casel.org/) • A meta-analysis by Payton et al. (2008) illustrated that SEL initiatives accounted for improved student success across the board; academic achievement went up; conduct problems and emotional stress went down

10. Resiliency Support • Fostering internal resiliency • Abilities within a person that allow her/him/hir to rebound, adapt, and achieve social and academic competence despite exposure to sever stress (Henderson & Milstein, 2002) • Fostering external resiliency • Contextual factors that help to protect people in the face of severe stress • Resiliency factors are the flip side of risk factors

11. Safe and Secure Schools • Physical and psychological safety are important factors to consider in creating a positive school climate • Physical safety has to do with the set-up, flow, and ability to monitor school buildings, grounds, and off-campus spaces • The elements of a positive school climate contribute to psychological safety • The goal is to balance physical and psychological safety

12. Anti-Bullying Education • Momentum throughout the past decade • Prevention is key • Education is necessary, including bystander education • Numerous evidence-informed programs are available • http://www.cbsnews.com/news/life-lessons-addressing-school-bullying/

13. Diversity and Inclusiveness • Celebrating diversity and inclusion is important but not sufficient • All levels of the school need to be examined • Must teach to and through the cultural and social lenses students possess • ‘Ism’s’ and other injustices must be addressed • Move beyond tolerance (it’s so 20th Century!)

14. School Psychology and School Climate • School psychologists have unique training that make them key players in the process of creating positive school climates, regardless of the primary role in which they engage • It starts with us connecting with the adults and students in the building

15. NASP Update

16. You Are Central to NASP’s: • Vision that:All children and youth thrive in school, at home, and throughout life. and • Mission to:Empower school psychologists by advancing effective practices to improve students’ learning, behavior, and mental health.

17. Because… What you do matters. What NASP does for you (our members) ultimately benefits children. We want the association, you, and the children we serve to THRIVE

18. Priorities 2015-2016 (and Beyond) • School Mental Health Services (Advancing the role of school psychologists as mental and behavioral health providers) • NASP Practice Model (Expanding implementation of the NASP Practice Model; release of the Implementation Guide) • Shortages in School Psychology (Addressing training and outreach to ensure adequate numbers of school psychologists) • Leadership Development (Developing school psychologists leadership skills at the local, state and national levels)

19. NASP White Paper: School PsychologistsMental and Behavioral Health Role • School psychologists are qualified MBH providers • NASP training and practice standards encompass MBH services • School psychologists are recognized in the ACA and NCLB as qualified providers http://www.nasponline.org/resources/Adolescent-Mental-and-Behavioral-Health-Services.aspx

20. NASP Position Statement: School Violence Prevention • Emphasizes prevention and creating positive school climates • Recognizes more common forms of violence (e.g., bullying and harassment) • Calls for common sense gun safety policies http://www.nasponline.org/about_nasp/positionpapers/schoolviolence.pdf

21. Active Shooter Training Guidance • Delineates risks, multi-level options of training and critical role of MH. • Outlines developmental considerations. • Emphasizes EXTREME caution when doing full-scale drills. • Recognizes local decision-making. http://www.nasponline.org/resources/BP-armed-assailant-drills.aspx

22. http://www.nasponline.org/resources/framework-safe-and-successful-schools.aspxhttp://www.nasponline.org/resources/framework-safe-and-successful-schools.aspx http://www.nasponline.org/resources/Bullying/Bullying_Brief_12.pdf

23. Comprehensive school safety and crisis training. Crisis team and plan development. Interdisciplinary/ interagency collaboration. Emphasis on student mental health. Multiple adaptable resources. Sustainable and affordable. Builds local capacity. PREPaRE School Safety and Crisis Curriculum www.nasponline.org/prepare/index.aspx 23

24. 2016 ConventionFebruary 10-13, 2016New Orleans, LA • School Climate: #ConnectTheDots • More than 1,200 sessions • Great food, music, history and art • Keynote: Janet Mock • Prominent Advocate and Author of Redefining Realness: My Path to Womanhood, Identity, Love & So Much More http://www.nasponline.org/conventions/2016/index.aspx

25. Join the Conversation

26. School Psychology Awareness Week • November 9-13, 2015 • Theme: “Connect the dots and THRIVE!” • Resources and activities to do with staff and students. • Gratitude Works. THRIVE bracelets. • Gratitude Works Program • Possibilities in Action Partners colleague recognition program • Student POWER Award recognition program. www.nasponline.org/communications

27. Best Practices Series • Sold as a set or individually. • Organized around 4 major areas of NASP Practice Model. • Available in print and in electronic form on the NASP Publications App in the Apple and Google app stores.

28. NASP Periodicals: Research to Practice Available on the NASP Publications APP Also access complete issues online at http://www.nasponline.org/publications/periodicals.aspx 28

30. More Member Benefits 153 Podcasts Career Resources Keynote Videos Advocacy Action Center

31. Connect With Colleagues • Social Media • Facebook, Twitter, Linked In, Instagram • Fun, casual • #connectthedots • @nasponline • Online Communities • Join or start a discussion • Share documents, videos, links, • Read and post blogs

32. Join Us! Thank you NASP members! The new membership year started July 1; please renew if you haven’t already do so Not yet a member? Join us! Pay in three installments if you want Get the most of the fabulous resources available to members Stop by the NASP table or visit the NASP website, www.nasponline.org, for information 32