The Laasp Word
THE LAASP WORD
May 17, 2012 / laasponline.orgVolume 1, Number 4Board Members
Breanna Demail, President
Jeannine Topalian, President Elect
Troy Xavier Leonard,
Past President & LAASP District Representative
Heather Miles,
Vice President Programs
Danielle Reyes, Treasurer
Beverly Williams, Corresponding Secretary
Celia Adame, Recording Secretary
Julie Schoenfeld, LAASP Liaison – Honorary Board Member as UTLA Elected School Psychologist Standing Committee Chair
Timothy Taylor, Central/West Representative
Richard Danlag,
East Representative
OPEN POSITION, NPS Representative
Veronica Hernandez,
North Representative
Jenna Zies Lizarraga, South Representative
Committee Chairs
Seble Gebremedhin, CASP Region 4 Representative
Beth Doshay & Christine Toleson, Membership Co-Chairs
Danielle Reyes, Treasurer &
LAASP Word Editor
Fabiana Lamm, Troy Xavier Leonard, Marcella Lightfoot, Chris Ellis, and Shirley Morano - LAASP Word Writers
Jeannine Topalian, President Elect & Outstanding School Psychologist Chairperson
Behshid Nickpay & Christine Toleson, Parliamentarian Co-Chairs
Jan Murdock, Scholarship Chairperson
Scholarship Committee:
Angela Sikkega
Bibliana Bovery
Joyce Carrillo
Carol Chacon Giron
Breanna Demail
Beth Doshay
Sue Dudek
Seble Gebremedhin
Tina Haymond
Troy Xavier Leonard
Irene Ramos
Kathleen Repecka
Gabriel Sandoval
Marian Schiff
Sharen Shapiro
Deborah Showers-Kelly
Linda Von Dulm
Contact Us:
laasponline.org
laasponline@
gmail.com
A copy of the
LAASP WORD is
always available for download at laasponline.org
If you are an Emeritus Member, please consider receiving the LAASP Word and event announcements via email. Please send your contact information and email address to: laasponline@
gmail.com
If you are an Emeritus Member, please consider receiving the LAASP Word and event announcements via email. Please send your contact information and email address to: laasponline@
gmail.com
Contact Us:
laasponline.org
laasponline@
gmail.com
A copy of the
LAASP WORD is
always available for download at laasponline.org
If you are an Emeritus Member, please consider receiving the LAASP Word and event announcements via email. Please send your contact information and email address to: laasponline@
gmail.com
Contact Us:
laasponline.org
laasponline@
gmail.com
A copy of the
LAASP WORD is
always available for download at laasponline.org
If you are an Emeritus Member, please consider receiving the LAASP Word and event announcements via email. Please send your contact information and email address to: laasponline@
gmail.com
Contact Us:
laasponline.org
laasponline@
gmail.com
A copy of the
LAASP WORD is
always available for download at laasponline.org
If you are an Emeritus Member, please consider receiving the LAASP Word and event announcements via email. Please send your contact information and email address to: laasponline@
gmail.com /
President’s Message
As our year comes to a close, LAASP is still working hard to achieve our goals. $1500 will be distributed equally to three LAUSD high school student Memorial Scholarship recipients. On June 9th, ten School Psychologists will be honored with the Outstanding School Psychologist Award and nine School Psychologists will be honored as they embark on retirement. On June 14th, numerous members and non members will be attending the LEP Preparation Workshop to kick start their goals for summer break.
Behind the scenes, LAASP is working hard to represent our members. Each year, the LAASP President is sent to represent LAASP at the CASP Affiliate Leadership Conference and the CASP Convention or Conference. Many LAASP members and leaders were conducting presentations, while others spent hours discussing legislative and LAUSD changes with top leaders in our field. Deep conversation and laughs were shared with various CASP Board members, University Professors, other Affiliate Presidents and more notably Philip Lazarus NASP President, Brandon Gamble CASP President 2012-13 and Christine Toleson CASP President Elect 2012-13. Word has spread like wildfire regarding the RIF’s sent out in 2011 and 2012. The State conversation is no longer about ERMHS or County Mental Health, but about funding. Philip Lazarus used these conversations in his presentation regarding the lack of support for mental health services across the nation. The discussions following the conference continue to investigate California State’s lack of implementation of Federal Sec. 300.154 Methods of ensuring services. Soon to be revised in 2012, Section 300.154 allows public school districts to pay for IEP related medical and mental health services via private and public insurance programs, in the same manner as our prisons, Regional Centers, and disability programs. There continues to be funding disparities for medical and mental health services for disabled youth, in comparison to funding for our prisoners. Arizona School Districts have five years of experience billing for full reimbursement, to pay for the salaries of professionals providing assessments, counseling, all related services including nursing, occupational, physical and speech therapies. State and national leaders are fighting to ensure public educational agencies have access to these funds. Students can be successful when districts can bill in the same manner as private or non profit agencies, ensuring manageable caseloads of fifteen to thirty disabled youth. Change must come to California. Our youth need you more than ever.
LAASP End Of The Year LuncheonPlease join us to honor our Outstanding School Psychologists:
Katie Doyon Carol Drainudel
Anne Kaplan Pablo Lizarrega
Karen Menzie Nicole Mock
Dalia Sedrak Jeannine Topalian
Beverly Williams Sharon Williams
And celebrate the retirement of:
Maxine Alpert Andrew Dungan
Alnita Dunn Liliana Esteva
Anne Kaplan Cheryl Krauss
Judith Lipkin Scarlet Mupo
Linda Von Dulm
June 9, 2012
11:30am – 2:30pm
Café Bizou
91 N. Raymond Ave.
Pasadena, CA 91103
(626)792-9923
RSVP: Heather Miles Rakowski
2844 Yurok Ct
Simi Valley, CA 93063
$35.00, please make checks payable to LAASP
LEP Preparation Workshop
June 14, 2012
4-6pm
$50.00
Applying for the LEP
Test Taking Strategies
Areas covered on the test
Study/Resource Guide
Suggested books, articles, study materials
Expectations for the day of the test
Tips on running a private practice
Jason Thomas is a Licensed Educational Psychologist and LAUSD School Psychologist. Jason provides assessment, counseling, and educational services to private clients not serviced by LAUSD. He would like to pass on his experience preparing for the LEP examination and starting a private practice. Even with a full time job and private practice, Jason manages to have free time. He shares his free time with his wife, friends, dog, watching or playing sports, and visiting family.
Jason Thomas
Licensed Educational Psychologist
Location: UTLA Building - Room TBA - 3303 Wishire Blvd, Los Angeles CA
Corner of Wishire Blvd and Berendo Blvd. Parking is at the UTLA Building, on Berendo. Please sign in with security. Parking validation will be provided at the event.
Register online by credit card at or send a $50 check payable to LAASP. In the memo section of the check, please write LEP Workshop:
Breanna Demail, School Psychologist
Nobel Middle School 9950 Tampa Avenue Northridge, Ca 91324
If mailing a check, please mail before June 5, 2012. After June 5th, Please RSVP to:
THE LAASP MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
The LAASP Scholarship originated in the early 1970’s as an informal program to help students from East LA get into community college. Faye Grassi, a school psychologist, used to make jewelry and she and Lois Nubling would sell it. The proceeds were given to students, to help them attend college. Lois later developed cancer and passed away, so Faye changed the name to the Lois Nubling Scholarship.
A few years later, Ms. Hermadine Boyd, a school psychologist, was killed during a robbery and her friends wanted to do something to honor her. The scholarship was re-named the Nubling –Boyd Scholarship. It was formalized and handled through the district. Later, Paul Henkins died and left LAASP & CASP some funds for scholarships. Since we have so many outstanding psychologists, the name was changed to the LAASP Memorial Scholarship in 1999 (otherwise it would take two pages to fit all the names on the letterhead) Diane Kloosterman was in charge of the scholarship for many years. When she became a coordinator, she asked to step down and I became the Chair.
The funds for the scholarship are provided solely by contributions made by school psychologists. We currently award scholarships of $500 to the winners. Because of the turbulent economic times we have been experiencing and continue to experience, donations have diminished substantially, so we are only able to select three winners this year.
This year, I am advocating that the scholarship winners will be able to participate in the psychologists’ respective units’ team building meeting at the end of the year. You will be able to see and hear about your local recipient first hand. Many of the students have faced significant adversity in their short lives and emerged more determined and resolved to be successful in their endeavors. The award of $500 doesn’t go too far considering the cost of college these days, but it does make a difference.
Jan Murdock,
LAASP Memorial Scholarship Chair
LAASP MEMORIAL SCHOLARHSIP WINNERS
Liliana Resendez from Marshall H.S. – Liliana has been accepted to Mount St. Mary’s and plans to become a special education teacher at the elementary level. Liliana comes from a family of four and the family is supported by her father, who is a landscaper. She writes, “Coming from a humble family that has instilled values of compassion, generosity and service to others, it was natural that I was drawn to the field of education.” She has volunteered at her former elementary school and day care centers. She was also teaching Sunday School at church. She had the opportunity to do an internship through a child development class she completed.
Jessica Hernandez from North Hollywood H.S. – Jessica is applying to L.A. Valley College and wants to be a special education teacher. Her inspiration was her second grade teacher. She was always there and willing to help her every time she needed it. She dreamed of becoming like her. Jessica has had the opportunity to tutor special education students at Lankershim Elementary four times a week. According to her reference letters, she was described as being “patient and kind.”
Danielle M. Herrera from San Pedro H.S. – Danielle has been accepted to UCSD, Cal Poly Pomona, SF State and Long Beach State. She wants to pursue a career as a Psychologist or Social Worker. Danielle wants to “positively change the lives of others.” One letter of recommendation stated that Danielle started a Vocabulary Club at her school and she was an “inspired leader.” The letter also noted that it was “remarkable how she has managed to transcend the (challenging) circumstances (of her life) and not only survive, but, thrive, both academically and socially.”
LEP/CASP News
Three new sessions of the Alcohol and Other Chemical Substance Dependency Trainings and one session of the Law and Ethics workshops - all developed for LEPs - are now available.
The alcohol workshops will be held June 15 and 16 in Stockton, and July 5 and 6, and August 27 and 28 in San Jose. All three of these two day, 15-hour workshops will be instructed by Howie Vann, a consultant to alcohol/drug treatment facilities and educational institutions where he does in-service training on addictions and their effects on the family systems.
The three-hour Law and Ethics workshop will be held in conjunction with the three-hour Legally Defensible Practices in Assessment workshop. Combined they fulfill the LEP renewal requirement for six hours of Law and Ethics. These workshops will be held in Riverside on June 1, with attorney Carl B. Corbin as the instructor. To register go to the CASP website at and click on the LEP tab. Check back regularly; new sessions of these workshops, as well as the Child Abuse Assessment workshop, are to be added in the coming weeks.
A Message from the NEW CASP President Elect
Dear Colleagues and Friends,
It is an honor for me to announce that an LAUSD school psychologist has been elected to the California Association of School Psychologists’ executive board as president-elect for the 2012-2013 school year. That person is your loyal servant, me! I will confront many challenges in the coming year particularly as we all cope with the egregious issuing of RIF notices to school psychologists and the inequality of our pay cuts. I have already contacted CASP and NASP about our plight and I will do my best to be an effective steward of our profession. During these busy, dire times please take care of yourself and be assured that CASP is advocating in Sacramento for legislation to meet the needs of our students.
Best Wishes,
Christine Toleson ()
REMEBERING OUR EMERITUS MEMBERS
MARCELLA TRAMMELL
A recent telephone call brought the sad news that emeritus member Marcella Trammell had passed away. She will be remembered by many as a hard worker and someone willing to volunteer in LAASP and CASP activities.
Marcella was born in Oklahoma and grew up in Kansas City, Kansas. She moved to Los Angeles with her cousin to attend college. She graduated from Los Angeles State College with a B.A. degree in Elementary Education and spent fifteen years working in LAUSD as a teacher. During that time she completed her course work to become a school psychologist. She spent thirty-five years in that position. During her final years in the district she served as the coordinating Senior School Psychologist for the Los Angeles Unified District Gifted Program.
She leaves her husband, two daughters, a son-in-law, two grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren and many extended family members. She will be remembered by many in psych services who had the opportunity to work with her and who appreciated her strong work ethic and willingness to be of service to her colleagues when needed.
JUDY RANSDELL
Judy passed away on Tuesday, February 20th. She had suffered with brain cancer for several years. She was a graduate of San Fernando State College where she received her teaching credential and a Master’s degree in education. She began her long professional career in the Los Angeles Unified School District in 1962 as a teacher. During the next few years as she taught school she worked to complete her classes and eventually became a school psychologist.
Judy became involved with LAASP and CASP almost from the start of her transfer into psych services. She was treasurer of LAPPSC a group that served to unite various professional organizations in LAUSD and on the LAASP Board as a liaison from that group. She was Region IV Representative on the CASP Board and served on the LAASP Board as the liaison to CASP. In 1985 she served as chairperson for the CASP Convention that was held at the Biltmore Hotel. After that she served as the liaison for future CASP convention committees. She became the Site Selection Chair for Southern California for future CASP conventions. She worked with Loeb Aronin to develop a Crisis Intervention committee for CASP. She helped to write the procedural guides for both CASP and LAASP. She became a senior psychologist and later a specialist in the Gifted/Talented Program. She was professionally knowledgeable and willing to spend a lot of time working for the profession of school psychology.
She began volunteering in her community even before she retired in 2001. She had become a puppy raiser and breeder dog owner for Guide Dogs of America. It was not unusual to visit her in her office and see a play pen next to her desk with a puppy inside. Later, after she retired, she became a dog therapy volunteer at Northridge Hospital with her last dog, Chloe.
A memorial service was held on March 17th at the Wayfarers Chapel in Palos Verdes. Judy was held in high esteem by her colleagues and her family and will be missed by all that knew her.
SAVE THE DATES: Details at
LAASP General Meeting - Central West - Location Change
23 May 2012 3:30 PM
• Cienega Elementary School - 2611 South Orange Drive Los Angeles Ca
LAASP Award Luncheon
09 Jun 2012 11:30 AM
• Cafe Bizou - 91 N. Raymond Ave. Pasadena CA 91103
LEP Preparation Workshop
14 Jun 2012 4:00 PM
• UTLA Building Room TBA - 3303 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA
Please consider becoming more involved in LAASP. There is always a need to increase the presence of our organization among fellow School Psychologists and within the education community in general.
Thank you to all those who contributed to this edition of the LAASP WORD!
If you have any suggestions please contact Danielle Reyes, LAASP WORD Editor.