About School Psychology
- What School Psychologists Do
- School Psychology Infographic
- California Education Code Related to School Psychologists
History of the Association
Founded in 1950 and located in Sacramento, the California Association of School Psychologists (CASP) is the statewide membership organization for school psychologists in California. With a membership more than 2,100, CASP is the largest statewide organization of school psychologists in the nation and the strongest voice for psychologists practicing in California’s schools. In addition to providing liaison with various state boards and commissions, CASP actively represents the profession to legislative audiences, governmental officials, and other policy-making bodies. The Association provides continuing professional development to the membership through regional training programs and an annual convention. Publications of the Association include quarterly newsletter and a quarterly, peer-reviewed research journal.
The CASP membership is comprised of individuals who work in school districts, and in private practice throughout the state, helping school personnel–teachers, administrators, and counselors–support student education and solve related learning, social, and adjustment problems. Working, also, with parents of students, school psychologists link homes, classrooms, and school systems to promote the mental health, learning, and welfare of California’s children and youth.
The Association’s governance structure is reflected in a 15-member Executive Board and an appointed slate of committee chairs and members who, together, complete the Board of Directors. The Executive Board is charged with policy-making for the organization and takes input and recommendations from committee chairs and the executive director in this regard. The work of the Association is carried out through the efforts of staff and volunteers, coordinated on a daily basis by the Executive Director.
Landmark Events in the History of CASP
- 1950 – First Conference of Psychologists and Psychometrists, sponsored by the California Department of Education and College of the Pacific
- 1953 – First California Association of School Psychologists and Psychometrists (CASPP) committees established; inaugural issue of the newsletter
- 1963 – First affiliate established in Orange County
- 1967 – Statewide office established in Burlingame, California
- 1968 – CASPP representatives meet with Ohio School Psychologists Association to discuss a new national school psychologist association; first staff member, Sandra Goff, hired
- 1969 – CASPP Code of Ethics established
- 1971 – NASP/CASPP Joint Conference
- 1975 – Outstanding School Psychologist award established
- 1979 – NASP/CASPP Joint Conference
- 1980 – Sandra Goff award established
- 1983 – CASPP becomes CASP
- 1985 – CASP band, the “Severe Discrepancies” play the Convention
- 1989 – J. Richard Russo, CASP executive director for 14 years retires; Dr. Joe Platow replaces him
- 1991 – CASP Membership reaches 2200
- 1994 – First non-school psychologist executive director hired, Chris Otis
- 1996 – Membership tops 2600
- 1997 – NASP/CASP Partnership Convention
- 1998 – California School Psychology Foundation established
- 1999 – Second non-school psychologist executive director hired, Suzanne Fisher; Certified Advanced Training Certificate Program established in Functional Analysis and Behavior Intervention
- 2001 – Corporate membership program established
- 2003 – Certified Advanced Training Certificate Program in School Crisis Prevention,
Response and Intervention is established. This program was the basis for the National Association of School Psychologists’ PREPaRE program. - 2007 – CASP launches its third Certified Advanced Training Certificate Program, this one
on English Language Learners and Bilingual Assessment. In addition, CASP, in partnership with the Association of California School Administrators, launches the RTI Project, a full range of training and consultation services in the area of RtI training, program development, and program assessment a webinar and live workshop series, for individuals, school districts and county offices of education - 2009 – CASP moves from K Street in Sacramento, to 12th Street, still in Sacramento.
- 2012 – CASP moves annual convention from Spring to Fall, continues with a smaller
conference each spring. - 2013 – Third non-school psychologist executive director hired; Heidi Holmblad.
CASP’s Vision & Mission Statement
Vision Statement
The Vision of the California Association of School Psychologists is to foster the social, emotional and academic wellbeing of all students by collaborating with families, school staff, and the community to ensure that students are educated in schools that support equity, access, and respect for all.
Adopted by the CASP Board of Directors in November 2014.
Mission Statement
The CASP mission is to foster the wellbeing of the children, schools and communities we serve through legislative advocacy, professional development, communications, publications, ethics guidelines, and direct services to members.
Adopted by the CASP Board of Directors, August 2014.
CASP Presidents and Awardees
A list of CASP’s current and past presidents can be found here.
A list of CASP’s awardees can be found here.
Board of Directors 2022-2023
Committee Chairs and Specialists
Position | First | Last | |
---|---|---|---|
Chair, Convention | Evelyn | Miramontez | emiramontez@gmail.com |
Co-Chair, Convention | Catherine | Khajavi | catherinekhajavi83@gmail.com |
Chair, Legislative and Advocacy | Michele | Custer | mcuster@edcoe.org |
Co-Chair, Membership | Sarah | Rodriguez | srodabler@gmail.com |
Co-Chair, Membership | Emily | Bersaglia | emilybersaglia@gmail.com |
Chair, CSP Editorial Board | Michael | Hass | mhass@chapman.edu |
Co-Chair, Public Relations and Communications | Danielle | Christy | dchristy@inclusivelyminded.com | Co-Chair, Public Relations and Communications | Barbara | D’Incau | barbaradincau@me.com |
Chair, Awards/Honors | Maureen | Schroeder | maureen.schroeder209@gmail.com |
Chair, Professional Learning | Terri | Foster | terri@fostertribe.net |
Co-Chair, IDEAL | Katie | Pettersen | katielpettersen@gmail.com |
Co-Specialist, LEP/Private Practice | Wendell | Callahan | wcallahan@sandiego.edu |
Co-Specialist, LEP/Private Practice | Chris | Jones | cjones@dynamicinterventions.net |
Specialist, Assessment | James | Hiramoto | drhiramoto@gmail.com |
Co-Specialist, Assessment | May | Nguyen | may@resilientmindscollective.com |
Co-Chair, Mental Wellness | Tom | Sopp | tsopp@lbschools.net |
Co-Chair, Mental Wellness | Stephanie | Murray | stephanie.murray@wuhsd.org |
Specialist, Ethics/ Professional Standards | Gina | Beaman | gbeaman.casp@gmail.com |
CASP Historian | Christine | Toleson | ctoleson@aol.com |
Student Leadership Co-Chair | Brian | Leung | brian.leung@lmu.edu |
Delegates/Liaisons | |||
NASP Delegate | Maureen | Schroeder | maureen.schroeder209@gmail.com |
SPEC Liaison | Jackie | Allen | jallen@laverne.edu |
Corporate Liaison | Ellen | Balsys-Murphy | ellen.murphy@pearson.com |
CTA State Liaison | Josie Meza | Malik | josiemalik1@gmail.com |
ACSA Liaison | Doug | Siembieda | dsiembieda@sbcglobal.net |
SELPA Liaison | Tracy | Peyton | tpeyton@hartdistrict.org |
CASP Committees
Not quite ready to serve on the Board, but want to get more involved in CASP? Think about joining a committee! Whether you are interested in recruiting members, advocating for your profession, or organizing educational events, we have a committee for you. You’ll meet new people, become part of the inner circle, learn new skills, and get a great new line on your resume.
Annual Reports
Each year CASP will publish an annual report highliting accomplishments, survey results, and other activies.
- 2021-2022 Report
- 2020-2021 Report
- 2019-2020 Report
- 2018-2019 Report
- 2017-2018 Report
- 2016-2017 Report
- 2015-2016 Report
- 2014-2015 Report
CASP Staff
Affiliates
In order to further the purposes of the Association as stated in the Constitution and/or By-Laws, CASP encourages its members to form local associations throughout the state. CASP encourages its members to join the CASP Affiliate whose boundaries include the location of a member’s place of employment.
For more information visit the offical CASP Affiliates Page.
Speakers Bureau
The following individuals are interested in speaking or training on school psychology topics. Many of those listed have presented workshops at a CASP convention. Speakers may be available on a fee or no fee basis. All negotiations are handled by the requesting organization and the speaker. CASP is not responsible for speaker content, or quality of presentation. It is recommended that the soliciting organizations request and evaluate all available background information prior to contracting with a speaker.
If you are interested in adding your name to the CASP Speakers Bureau, please email Member Services. Please include your full name, topic(s), and city that you live in.
CSP Foundation
The California School Psychology Foundation (CSPF) was established in 1998 as a separate, yet supporting, organization of the California Association of School Psychologists.
The Vision of the California School Psychology Foundation is to engage in the purposeful activity to create the scaffolding to build and sustain the image of the SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGIST and increase the visibility of the profession in the field.
Continue to CSP Foundation page for more information about the foundation, awards and scholarships.
Corporate Members
Additional Sites of Interest
National
- Enhancing School Safety: An Operational Guide for Preventing Targeted School Violence
- College Resources for Students with Disabilities: Support, Advocacy and Assistive Technology to Facilitate the Transition to Higher Education
- American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
- The National Child Traumatic Stress Network -terrorism
- The National Child Traumatic Stress Network -media exposure
- National Association of School Psychologists
- US Government Internet Resources
- American Psychological Association
- US Department of Education
- US House of Representatives
- US Senate
State
- Kidsdata.org, a program of the Lucille Packard Foundation, has 2015 ratios for California school psychologists and other pupil personnel service professionals. DataQuest, a program of the California Department of Education, has more updated ratios, but you’ll have to do the math. The site has ratios for the year prior for all PPS employees, for example, the 2016-17 figures are currently available.
- California Department of Education
- California Department of Education – Special Education Division
- California Commission on Teacher Credentialing
- California State Senate
- California Assembly
- California Department of Mental Health
Resources for Grants
Additional Online Resources
- Cerebral Palsy Guide
- Education Week on the Web
- School Psychology Resources Online
- Center for Parent Information and Resources
- Schwab Foundation for Learning
- Do2Learn – Resources for individuals with special needs
- Federal Resource Center for Special Education
- ADDA
- California Elementary Education Network
- International School Psychology Association
- Learning Disabilities Association of California
- Learning Disability Online
- Why Not Just Suspend? 5 Strategies for Conversations About School Discipline – Corwin Press
- Suspensions Won’t Work: Changing Student Behavior For the Long Term – Corwin Press
- P7 Ways to Make Time for the Right School Discipline – Corwin Press
Publications
To view all CASP related publications ranging from journals, newsletters, position papers and more, visit the CASP publications page.
DMCA Notices
For anything related to the Digital Millenium Copyright Act, see CASP’s DMCA Policy.