A panel of school psychologists who are leaders in the fields will be available to answer questions regarding special education policies and procedures. Participants will have the opportunity to submit questions in advance for the panel. Presenters will dispel common myths and misconceptions about special education procedures, as well as provide guidance and resources for psychologists to use when they are unsure of processes in various situations. Registrants are encouraged to submit questions in advance related to such topics as evaluation, PWNs, IEPs, and procedures for less common situations. Domain 10: Legal, Ethical, and Professional Practice
Speakers:
Claudia Weiss: Claudia Weiss, NCSP, earned her educational specialist degree in School Psychology at Florida State University in Tallahassee, FL. She worked in Florida, New Hampshire, and Tennessee before moving to Arizona in 2003. Claudia has worked in the Agua Fria Union High School District for fifteen years. A Past-President of AASP, Ms. Weiss currently serves as AASP’s Secretary. She has also served as AASP’s Communications Chairperson, Continuing Professional Development Chairperson, and Intervention Editor. Claudia has presented at NASP, AASP, Arizona Department of Education’s Directors’ Institute, ADE’s Early Childhood Conference, Arizona’s Transition Conference, ADE’s IDEA Conference, and AZCEC/AZCASE Conference. Ms. Weiss was AASP’s liaison with the agencies responsible for Arizona’s Developmental Delay legislation and was a member of the ADE Rules SLD Sub-Committee. Claudia served on ADE’s Dyslexia Handbook Committee and advocated for revisions to the Qualified Examiners List to ensure all school psychologists are considered qualified examiners for ADHD/OHI. She was Arizona’s School Psychologist of the Year in 2018 and a nominee for National School Psychologist of the Year.
John Balles, PhD, NCSP is currently the Lead Psychologist in Roosevelt School District. Having been a school psychologist for 15 years, he has served in many roles including Clinical Coordinator, Assistant Director of ESS, and school psychologist. In his current role, he supervises a team of 13 psychologists, coordinates the RSD internship program, oversees vouchers, private day placements, staffing and administrative tasks. Recently, he has become the district point person for Best Interest Determination Meetings.
Leigh Ives is a Nationally Certified School Psychologist who has been the Lead School Psychologist in the Dysart Unified School District for the past 16 years and been in practice the last 19 years. She obtained her Educational Specialist degree from the University of Northern Colorado. Prior to becoming a school psychologist, she worked in a residential treatment center for students with emotional disabilities. Her passions in school psychology are in early childhood, suicide prevention, and professional mentorship. When she is not supporting students, families, school psychologists, and educators, her personal time is divided between entertaining family and friends, reading, hiking, and traveling.