NASP Elections–Officer Candidate Biographies
President Elect - Kathleen Minke
What are your professional and personal qualifications and experiences that make you a strong candidate for the position of President Elect?
The NASP president should know the profession from a variety of vantage points and be current on issues facing the profession. I was a practitioner in K-12 schools (Virginia) and in non-traditional settings, including a birth-to-three program (Indiana) and a hospital setting (Maryland). Currently, I am a trainer at the University of Delaware. I supervise students’ practica, teach counseling and family-school collaboration classes, and work with state and local leaders in our Positive Behavior Supports and Response to Intervention programs. I have contributed chapters to Best Practices and co-edited three NASP books, including the two most recent editions of Children’s Needs. Each of these professional experiences has enriched my understanding of the challenges and rewards of school psychology.
The president should understand how NASP as an organization works. My volunteer leadership positions include two terms as Delaware’s delegate and chair of the Professional Development work group, where with colleagues I initiated the Speaker’s Bureau and developed the preliminary proposal for the Approved Provider Process. I served on convention committee as coordinator of poster sessions, initiating the process of thematic poster strands. Later, I became co-chair for program, responsible for coordinating proposal reviews. I developed our online review process, a more cost-effective method than past practice. I was convention chair for the Anaheim, New York, and New Orleans conventions. I have consulted frequently with the Executive Council on budget and policy matters. These experiences have helped me to understand critical operational aspects of NASP and develop a collaborative management style essential to helping others reach their professional goals.
Finally, the NASP president should model balance between professional and personal pursuits. I am active in the Baltimore Blues Society and enjoy live music, photography, and scuba diving. I live with my wonderful husband of 19 years and two large, marginally well-behaved dogs.
President Elect - Don Blagg
What are your professional and personal qualifications and experiences that make you a strong candidate for the position of President Elect?
My thirty years of experience as a practitioner, administrator and trainer in School Psychology in three regions of the country uniquely qualify me to represent the broad interests of the NASP membership as President-Elect. I have been a practicing school psychologist in Indiana, Georgia and Nevada. In recognition of my leadership in the area of continuing professional development, I was selected as School Psychologist of the Year in Georgia. I personally organized three professional development workshops that were the foundation for NASP’s summer institutes.
In addition, I have served as the President of the Georgia and Nevada state school psychology associations. My diverse leadership experiences with both state and national associations provide a solid foundation for assuming the NASP presidency. I was elected as delegate from the Southeast and Western regions. For two years I oversaw all fiscal operations of the Association during my term as NASP Treasurer, ensuring that resources were directed toward priority goals while our investments and revenue sources remained healthy.
My positions on the NASP Executive Council (Western and Southeastern Regional Representative) provided invaluable experience and insights as I collaborated with officers, our executive director and other staff to move the association forward and be of service to members. I am someone who can be counted on to come up with solutions, resolve difference and meet deadlines. I was appointed by ten consecutive NASP Presidents to co-chair initiatives including Continuing Professional Development, convention site selection, and orchestrating sponsorships and exhibits at NASP conventions.
My experiences, working knowledge of NASP, understanding of issues across regions, and leadership ability will be assets as I work on your behalf to lead our association. I look forward to collaborating with NASP members as we create our future and champion our mission for children.