SFA school psychology doctoral students, professors present research at national conference

Stephen F. Austin State University's Dr. Daniel McCleary, assistant professor of human services, and Juan Chen, an SFA doctoral student from Shanghai, China, presented a poster at the National Association of School Psychologists Conference in San Antonio. The study was titled "Building math fact fluency in China through adapted cover-copy-compare."

NACOGDOCHES, Texas - Stephen F. Austin State University students and faculty members in the James I. Perkins College of Education's Department of Human Services recently presented research at the National Association of School Psychologists Conference in San Antonio.

During the four-day conference, participants attended workshops and events, including featured, practitioner conversations and interest group networking sessions, mini-skills, papers, symposiums and poster presentations, and a keynote address.

"This conference is essential to ensuring students develop as future school psychologists," said Dr. Nina Ellis-Hervey, director of SFA's School Psychology Assessment Center and assistant professor. "Students gain the opportunity to engage in professional discussions about their research and work with one another and their professors. They also network with other graduate-level students and professionals in the field from across the United States."

SFA doctoral student Roselia Juan was a first-time participant and said the experience was memorable.

"This conference provides an opportunity to listen to inspirational stories and testimonies," Juan said. "It highlighted the importance of working with integrity and learning up-to-date techniques about how to appropriately execute our profession."

Juan presented a poster detailing the role of bias in school discipline with Juan Chen, an SFA doctoral student in school psychology from Shanghai, China. Their research showcased results that indicated significant differences in the preferred method of disciplinary actions among teacher candidates upon diverse students. The study's results spotlighted the importance of diversity and cultural education in teacher-preparation programs.

"During our poster presentation, we had several people from all across the nation stop and ask questions about our study," Juan said. "The experience was humbling and exciting, as we had several people comment positively on our research."

Additionally, Dr. Daniel McCleary, SFA assistant professor of human services, and Chen presented a poster titled "Building math fact fluency in China through adapted cover-copy-compare."

"This research is about how adapted cover-copy-compare procedures helped a Chinese student in Shanghai improve her math fluency," Chen said.

SFA doctoral student Ashley Doss and McCleary presented a study titled "Implications of the Impact of Parent Perceptions on Military Children," which was based on Doss' thesis. This presentation informed practitioners how parental perceptions of the military lifestyle may affect adolescents.

"This is a great conference to attend for graduate students, because many of the sessions and outings are planned and designed to assist graduate students in networking," Doss said.

Ellis-Hervey, Doss and DeShae Davis, also an SFA doctoral student, conducted a mini-skills workshop where they discussed the development of school psychology assessment centers.

Ellis-Hervey also presented a mini-skills workshop with McCleary titled "How to design, create and implement four math fluency interventions."

The NASP is a professional association representing more than 25,000 school psychologists, graduate students and related professionals throughout the U.S. and 25 other countries. The world's largest organization of school psychologists, NASP works to advance effective practices to improve students' learning, behavior and mental health.

Stephen F. Austin State University's Dr. Daniel McCleary, assistant professor of human services, and Ashley Doss, an SFA doctoral student, presented a study titled "Implications of the Impact of Parent Perceptions on Military Children" at the National Association of School Psychologists Conference in San Antonio. Several additional SFA faculty members and students also attended and presented research during the conference.