WASHINGTON DC (April 9, 2019) — Representative Dave Loebsack again introduced a resolution in the House of Representatives that would designate the week of April 8-12, 2019 as National Specialized Instructional Support Personnel (SISP) Appreciation Week. Loebsack’s bipartisan resolution honors the critical role that non-academic support staff play in education.
SISP includes positions such as school counselors, school nurses, psychologists, school psychologists, social workers, school social workers, occupational therapists, physical therapists, art therapists, dance/movement therapists, music therapists, speech-language pathologists, and audiologists.
“The role support staff play in schools help students access critical services in order to better address their non-academic needs,” said Rep Loebsack. “As someone who grew up in poverty, I know firsthand how important outside factors can contribute to the success of the student in the classroom. The Specialized Instructional Support Personnel in our schools help teachers and administrators focus on providing education in the classroom, while they provide assistance to students and help them achieve outside of the classroom. I applaud the hard work of support staff in Iowa and across the nation.”
“Specialized instructional support personnel provide support and school-based prevention and intervention services to address barriers to educational success, ensure positive conditions for learning, and help all students achieve and thrive in school and in life. Just as we need high-quality teachers and principals in all of our nation’s schools — we need access to the full complement of SISP to help teachers, administrations, parents, and families ensure that all students are successful,” said National Alliance of Specialized Instructional Support Personnel (NASISP) Co-chairs Abe Saffer MPM, from the American Occupational Therapy Association, and Kelly Vaillancourt Strobach PhD/NCSP from the National Association of School Psychologists.
Across the country, more than one million SISP work in schools, providing school-based prevention and early-intervention services to reduce academic, behavioral, and social-emotional barriers to learning. As part of a multidisciplinary education team, SISP consult and collaborate with teachers, administrators, and parents to ensure positive learning conditions for all students.
