Summer Institute

Day 1 Sessions

8:30 AM – 10:30 AM

 Putting the Fun Back in Functional: Gamifying Tiered Behavior Supports

• Presenter: Dr. Chris Barclay
• Continuing Education: 2 CE / BCBA CEs
• Core Topics: Gamifying Behavior Supports; Student Outcomes & Staff Well-Being
• Description: Discover how gamified strategies (group-based games, skill challenges, safety streaks, and chance-based rewards) can be applied across Tiers 1, 2, and 3. Learn to build systems that maintain strong behavioral principles and improve sustainability while actively reducing educator burnout.
• NASP Domain of Practice: Domain 6 (Services and Systems-Wide Support to Promote Safe and Supportive Schools)

10:45 AM – 12:45 PM | Mid-Day Options

Assessment and Classwide Interventions with Integrated Neuroaffirming Practices

• Presenter: Dr. Evan Dart (University of South Florida)
• Continuing Education: 2 CE / BCBA CEs
• Core Topics: Tools for Immediate Implementation; Approaches Enhancing Professional Efficacy
• Description: A practical exploration of behavior analysis, multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS), and progress-monitoring tools. Learn how to implement immediate classwide interventions while seamlessly integrating neuroaffirming practices into your existing systems.
• NASP Domain of Practice: Domain 1 (Data-Based Decision Making)

Option 2: Cognitive Control & Executive Functioning: An Affective Neuroscience Approach

• Presenter: Dr. Nick Cutro
• Continuing Education: 2 CE Credits
• Core Topics: Strength-Based Practices; Executive Functioning; Neuroscience
• Description: This session bridges the gap between complex neuroscience and practical school application. Explore cognitive control and executive functioning through the dual lenses of affective neuroscience, interoception, and hemispheric asymmetry.
• NASP Domain of Practice: Domain 3 (Academic, Interoceptive, and Life Skills)

12:45 PM – 1:30 PM | Lunch Break (45 Minutes)

1:30 PM – 3:30 PM | Afternoon Options (Choose One)

Option 1: Kids Who Challenge Us: Increasing Work Engagement and Reducing Oppositional Behavior

• Presenter: Dr. Jessica Minahan
• Continuing Education: 2 CE Credits
• Core Topics: Evidence-Based Strategies; Positive Behavior Interventions
• Description: Replace standard, reactionary disciplinary systems with actionable, trauma-informed skill-building frameworks. This session introduces practical strategies—including elements of the globally recognized “FAIR plan”—to lower student anxiety and naturally decrease avoidant or oppositional behaviors.
• NASP Domain of Practice: Domain 4: (Mental and Behavioral Health Services and Interventions).

Option 2: Understanding Selective Mutism and Educational Strategies

• Presenter: Dr. Jami Furr
• Continuing Education: 2 CE Credits
• Core Topics: Inclusion & Education; Practical Support for Students
• Description: An expert look at cognitive-behavioral treatments for childhood anxiety and selective mutism. Learn how to foster inclusive school environments and deploy targeted behavioral strategies to support students who struggle to speak in educational settings.
• NASP Domain of Practice: Domain 5 (School-Wide Practices to Promote Learning)

Day 2 Sessions | July 10

8:30 AM – 11:30 AM | Morning Session

Well-being, Resilience, and Professional Sustainability & Ethics

• Presenters: Dr. Austin Cole & Dr. Noelle DeLaCruz
• Continuing Education: 3 CE Credits
• Core Topics: Focused Professional Inclusion; Ethical Practice; Systemic Longevity
• Description: A deep dive into maintaining ethical boundaries and personal resilience while operating within demanding school systems. This workshop balances systemic mental health data with practical, humanistic strategies to help practitioners avoid burnout and thrive long-term.
• NASP Domain of Practice:  Domain 10: (Legal, Ethical, and Professional Practice)

11:30 AM – 12:30 PM | Lunch Break (1 Hour)

12:30 PM – 3:30 PM | Afternoon Session

Advocacy Institute: Ripples to Waves — Creating Impact that Grows

• Presenters: Dr. Austin Cole & John Cerra (Education Lobbyist)
• Continuing Education: 3 CE Credits
• Core Topics: Systems & Local Impact; Policy; Public School Advocacy
• Description: Learn how to turn grassroots efforts into structural change. This institute pairs educational equity research with frontline legislative expertise, giving you a technical, bipartisan blueprint for navigating funding formulas, policy design, and local advocacy.
• NASP Domain of Practice:  Domain 10: (Legal, Ethical, and Professional Practice)

Dr. Nicholas M. Cutro, Ed.D., Psy.S., NCSP, is a highly accomplished, Board-Certified School Psychologist and the founder of Attention, Intellectual & Learning Evaluations, LLC, a premier private practice based in downtown Orlando, Florida. With over 16 years of dedicated service in education and mental health, Dr. Cutro specializes in comprehensive psychological, educational, and neurodevelopmental assessments for children, adolescents, college students, and adults. His career is rooted in a deep understanding of the educational ecosystem, having begun his professional journey as an elementary school teacher before serving for years as a school psychologist within the Orange County Public Schools system. This background gives him unique insight into how learning and behavioral differences manifest in the classroom, allowing him to bridge the gap between clinical diagnoses and practical educational interventions. In his private practice, Dr. Cutro focuses on diagnosing complex profiles, including Specific

Learning Disorders (such as Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, and Dyscalculia), ADHD/ADD, and giftedness, while also providing specialized evaluations for blind and visually impaired individuals. Beyond diagnostics, he is a trusted advocate for families, providing expert consultation for Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) and 504 Plan accommodations to ensure students receive critical structural support. A respected leader in his professional community, Dr. Cutro has served as the President of the Orange County Association of School Psychologists and as President-Elect of the Florida Association of School Psychologists (FASP). He holds multiple advanced degrees, including a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) and a Specialist in School Psychology (Psy.S.), is a Licensed School Psychologist in Florida, and holds the prestigious Nationally Certified School Psychologist (NCSP) credential.

Dr. Jessica Minahan, Ph.D., BCBA is a licensed and board-certified behavior analyst (BCBA), special educator, and international consultant specializing in student mental health and classroom behavior intervention. With over 20 years of experience in public school systems, she is an expert on supporting students with anxiety, trauma, and complex emotional needs. Dr. Minahan is the co-author of The Behavior Code: A Practical Guide to Understanding and Teaching the Most Challenging Students and the author of The Behavior Code Companion. Her work focuses on replacing traditional disciplinary systems with practical, research-based skill-building frameworks. Her proprietary “FAIR plan” model is used globally by schools to address anxiety-driven, oppositional, and avoidant behaviors. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Intensive Special Education from Boston University, a dual Master’s degree in Special Education and Elementary Education from Wheelock College, and a Ph.D. in Education with a focus on mental health best practices. An internationally recognized keynote speaker, Dr. Minahan trains educators worldwide in trauma-informed, actionable classroom strategies that reduce student anxiety and improve academic engagement.

Dr. Jami Furr, Ph.D., is a Clinical Assistant Professor and Senior Psychologist in the Mental Health Interventions and Technology Program, and Developer of the Selective Mutism Program at Florida International University Center for Children and Families. She is the President of the Selective Mutism Association and has served on their Board of Directors for the last 3 years. She has expertise in cognitive behavioral treatments of childhood selective mutism and anxiety, and preschool mental health, and serves as a trainer and consultant on the largest PCORI-funded project on anxiety in youth. She fostered the first randomized controlled trial on an intensive group behavioral treatment for youth with selective mutism, recently published in the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology. Her selective mutism program has been featured in the media, including The New York Times. She served as an inaugural Associate Editor for Evidence-Based Practice in Child and Adolescent Mental Health for 3 years. Prior to joining FIU, she served as Clinical Director of the Child Program at the Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders at Boston University, where she launched its Selective Mutism Program. She received her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Temple University, completed her clinical internship in the Child Track at the NYU-Bellevue Clinical Psychology Internship Program and NYU Child Study Center, and finished her training in a NIH-funded Postdoctoral Fellowship at the NYU Child Study Center.

Dr. Austin Cole, Ph.D., NCSP,  is a Nationally Certified School Psychologist (NCSP) and educational researcher dedicated to promoting equitable academic outcomes and psychological well-being for marginalized youth. He earned his Ph.D. and M.A. in School Psychology from the University of South Florida, where his doctoral work focused on utilizing Motivational Interviewing (MI) to foster achievement motivation in Black and Latine middle school students. Dr. Cole’s expertise centers on developing culturally responsive, equity-centered interventions that dismantle systemic and psychological barriers to advanced placement and accelerated curricula.

In addition to his academic research, Dr. Cole is an active leader in the field, serving as the Public Policy and Professional Relations Chair for the Florida Association of School Psychologists (FASP). His professional experience includes contributing to evidence-based practices for diverse learners at the USF RAISE Lab and regularly presenting innovative findings at National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) conventions. As a practitioner in school systems, he applies evidence-based mental health and behavioral interventions to directly help diverse student populations overcome structural barriers, build academic self-efficacy, and thrive.

Dr. Noelle DeLaCruz, Psy.D., is a psychologist specializing in school psychology and holds a Psy.D. in the field. Based in Tampa, FL, Dr. Delacruz offers services to a diverse range of young individuals, including toddlers (ages 1 to 3), children (ages 5 to 10), preteens (ages 10 to 13), and teenagers (ages 13 to 18). Dr. Delacruz focuses on supporting individuals with concerns such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), anxiety, trauma, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Services are offered in English. Dr. Delacruz provides support through individual and group modalities, employing a comprehensive array of therapeutic approaches. These include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), trauma-focused therapy, person-centered therapy, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT), solution-focused brief therapy (SFBT), family systems therapy, attachment-based therapy, culturally sensitive therapy, humanistic therapy, and positive psychology. Additionally, Dr. Delacruz offers psychological testing and evaluation.

John Cerra, a prominent Florida education lobbyist, is co-founder of the Cerra Consulting Group, a premier Tallahassee-based governmental relations firm. With decades of dedicated advocacy experience, Cerra specializes in navigating Florida’s complex legislative and executive branches to shape K-12 public education policy, school finance, and student services. As a strategic partner alongside his brother, Bob Cerra, John represents a diverse portfolio of educational institutions, regional school consortiums, and professional associations. His practice focuses heavily on securing state funding, protecting public school interests, and advising private vendors looking to enter the Florida educational market. Cerra is highly regarded for his deep institutional knowledge of the Florida Legislature. He frequently collaborates with state lawmakers, the Florida Department of Education, and local school boards to advance policies that improve student outcomes and support school personnel. Based in Tallahassee, Florida, Cerra is part of a multi-generational family legacy dedicated to Florida educational advocacy. He is known among peers and policymakers for his bipartisan approach, technical grasp of complex education funding formulas, and commitment to the state’s public school systems.

Regular/Associate Members                $180
Early Career/Retired Members             $145
Student Members                                   $50
Non-Members                                         $300

Note: We are exploring options to host Summer Institute on-demand following the live conference. Stay tuned for information.

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FASP is approved by the Florida Department of Health Division of Medical Quality Assurance to offer CEs toward licensure for continuing education offerings. CEs are available for Licensed School Psychologists and Licensed Psychologists (CE Provider #50-693); and Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage & Family Therapy, and Mental Health Counseling (BAP-174). FASP is approved by the National Association of School Psychologists to offer continuing education for school psychologists. FASP maintains responsibility for the program (NASP Approved Provider #1029). As always, there will be strict adherence to sign-in and sign-out procedures to allow us to maintain our status as CE Providers.

FASP cannot offer in-service points for renewal of Florida certification for Certified School Psychologists or other educational specialists holding a professional certificate issued by the Florida Department of Education (FDOE). However, many school districts have procedures to obtain in-service points toward renewal of FDOE certificates under their master in-service component. Participants should check with their school district’s certification officer to verify eligibility and procedures to earn in-service points for this workshop.

FASP is authorized by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) to offer BCBA/BCaBA continuing education (Provider Number: OP-25-11924).