Colleagues and students; I hope you all will join our school psychology faculty and students in congratulating Dr. Elaine Clark, who has been named by Div. 16 of the American Psychological Association as the 2008 recipient of the Jack Bardon Distinguished Service Award. Formal announcement and presentation of the award will be made at the APA convention in Boston during the Division 16 business meeting. This meeting is scheduled for Saturday, August 16 from 3:00-5:00 pm. Elaine will also deliver an invited Jack Bardon Award Address, to be given at the next annual APA meeting to be held in Toronto, Canada in 2009.

This prestigious award is presented annually in honor of Dr. Jack Bardon, whose professional contributions broadly spanned a conceptual framework for the training, role and definition of school psychology and growth of the profession in consultation and organizational issues (Eidle, Hyman & Meyers, 1997). Dr. Bardon helped bring the profession to maturity during a major expansion period. The Jack Bardon Distinguished Service Award is given to mature professional and academic school psychologists who have continued this important work through voluntary professional service that goes above and beyond the requirements of the position the person holds and who has demonstrated an exceptional program of service across a career that merits special recognition. A sustained program of service to the profession of school psychology throughout one's career is the primary consideration in making the award.

The recipient of the Jack Bardon award is a distinguished figure within the profession with a history of sustained contributions and accomplishments. Award recipients must reflect major leadership in the development, delivery or administration of innovative psychological services or development and implementation of policy leading to psychologically and socially sound preservice and/or CPD training and practice in school psychology; and sound evaluation of such training and service delivery models and policies. Recipients also make sustained professional organization contributions including holding offices and committee memberships in state and national professional organizations such as Division 16 and significant products from those contributions that further the profession of school psychology. Examples include creation of and revisions to policy and practice manuals based on innovative guidance; guiding major policy or legislative initiatives; mentoring of new professionals into organizational contributions; administering dissemination of professional materials through such publication editing or convention programming; and representing psychology to the public and government through service on boards and commissions. The Jack Bardon Distinguished Service Award is to be given for sustained service to the profession across a number of years and not for service in one office or a major task force.

It is fair to say that Elaine has not only participated in all of these activities at some point in her long (and unfinished) career, she has done them well and currently occupies a much deserved position of esteem and influence in the profession. Dr. Clark has clearly demonstrated a track record of contributions worthy of this recognition with numerous professional contributions and examples of leadership at local, state and national levels. We are pleased to join her colleagues across the country in celebrating her work and recognition for her contributions to the profession of school psychology.