Weekend Roundup: Breaking Invisibility: The Power of Black Female Leadership at NASP 2025

February 28, 2025 AMBER SESSOMS

Hey, Collective,

This past week, I had the honor of attending the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) Annual Convention and National Leadership Summit in Seattle, Washington. Even though I have been a school psychologist for nearly 17 years—practicing for 13—this was my first time presenting at our national conference. And let me tell you, it felt like a homecoming.

In a profession where Black school psychologists are often underrepresented, undervalued, and made to feel invisible, this convention was a space where our experiences were not only acknowledged but centered. The sessions that spoke to our lived realities were healing in ways that are hard to put into words—a reminder that we don’t just exist on the margins; we are shaping the field in powerful ways.

And beyond the sessions, it was the Black women and men in attendance who made this experience unforgettable. Thursday night, we formed a circle—not just physically, but emotionally and spiritually. I wish I had captured a picture of us, but the felt sense of kinship we shared is something that will stay with me long after this conference. That moment, that sisterhood and brotherhood, has given me a new sense of fortitude for the days ahead.

I can’t describe how healing it felt to be in a space where my lived experiences were reflected, affirmed, and prioritized. In a field where we often fight to make our students visible while struggling with our own invisibility, these moments are more than professional development—they are a form of collective restoration.

I am also deeply grateful for the NASP board members and aspiring allies who attended—not just as spectators, but as engaged participants. They didn’t just listen; they echoed our call to action and recommitted to amplifying our voices, our work, and ensuring that equity and inclusion for Black school psychologists becomes foundational to NASP’s mission in the years to come. This is what social justice looks like when we get our own house in order.

“Social justice is both a process and a goal that requires action. School psychologists work to ensure the protection of the educational rights, opportunities, and well-being of all children, especially those whose voices have been muted, identities obscured, or needs ignored. Social justice requires promoting nondiscriminatory practices and the empowerment of families and communities. School psychologists enact social justice through culturally responsive professional practice and advocacy to create schools, communities, and systems that ensure equity and fairness for all children and youth.” —NASP Board of Directors (adopted April 2017)

And now? I’m jet-lagged and sore. I took a redeye out of Seattle last night, spent a total of 10 hours traveling, and I’m literally falling asleep as I type. But I wouldn’t trade this experience for anything.

The Power of Discovery – Finding Ourselves in the Work

Discovery is about recognizing the deeper truths shaping our profession and reality. At NASP, this meant confronting the invisibility of Black female school psychologist leaders while fighting to combat the invisibility of the students we serve. We cannot advocate for social justice while ignoring the erasure happening within our own profession. The paradox is clear—we are both the advocates and the overlooked.

I was honored to participate in three critical sessions:

With fellow presenters and contributors (L-R): Tamara Starling, PhD; Aleah M. Hayes, MS; Nikki T. Sutton, PsyD; Celeste M. Malone, PhD; and Erin Harper, PhD

Miniskills Session: "Resilience and Suicide Prevention: Supporting Black Youth in Schools"

Addressed the disproportionate impact of mental health challenges and suicide among Black youth
Explored protective factors and culturally responsive frameworks that foster resilience
Provided practical strategies for educators and school psychologists to create inclusive, affirming environments that prioritize Black youth's mental wellness

With fellow presenters (L-R): Nikki T. Sutton, PsyD; Tamara Starling, PhD; Traviana M. Kazee, MS; Carleta A. Joseph, MS; Celeste M. Malone, PhD; Aleah M. Hayes, MS; Erin Harper, PhD; Erika Wood, PsyD; and April Turner, PhD

Symposium: "Leadership From the Margins: Stories of Black Female School Psychologists"

Examined how race, gender, and other sociocultural identities influence leadership
Discussed barriers and facilitators for Black women in leadership roles within school psychology
Offered strategies for creating inclusive, affirming, and critically conscious organizational climates

Meeting: African Diaspora Subcommittee Meeting

Focused on building community among Black school psychologists and addressing systemic barriers
Included a healing meditation and World Café-style conversation about our shared experiences and aspirations for collaborative work
Highlighted initiatives like the Exposure Project, research on Black Youth Mental Health, and strategies for supporting Black women in leadership

“In the words of Audre Lorde (1978), Black women have been writing a litany for survival for centuries. Black women’s existence is an act of resistance—a form of embodied activism that develops across the life span.” (Leath et al., 2022, p. 393)

Curiosity Questions for Reflection:

Where do I see invisibility operating in my field or community?
How can I make space for my truth to be seen and honored?
What narratives must be rewritten to ensure that Black professionals and students are not just present, but valued?

The Power of Discernment – Centering Our Voices, Not Just Our Labor

Discernment calls us to ask: Are we being amplified, or just extracted from? While the presence of Black practitioners at NASP was life-giving, it was powerful to have NASP board members and aspiring allies present at our sessions. Their presence signaled a shift from passive acknowledgment to active engagement. But presence alone is not enough. True change happens when our ideas are not just taken, but credited and implemented with us at the table. #CiteBlackWomen

This is critical because representation alone isn’t enough. Are our voices being amplified, or just our labor? Are we being recognized for the depth of our expertise, or only when it’s convenient?

Curiosity Questions for Reflection:

How do institutions acknowledge the contributions of Black professionals?
What does it look like when inclusion moves beyond optics and into true collaboration?
How can I ensure my labor isn’t just valued and consumed—but that my insights and leadership shape the system itself?

The Power of Determination – Building Beyond the Moment

Determination means turning visibility into lasting transformation by being Catalysts in Action. This NASP convention showed that Black school psychologists are not just surviving in this field—we are leading. But leadership isn’t just about holding titles; it’s about reshaping narratives, challenging systemic barriers, and making sure our impact is felt long after we leave the room.

We know what happens when institutions refuse to listen. We also know what’s possible when we claim our own power and demand systemic change. The systems we are up against were not built overnight, and neither will the changes we seek be immediate. But every conversation, every commitment, and every room where we refuse to be erased moves us closer to justice. The path forward is clear: We must keep pushing, keep organizing, and keep showing up.

If we want to create lasting impact, we must:

Ensure that Black professionals in school psychology and education are recognized not just as laborers, but as leaders
Push for structural changes that affirm our presence and expertise year-round, not just in moments of crisis or diversity initiatives
Hold organizations accountable for turning performative allyship into tangible action

Curiosity Questions for Reflection:

What structures need to change so that diversity and social justice are not just a moment, but a movement?
How do I ensure my leadership leads to collective liberation?
What role can I play in making sure institutions don’t just listen—but act?

Closing Reflection: The Future is Ours to Shape

“We might use our position at the bottom, however, to make a clear leap into revolutionary action. If Black women were free, it would mean that everyone else would have to be free since our freedom would necessitate the destruction of all the systems of oppression.” —Combahee River Collective Statement (1977)

This conference was a reminder that we are not alone. The power of being in a room full of Black school psychologists—sharing, strategizing, and affirming each other—is something I will carry with me long after this convention.

To the Black school psychologists out there: your work matters. Your leadership matters. And we are just getting started. I see you and I love you.

In solidarity, action, and love,

Amber

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