the early history of gasp

In 1965, Herman Sorkey came to the University of Georgia to be the Coordinator and Director of Professional Training for the Experienced Teacher Fellowship Program. Under the leadership of Herman Sorkey and E. Paul Torrance, the first institute was held during the 1965-1966 academic year. 

This program was developed in response to the expressed needs of Georgia School Systems (especially those in metropolitan Atlanta) and at the request of the Georgia State Department for persons trained in School Psychology.

The program was to promote development of school psychologist competencies in individual testing, psychodiagnosis, interviewing, and consultation. The program was to be rooted deeply in the foundational areas of learning, personality, human development, group dynamics, measurement, statistics, and research methods to enable skills in those trained to cope and develop creative solutions for the unique problems which school psychologists handle.

As an outgrowth of this program, participants and others across the state felt the need to establish a professional organization in Georgia. A temporary Executive Board was elected as a Constitution Committee. 

This program met for the last time during the 1966-1967 academic year. The first annual Georgia School Psychological Services Association meeting was held on May 8, 1970 in conjunction with the Spring School Psychology In-Service Workshop sponsored by the Georgia State DOE. The GSPSA constitution was adopted at the first business meeting. At that time, dues for 1970-1971 were $10 for professionals and $5 for affiliates and students!

first executive board

Jim Parker

Reed Richards

Nancy Bonney

Midge Bower

Richard Kicklighter

Julia Wimberly

gasp past presidents