Remarks from OSPA Awards Committee Co-Chair Melissa Bestgen

The purpose of this award is to recognize one school psychologist each year who provides outstanding service delivery within the practitioner realm.

The 2016 recipient of the School Psychologist of the Year Award is Brian Hill.

Brian Hill earned his Master of Arts in Psychology from Cleveland State University in 1997 and began his career in Akron Public Schools. Since then, Brian has made a name for himself as a crisis expert. Brian is a certified NASP PREPaRE and Crisis Prevention Institute Nonviolent Crisis Intervention trainer, chair of the OSPA crisis committee, OSPA representative to the Ohio disaster response network, and an integral member of Akron Public Schools Crisis intervention team, supporting over 50 schools and helping guide students through the loss of two staff members in the past year. He helps provide resources and support to thousands of professionals, parents, and students across Ohio. In addition to his work in crisis, Brian is a member of Akron Public School’s Positive Behavior Support Team, working tirelessly to improve school culture. He helps plan and implement monthly incentive activities and helps make hundreds of pancakes for the school’s Thanksgiving Breakfast. In the past year, he has created a student council within his specialized school to help the students have experiences similar to those in typical settings, where the students are elected and participate in school decision making and community service projects. Brian is highly regarded by staff of Akron Public Schools and his colleagues in KAASP and OSPA, and is truly too humble regarding the impact he has on his profession.

The Executive Board of the Ohio School Psychologists Association is honored to present Brian Hill with the 2016 School Psychologist of the Year Award.