For more information, please click on the link!! The nomination form is under the Documents (also on the homepage, left side).
AWARD HISTORY
Beginning in 2019, following the retirement of Dr. Opperman, the first Executive Director of the Ohio Association of Pupil Services Administrators (OAPSA), OAPSA’s Executive Board established The Dr. John Opperman Outstanding Contribution Award to annually recognize a member of OAPSA who had contributed greatly to the profession.
PURPOSE OF AWARD
Pupil Services Administrators are not accustomed to receiving praise and recognition. In fact, they usually operate in the shadows until something goes awry. Each of us now has an opportunity to nominate one of our colleagues for some well-deserved recognition.
DETAILS OF AWARD
Beginning in 2019, every year at our May Conference we will present an OASPA member with The Dr. John Opperman Outstanding Contribution Award. The Dr. John Opperman Outstanding Contribution Award is presented to an administrator who meets the following criteria: 1. A highly successful school administrator who is commonly acknowledged in his/her district or agency and beyond as such; 2. Has made a significant contribution to the Ohio Association of Pupil Services Administrators; 3. Has made a significant contribution to improving pupil services work in his/her district/agency and/or beyond; 4. Who is a) actively involved in school pupil service administration, b) a former school pupil services administrator who has taken another position in education, or c) a retired school pupil services administrator. All of us know several hard-working, unsung heroes working in the Pupil Services/Special Education trenches. Please consider nominating one of these deserving people. To nominate an individual, please complete the attached nomination form and return as directed by March 15 of this year.
PROFILE OF DR. OPPERMAN
Dr. Opperman received his PhD in Special Education Administration as well as his MBA in General Management from Case Western Reserve University. He received his MEd in Special Education from Kent State University and his BS in Education of Hearing Impaired from Syracuse University. During his professional career, John was a teacher and held various Special Education/Student Services positions in three different school districts as well as Mid-Ohio Educational Service Center. John also served as the Executive Director at Cleveland Hearing and Speech Center and was Owner/Director of Sylvan Learning Center in Independence Ohio.
Offices Held by Dr. Opperman
Dr. Opperman was elected to one or more positions, including president, vice-president, treasurer, secretary, or executive committee member in the following organizations: • Ohio Association of Pupil Services Administrators – OAPSA (state) • National Association of Pupil Services Administrators – NAPSA (national) • Ohio Coalition for the Education of Children with Disabilities – OCECD (state) • Council of Administrators of Special Education – CASE (state) • Council for Exceptional Children - CEC (local, state, national) • National Association of Special Education Technology (national) • Association for Children with Learning Disabilities (local) • Ohio Council of Speech and Hearing Executives (state)
Advisory Boards on which Dr. Opperman Served
Dr. Opperman served on the following advisory boards or committees: • Medina Creative Housing Board (homes for individuals with disabilities) • Ohio Behavior Management Plan Task Force • Ohio Special Education Advisory Committee • Regional Career Planning Advisory Council • Positive Education Program • Association for Children with Learning Disabilities • Comprehensive Services for the Adult Deaf • Developmental Learning Materials (DLM) • National Professional Advisory Board • Ohio Bell / Ameritech - Statewide Consumer Advisory Panel Contribution to OAPSA by Dr. Opperman Dr. Opperman was instrumental in establishing the system of distributing important email messages to deliver breaking news and timely updates to OAPSA members. John served as Secretary beginning in 1996 and then moved up the ranks to also serve as President Elect, President, and Past President for OAPSA. During his time as secretary for OAPSA, he started sending email communications to members to help ensure members were up to date with the latest information. Members appreciated his email communications so much that he continued sending them as he moved through the other officer positions and when he finished his five-year commitment on the Executive Board, OAPSA created an officer position called Communications Officer so John could continue to send email updates to OAPSA members. John served on the OAPSA Executive Board from 1996 – 2013 and then served as the first OAPSA Executive Director from 2013-2018. John is known for his professionalism, his warmth, his dedication to improving special education services for students with disabilities, and his ability to explain complex situations in simple, easy to understand ways.