Each year, the Association of School Psychologists of Pennsylvania (ASPP) recognizes a professional who exemplifies the role of a school psychologist and demonstrates outstanding commitment to the field. This year, ASPP is excited to announce that the recipient of the 2021 School Psychologist of the Year award is Dr. Nikole Hollins-Sims.
Dr. Nikole Hollins-Sims is currently the Special Advisor on Equity for the Pennsylvania Secretary of Education at The Pennsylvania Department of Education. Dr. Hollins-Sims is an extraordinary school psychologist whose advocacy work is making an impact on social justice and equity across the Commonwealth and nationally.
In the beginning of her career, Dr. Hollins-Sims worked as a school psychologist in the Harrisburg and Susquehanna Township School Districts. After 9 years of practicing as a school psychologist, Dr. Hollins-Sims emerged as a state-level leader in her role as an educational consultant for the Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistant Network (PaTTAN) before becoming the Special Advisor on Equity to the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
Throughout her career, Dr. Hollins-Sims has become a champion for positive behavior supports and enhancing equitable practices in school systems. Dr. Hollins-Sims has worked tirelessly to advocate for systems-level practices that enhance student outcomes, including multi-tiered systems of support and family engagement, with the goal of increasing graduation rates, decreasing drop-out rates, and improving school climate. Throughout all of her professional endeavors, Dr. Hollins-Sims works to address systemic inequities in education. In 2017, she developed the PA Equity Inclusion Toolkit to provide resources and strategies for schools in Pennsylvania to address bias and discrimination. Advancing her efforts to enhance social justice and equity, in 2020, Dr. Hollins-Sims established the Pennsylvania Department of Education‘s Equitable Practices Hub to provide easily accessible resources to school personnel to conduct an equity audit and subsequently action plan for enhanced equitable practices.
Dr. Hollins-Sims is highly regarded throughout the Commonwealth and nationally as an expert and advocate for equity, anti-racism, and culturally-responsive practices. Most recently, Dr. Hollins-Sims was awarded the inaugural Emerging Professional Award for Outstanding Commitment to Anti-Racism in School Psychology by Division 16 of the American Psychological Association. Throughout all of her work, Dr. Hollins-Sims has fought for access and opportunity for all students, and she is an outstanding model of the way in which school psychologists can position themselves to make a meaningful impact on children, families, schools, and communities.
Dr. Hollins-Sims embodies the core of school psychology and school psychological practices. She is an exemplar of school psychology and of the incredible impact that school psychologists can have on school communities. Please join ASPP in sharing Dr. Hollins-Sims‘ incredible achievements and her recognition as PA School Psychologist of the Year.
Congratulations, Dr. Hollins-Sims!!
Explore the PDE Equitable Practices Hub.
Watch a recorded interview with Dr. Hollins-Sims.
June 6, 2020 - ASPP Statement in Support of Social Justice and Anti-Racism
May 29, 2020 - NASP Calls for Action to End Racism and Violence Against People of Color
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