Brandon E Gamble

• From 1998 till 2007 I served middle and high school students as a school psychologist in Long Beach Unified School District
• In 2007 I was humbled and honored because the California Association of School Psychologists gave me the nomination for the National Association of School Psychologists' "School Psychologist of the Year Award"
• I have served the California Association of School Psychologists' executive board, since the fall of 2008, as the Cultural Linguistic Diversity (CLD) specialist
• I enjoy spending time with my family, surfing, practicing Chikara Puma Martial Arts, and playing the blues/gospel guitar (in that order)
  
• My favorite quote is,"Open your eyes, look within, are you satisfied with the life you're livin'?" -- Bob Marley

My research interest include but are not limited to disproportionality of minority students in special education placements, social capital networks of program leaders, access of all students to high quality instruction and student support services, and the empowerment of oppressed people in education.

I am available for presentations that include but are not limited to Response to Intervention, Cultural Competence (e.g. consultation, crisis response, data analysis etc.), Solution Focused Counseling, Organizational Change (e.g. from traditional assessment to RtI), "Boys at their Best" etc...

The way I provide consultation to a district is to: 1) help the leadership identify key areas for discussion (i.e. not cookie cutters), 2) present on a topic and gather data from the audience about their readiness for change, 3) then collaborate with the leadership about the next steps to take toward change based on data and information.  I use a gap analysis (Clark & Estes, 2002) or improvement cycle model (Sprick, 2003; Siembieda, 2008) as the guide.  Measurable, Observable, and "Do-Able" change is what i strive for.   

Publications

(In Press).  Obama the Tip of the Ice Berg: On the Depth of Empowerment, Social Capital, and African Community Socialization.  Psych Discourse: A publication of the Association of Black Psychologists. December Issue.

 (Pending).  Speak Out!  LGBTQ School Psychologists’ Experiences in California Schools.  CASP Today: A publication of the California Association of School Psychologists. Winter 2009.  

 (August 2007). Social capital networks of institutional agents and the empowerment of African American youth. (Doctoral dissertation, University of Sourthern California, 2007). 

Co-Authored with Powers, K. (in press September, 2007). Authentic assessment. In E. M. Anderman & L. Anderman (EDs.) Psychology of classroom learning: An Encyclopedia. Farmington Hills, MI: The Gale Group.

Presentations Higher Education & Professional Conferences

Co Presented with Donaldson,D. & Maccow, G. (February, 2008).  Risk and Resiliency: What you can do in your schools.  Presentation at the annual conference of the National Association of School Psychologist, New Orleans, LA. 

Co Presented with Sidhwa, V. & Hagans, K. (February, 2008).  Trends in Access to the General Education Curriculum from 1990-2005.  Presentation at the annual conference of the National Association of School Psychologist, New Orleans, LA.

Co Presented with Dunn, A. (November 2006). Disproportionate Representation of Minorities In Special And Gifted Education: The Last Battle Front In The Civil Rights Movement. Paper Presentation at the California State Council for Exceptional Children Conference, Anaheim, CA.

(March 2006). Promoting Achievement, Motivation, and Healing for African American Students. Paper Presentation at the annual conference of the National Association of School Psychologist, Anaheim, CA.

(February 2006). Promoting Achievement, Motivation, and Healing for African American Students. Paper Presentation at the annual conference of the California Association of School Psychologist, Anaheim, CA.

(November, 2005). What do the Ancestors Have to do With an IEP? Invited presentation for the Southern California Association of Black Psychologists Annual Graduate Student Reception.

• College of Education Technology Committee
• College of Education Diversity Committee
• Partners for Success Program - Mentor 1st generation undergraduates
• Student African American Brotherhood (SAAB) - Provide support and mentoring

Networking- I am always networking to end racism, to empower the oppressed, and to increase access to health care and education. To read more about social networks see Ricardo Stanton-Salazar, Mike Dulworth's NQ, and the late Asa Hilliard's classic text,the Maroon Within Us.

Response to Intervention - I consult with Long Beach Unified SD's High Schools on RtI and support for new school psychologists Publish & Flourish - As always for new professors,"revise that dissertation for publication." So far I got one article out of it.

Kappa Alpha Psi, Inc. & Guide Right - I continue to be involved with Guide Right (Youth Programs) for the local chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi. The fraternity was founded in 1911 and has provided youth programs to the community since 1922.

Male Math Academy - For the 2008-2009 schoolyear, in collaboration with Long Beach Unified School District Middle School Assistant Superintendent and the College of Education, I am working on providing schools with college-educated men of color as guest speakers for an after school tutoring program that serves middle school boys. I am also providing professional development for parents, teachers, and staff members regarding boys.