Duncan will also be honored by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) with its Government and Professional Relations Committee's President's Award, during its annual convention to be held March 27-April 1 in Anaheim. This national award is presented to those who show exemplary service to students, schools and school psychology.
The state award was presented at CASP Convention 2006, held February 16-18 in Monterey. Established in 1980 and named for CASP's first executive director, the award recognizes distinguished service, long-term contributions to school psychology in a variety of settings, and efforts that produce an impact beyond district boundaries, throughout California and the nation.
Duncan has devoted his professional life to school psychology, according to his colleagues. As president of CASP during the 2002-03 year, he proved to be a calm, proactive and supportive leader as school districts dealt with severe budget cuts and federal legislation that would bring change to the roles of school psychologists began its legislative journey. A member of the CASP Board for 11 years, he has been an active member of the California School Psychology Foundation, CASP's Legislative Committee, and CASP's Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act workgroup; he also serves as a member of the National Association of School Psychologist's (NASP) Government and Professional Relations Committee. Because of his activities, he was selected as CASP's 2006 nominee for the NASP Government and Professional Relations Certificate of Appreciation; he was also recognized at the CASP Convention with CASP's newly instituted President's Award.
Duncan has also guided the school psychology program at HSU as it received national accreditation and has adapted and embraced the changing role of the school psychologist and the changing system of special education. Prior to taking a professorship at Humboldt State, Duncan worked as a school psychologist in the Vallejo City Unified School District and as a special education teacher at Tamalpais Union High School District in Larkspur. In addition to teaching at HSU, Duncan served as a school psychologist for two schools in the Arcata Elementary School District and in the Hoopa Valley area for the Humboldt County Office of Education. He is a former lecturer and supervisor at the School of Education at the University of California at Berkeley and is a frequent presenter at CASP events and for CASP affiliates.
The California Association of School Psychologists, with more than 3,000 members, is the largest state association of school psychologists in the nation. For more than 50 years, CASP has advocated on behalf of all of California's students.