Although most FASP documents are missing from the late 1950s to the mid 1960s, John Wells was able to reconstruct important highlights about FASP's early years. The information was obtained from materials provided by Executive Board members, professional organizations in the state, videotaped interviews with Past Presidents, annual convention booklets listing school psychology programs and issues, committee minutes and publications as well as newsletters and position papers. Some excerpts from this information follow.

On March 23, 1957, a group of five individuals met at the Mitchell residence on River Boulevard in Tampa. The purpose of this meeting was to finalize a draft of the FASP constitution and to plan a workshop for psychologists attending the Eighth Annual Meeting of the Florida Psychological Association in Miami. The attendees were Dicksie P. Mitchell (owner of the residence), Dean Rochester, Thelma Voorhis, Ray Sandiford, and B.C. Moss. Since other states had already established associations for school psychologists, Florida was following this pattern of development.

The official beginnings of the Florida Association of School Psychologists took place prior to the Eighth Annual Meeting of the Florida Psychological Association (FPA), which was held at the Golden Nugget Hotel on Miami Beach, May 2-4, 1957. This event was co-chaired by Dr. Robert M. Allen of the University of Miami and Dr. Thelma Voorhis, a school psychologist with the Pinellas County School System who later became the first FASP President. Approximately 25 to 30 people were present to review and approve the drafted constitution.

Representatives from Florida State University, the University of Florida, the University of Miami, and the Florida Department of Education and four of our future presidents were contributors.

The annual convention of the FPA provided a forum for issues that began to emerge and FASP members were offered an allotment of time for presentations. Topics included the need for school psychology training programs, the role of the State Department of Education, the identification of children for programs for the mentally retarded, and crisis consultation with public school teachers. For a fee of $5.00, members of FPA could register for the annual meeting and pay their association dues. Hotel rates were $8.00-$10.00 for a double room.

In May 1957, the Florida legislature passed a law requiring that psychologists who are engaged in the practice of psychology and are accepting direct or third party payments, be certified by the State. As a result, Governor Collins appointed members of the Florida Board of Examiners of Psychology. Richard W. Husband of Florida State University chaired the board, including FASP president, Thelma Voorhis of St. Petersburg.

At the annual meeting of FPA held at the Colonial Inn and Desert Ranch in St. Petersburg on May 8-10, 1958, seventy-eight individuals from diverse backgrounds were registered to attend the FASP presentations. They included psychologists with an interest in children, professors and assistant professors from the universities with training programs for school psychologists, mental health clinicians, school psychologists, and graduate assistants enrolled in specialty programs. Representatives from private schools, directors of special education programs, coordinators for testing and guidance, school social workers (visiting teachers), and Deans from junior colleges and high schools.

The keynote symposium dealt with certification requirements, professional training, and other issues brought to the attention of the FPA membership by the appointed board. This meeting began the discussion and heightened animosity that eventually created a schism between FPA & FASP.

In 1962 the State Department of Education adopted the certification for school psychologists. This early certification recognized the title of School Psychology. It required 60 graduate hours of training and a teaching certificate, although no teaching experience or internship was needed. Additionally, the state did not require a list of specific courses or areas of study as part of the certification process. Florida State University was the first institution in Florida to officially offer a degree in school psychology.