GHF is proud to be represented by four of our board directors at this year’s NAGC Conference, which hosts more than 2,000 educators, gifted coordinators, psychologists, researchers, and caregivers as they gather to share best practices for supporting high-ability children. Below are their session descriptions, and if you’re attending, be sure to stop by and say hello!

Erinn Fears Floyd, PhD

11/14: Welcome to the Neighborhood - of Allies: Supporting ALL Gifted Students in the Neighborhood (panel)

Welcome to the neighborhood! We are here as advocates for ALL gifted and talented students. Hop aboard the trolley as we travel the neighborhood and visit stakeholder experts: a teacher who serves ALL students, a coordinator who identifies among ALL students, a business person whose program serves ALL community members, and others. Who are the allies in your neighborhood?

11/14: Signature Session: So You Want to Be an NAGC Leader? (panel)

Are you interested in serving in a leadership role within NAGC but unsure where to begin? Are you a person of color seeking to grow your leadership capacity while connecting with like-minded thought leaders? Join us for a dynamic session designed to build community, cultivate leadership skills, and clarify your path to making a lasting impact within NAGC! A core strategic priority of NAGC is expanding leadership diversity across the organization. Yet many members, especially leaders of color, report uncertainty about how to get involved. This session addresses those concerns by offering a two-part experience: an expert panel and a hands-on roundtable workshop experience. Participants will hear insights and inspiration from current and past leaders of color, potentially including a keynote by Dr. Michelle Frazier Trotman Scott. Attendees will then flow between interactive roundtables that focus on key competencies related to NAGC leadership, including networking and identifying leadership opportunities. Led by established servant leaders in gifted education, these discussions will help participants develop an actionable plan aligned with their personal leadership goals.

Lisa Jobe, JD

11/13: Empowering GIfted & 2e Learners: Strength-Based Strategies for Advocacy and Support 

What is the impact on parents who receive research-based strategies for empowering, advocating, and supporting underserved gifted students? An interactive panel of parents, teachers, administrators, and professors will explore equity and identification challenges in K-12 education settings. Takeaways will include research-based strategies and tools to provide strength-based talent focused opportunities and advocacy support their underserved children in multiple learning environments.

11/14: Increasing Low-Cost Flexible Enrichment Opportunities Through a Unique Model of Success

Families with gifted/2e learners commonly search for peer communities. In response, a unique global enrichment model has been successfully implemented that is virtually free for families and flexible enough for in-class, after-school, and in homeschool learning. Learn how this cooperative model promotes talent development, capitalizing on parent expertise as mentors while fostering community connections for gifted/2e youth and parents alike.

Carol Malueg, MA, GCT2e

11/15: Positive Advocacy: Helping Young People Navigate the K-College Journey

Advocacy and self-advocacy are foundational life skills parents/caregivers must cultivate to ensure gifted and twice-exceptional children thrive in academic and personal settings. We’re our children’s first and most fervent advocates-- how do we equip them to be their own champions before they transition to college and career? Explore effective advocacy strategies that encourage collaboration between students, families, educators, and professionals.

11/15: State-Level Legislative Advocacy: Strategies for Advancing Gifted Education Policy 

Effectively advocating for gifted education at the state level requires a strategic, collaborative approach that engages key stakeholders, utilizes data-driven messaging, and navigates legislative processes. This interactive session will equip participants with the tools to build advocacy networks, craft compelling messages, and engage with policymakers to drive meaningful change.

Marna Wohlfeld, MA, MBA

11/13: Supporting 2e Youth in Physical, Intellectual, Creative, Emotional & Social Environments 

Learn strength-based strategies for supporting 2e youth in the "Five Environments:" Physical, Intellectual, Creative, Social, and Emotional. Participants will gain a clear understanding of the complex needs of 2e youth in each environment and concrete ways to help them thrive at home and at school. The practical strategies are grounded in theories that promote engagement, intrinsic motivation, and overall well-being.

11/14: Practices for Supporting Parents and Caregivers of 2e Youth: Research-based Strategies

The researcher, a mom of 2e children who recently completed an EdD program, will introduce best practices for supporting parents and caregivers of 2e youth. Offering effective methods of support to parents and caregivers is critical because they are their 2e children's biggest advocates. The lessons offered in this presentation are grounded in qualitative research conducted with 2e parents.