Featured Sessions
Covering the most important and relevant topics in gifted education and beyond, TAGT Featured sessions allow you to learn alongside top education experts and influential thought leaders.
Leverage: The Gifted Teacher’s Guide to Working Smarter Not Harder
Brian Housand, Ph.D., University of North Carolina Wilmington
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and BELONGING: Gifted African American and LatinX Male Students in the Texas G/T Classroom Context
Fred Bonner II, Ph.D., Prairie View A&M University
Books as Mirrors and Windows
Amber O’Neal Johnston, Heritage Mom
Leading for Equity in Gifted Education
Dr. Jeannie Stone and Monica Simonds, Richardson ISD
Academic Acceleration: Is Grade-Skipping a Good Idea?
Ann Lupkowski-Shoplik, Ph.D., University of Iowa Belin-Blank Center
Combatting Perceptions in Gifted Education
Scott Peters, Ph.D., University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, Kristina Collins, Ph.D., Texas State University, Colin Seale, thinkLaw, Clint Rodriguez, ESC Region 11
Purposeful Passion Projects
Andi McNair, ESC Region 12
Comedic Teambuilding
Michael Flusche, M.Ed., Austin Hines, and Ricky Anderson, Curtis Needs a Ride
Leverage: The Gifted Teacher’s Guide to Working Smarter Not Harder
Does it seem like you are working harder but seeing fewer results? Are you being asked to do more with less time and resources? Do you feel like you’re being stretched to your mental and emotional breaking point? You are not alone. We’re all feeling the pressure. What if there was a way that you could redirect that pressure and use it to your advantage? In this session, we will explore a set of strategies designed to lift you and your gifted students to new heights. Together we will examine a set of classroom practices to better organize your learning environment whether face to face, online, or hybrid, and you will learn how to better position yourself in the school and community to maximize your efforts and supercharge your teaching with the power of leverage.
Brian Housand, Ph.D., University of North Carolina Wilmington
About Brian
Dr. Brian Housand, is the coordinator of the Academically or Intellectually Gifted program at University of North Carolina Wilmington and creator of Gifted360.com. Dr. Housand earned a Ph.D. in educational psychology at the
University of Connecticut with an emphasis in both gifted education and instructional technology. He served two terms on the National Association for Gifted Children’s Board of Directors as a Member-At-Large. Along with his wife Dr. Angela Housand and Dr. Joe Renzulli, he co-authored Using the Schoolwide Enrichment Model with Technology. He is also the author of Fighting Fake News! Teaching Critical Thinking and Media Literacy in a Digital Age. Brian has worked in education as a classroom teacher, a teacher of the gifted, and a university professor for over twenty years. As a speaker and consultant, he has presented in 40 states, Canada, Australia, South Korea, Kuwait, and Chilé. Brian is a lover of technology, Star Wars, all things Disney, video games, and fonts. He proudly identifies himself as a geek. You can learn more on his website at brianhousand.com and by following him on Twitter @brianhousand.
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and BELONGING: Gifted African American and LatinX Male Students in the Texas G/T Classroom Context
All too often, contemporary efforts to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion fail to recognize a fourth critical component – BELONGING. This session will provide administrators, teachers, staff, and parents with information and strategies that provide a sense of BELONGING in classroom and school contexts to scaffold gifted African American and LatinX male student achievement.
Fred Bonner II, Ph.D., Prairie View A&M University
About Fred
Dr. Fred Bonner II is Professor and Endowed Chair in Educational Leadership and Counseling and Executive Director and Chief Scientist of the MACH-III Center at Prairie View A&M University. He is formerly the Samuel DeWitt Proctor
Endowed Chair in Education in the Graduate School of Education at Rutgers University and an esteemed expert in the field of diversity in education. Prior to joining Rutgers, he was Professor of Higher Education Administration and Associate Dean of Faculties at Texas A&M University-College Station. He earned a B.A. in chemistry from the University of North Texas, an M.S. Ed. in curriculum and instruction from Baylor University, and an Ed.D. in higher education administration & college teaching from the University of Arkansas. Bonner has been the recipient of numerous awards, including the American Association for Higher Education Black Caucus Dissertation Award and the Educational Leadership, Counseling and Foundation’s Dissertation of the Year Award from the University Of Arkansas College of Education. His work has been featured nationally and internationally. He is the author of several books, including Building on Resilience: Models and Frameworks of Black Male Success Across the P-20 Pipeline, as well as the recently released Square Pegs and Round Holes: Alternative Approaches to Diverse College Student Development Theory (2021, Stylus Publishing). Bonner was recently (2020) named Texas A&M University System (TAMUS) Regents Professor.
Books as Mirrors and Windows
A mirror is a story that reflects a child’s own culture and helps build their identity, a window is a resource that offers them a view into someone else’s experience, and a sliding glass door invites kids to enter another’s world. In this session, Amber O’Neal Johnston will examine the use of all three types of books in our schools and homes as we educate our children while providing valuable opportunities for recognizing the shared humanity that binds us all together.
Amber O’Neal Johnston, Heritage Mom
About Amber
Amber O’Neal Johnston journeyed from a cookie-cutter approach to education that left her children feeling
unacknowledged and invisible to discovering the magic of using her “special sauce” to create a culturally-rich and creative home learning environment. Along with advice and inspiration, this veteran homeschooling mom of four offers encouragement and a path forward for parents and children of all backgrounds who are craving a lifegiving home.
Leading for Equity in Gifted Education
As gifted education fights perceptions of inequity, Richardson ISD is leading the charge to develop a culture of equity and high expectations by leading educators to create classrooms, schools, and an organizational system where the opportunity to succeed is made available to every student. Join Richardson ISD Superintendent Dr. Jeannie Stone and Monica Simonds, Director of Advanced Learning Programs and Services as they share the strategies used in their district to address systemic disparities and inequities to benefit all students, including their advanced learners. Attendees will learn more about communicating a vision for equity; implementing and establishing a culture of high expectations leading to more equitable outcomes; how district leaders can build teacher and leader skills, knowledge, and capacity to lean into equity work; and how relationships with key stakeholders, such as students, parents, the community, and elected officials can be leveraged to support equity work.
Dr. Jeannie Stone and Monica Simonds, Richardson ISD
About Jeannie
Dr. Jeannie Stone was named superintendent of schools for Richardson ISD in January 2017. She began her career in 1990 as a middle school English teacher in Dallas ISD, then spent 20 years in Mesquite ISD serving in various
leadership roles. During her first year as principal at Mesquite Poteet High School, the campus was named a National Blue Ribbon School. Before moving to RISD, Dr. Stone was Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum/Instruction in Wylie ISD. She also taught six years as an adjunct professor at Texas A&M University-Commerce and has recently taught Superintendency courses at University of North Texas. As an educator, Dr. Stone has been recognized for her innovative leadership and commitment to all children, being named the 2017 Superintendent of the Year by the Texas Educational Support Staff Association; Altrusa International’s 2018 Outstanding Woman of Today; and the 2019 Texas Superintendent of the Year by Texas PTA. She was also recently recognized as one of the Dallas Business Journal’s Leaders in Diversity after taking a stand to fight systemic racism in her district and has been using her leadership role to push for changes for both staff and students.
About Monica
Monica Simonds, M. Ed., is the Director of Advanced Learning Programs and Services for Richardson ISD. She has more than 30 years in public education and presents regularly on topics such as equity in gifted education, tiered services, and leveraging district goals for programmatic changes. She is the 2017 recipient of the NAGC Gifted Coordinator award and the 2019 TAGT Gifted Administrator award. She currently serves on the TAGT Board.
Academic Acceleration: Is Grade-Skipping a Good Idea?
Important questions about academic acceleration are: Who needs to be accelerated? What form of acceleration is needed? When it is best to accelerate? Who should be involved in the decision? We can make decisions objectively, using available tools. Focus on whole-grade acceleration and how research supports the effectiveness of grade-skipping.
Ann Lupkowski-Shoplik, Ph.D., University of Iowa Belin-Blank Center
About Ann
Ann Lupkowski-Shoplik, Ph.D. is Administrator, Acceleration Institute and Research at the University of Iowa Belin-
Blank Center. She founded and directed the Carnegie Mellon Institute for Talented Elementary Students (C-MITES) at Carnegie Mellon University. Professional interests include academic acceleration, devising appropriately challenging opportunities for exceptionally mathematically talented students, and assisting educators in using the Talent Search Model in schools. She co-authored the Iowa Acceleration Scale and is also co-developer of the online Integrated Acceleration System.
Combatting Perceptions in Gifted Education
Join top gifted education thinkers in a discussion on how educators can work to combat perceptions and misperceptions of gifted education. Speakers will address legislative and public perceptions of gifted and talented as inherently elitist and/or inequitable and educate attendees around misunderstandings commonly shared within public perception. Learn how you can change the perceptions about gifted education and create stronger conversations around G/T and equity in your communities.
Scott Peters, Ph.D., University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, Kristina Collins, Ph.D., Texas State University, Colin Seale, thinkLaw, Clint Rodriguez, ESC Region 11, Meredith Austin, Ed.D., Humble ISD (Moderator)
About Scott
Scott J. Peters is a professor of Assessment and Research Methodology at the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater. His research work focuses on educational assessment, research design, gifted and talented student identification, equity within advanced educational programs and services, and educational policy.
About Kristina
Kristina Collins is a core Talent Development faculty at Texas State University. She earned her Ph.D. in educational
psychology and Ed.S. in gifted and creative education from the University of Georgia. Dr. Collins currently serves as President for SENG and former member for NAGC board of directors. Dr. Collins is the proud recipient of the 2020 NAGC Special Population Early Career Award, the 2020 Bridges 2e Education “Person to Watch” Award, and Georgia Association of Gifted Children’s 2011 Mary Frasier Equity and Excellence Award presented for her work in advancing educational opportunities for under-represented students in gifted education.
About Colin
Colin Seale was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, where struggles in his upbringing gave birth to his passion for
educational equity. Tracked early into gifted and talented programs, Colin was afforded opportunities his neighborhood peers were not. Using lessons from his experience as a math teacher, later as an attorney, and now as a keynote speaker, contributor to Forbes, The 74, and Education Post and author of Thinking Like a Lawyer: A Framework for Teaching Critical Thinking to All Students (Prufrock Press, 2020), Colin founded thinkLaw, a multi-award-winning organization to help educators leverage inquiry-based instructional strategies to close the critical thinking gap and ensure they teach and REACH all students, regardless of race, zip code or what side of the poverty line they are born into. When he’s not serving as the world’s most fervent critical thinking advocate, Colin proudly serves as the world’s greatest entertainer to his two young children.
About Clint
Clint Rodriguez is a gifted/talented and advanced academics consultant with the Region 11 Education Service Center. Previously he coordinated secondary gifted services in Richardson ISD and taught middle school humanities at ASPIRE Academy for the Highly Gifted in Grapevine-Colleyville ISD. He holds a master’s degree in religious studies from the University of Kansas.
Purposeful Passion Projects
Research indicates that, when done well, project-based learning experiences can result in a willingness to invest from today’s learners as well as authentic learning that sticks. In this learning experience, gifted education expert Andi McNair will share the role that purpose plays in passion projects for gifted learners and practical ways that it can be prioritized. The session will also share the 6 Ps of Genius Hour, and how these align closely with the state’s plan for gifted learners.
Andi McNair, ESC Region 12
About Andi
Andi was a classroom teacher for 16 years before pursuing her passion to change education by sharing practical
ways to engage and empower today’s learners. She was named one of the Top People in Education to Watch in 2016 by the Academy of Education Arts and Sciences. She is currently a digital innovation and gifted/talented specialist at ESC Region 12 in Waco, Texas. Andi is passionate about utilizing meaningful technology in the classroom and finding innovative ways to engage and empower today’s learners. She has published Genius Hour: Passion Projects that Ignite Innovation and Student Inquiry, A Meaningful Mess: A Teacher’s Guide to Student-Driven Classrooms, Authentic Learning, Student Empowerment, and Keeping It All Together Without Losing Your Mind, and Ready-to-Use Resources for Genius Hour in the Classroom: Taking Passion Projects to the Next Level.
Comedic Teambuilding
Participants will engage in improvisational games and challenges that promote creative thinking, build self-efficacy, and create an environment for success with the entertaining and fun team from Curtis Needs a Ride.
Michael Flusche, M.Ed., and Ricky Anderson, Curtis Needs a Ride
About Michael
Michael Flusche loves to combine his passion for comedy with his love for gifted education. Beginning as a teacher
with a hobby of comedy, Flusche earned an opportunity to work as a coordinator in gifted education. In doing so, Flusche discovered that the foundations of improvisational comedy directly relate to gifted research. Thus, Flusche earned a Masters of Gifted Education and is now the Director of G/T Services in Fort Worth ISD.
About Ricky
Ricky Anderson is an actor, video producer, comedian, and educator all in one. Whether it’s teaching improv comedy or film production, Ricky has close to 15 years of experience helping others get creative. He loves education so much, he married another educator!