TAGT Gifted + Equity Conference 2024: Full Schedule

5:00pm CDT

Badges & Bites Reception

Come pick up your badge, grab a drink, and catch up with old friends and make some new ones!

Sunday June 9, 2024 5:00pm - 6:30pm CDT
Barcelona Foyer

5:00pm CDT

Registration Open

Grab your badge so you're ready to begin the conference Monday morning!

Sunday June 9, 2024 5:00pm - 6:30pm CDT
Barcelona Foyer

8:00am CDT

Coffee & Breakfast Tacos with Exhibitors

Grab coffee and use this time to connect with the exhibitors before heading to the MasterMind session.

Monday June 10, 2024 8:00am - 9:00am CDT
Barcelona Foyer

8:00am CDT

Exhibits Open

Monday June 10, 2024 8:00am - 3:45pm CDT
Barcelona Foyer

8:00am CDT

Registration Open

Feel free to drop by to pick up your badge or have a chat with the friendly TAGT staff if you need any help or have any questions!

Monday June 10, 2024 8:00am - 3:45pm CDT
Barcelona Foyer

9:00am CDT

MasterMind Session: We Are on Native Land: There is No Equity Without Native American Inclusion

In Texas and across the nation, Native American students with gifts and talents continue to be underrepresented in gifted education. Despite the critical conversations happening at local and national levels regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion in gifted education, Native students are routinely ignored or treated as additive (“Oh, and Natives too”). Utilizing the concepts of education debt (Ladson-Billings, 2006) and land debt (Tachine and Cabrera, 2021), we will explore the structural inequities that have negatively affected the educational outcomes of Native students and normalized the acceptability of excluding these students from equity and inclusion efforts within gifted education.

Speakers

Anne Gray

Director of Field Placement, Northern New Mexico College

Anne M. Gray, Ph.D., (she/her) is Bilagáana, married to Táchii’nii, with four Diné children. She is an Assistant Professor and Director of Field Placement at Northern New Mexico College, Department of Teacher Education. Dr. Gray graduated from the Gifted Education Research and... Read More →

Sarena Gray

Sarena Gray is a Diné woman from Lukachukai, AZ, on the Navajo Nation. She received a B.A. in Ethnic Studies from Brown University in 2018 and is currently pursuing a PhD in Adult and Higher Education at the University of Oklahoma's Educational Leadership and Policy Studies department... Read More →

Monday June 10, 2024 9:00am - 10:15am CDT
Barcelona 5

Identification & Assessment

10:15am CDT

Connect with Exhibitors

Use this time to connect with exhibitors and each other during this break.

Monday June 10, 2024 10:15am - 10:45am CDT
Barcelona Foyer

10:45am CDT

Neurodivergent & Strong: Developing Our Superpowers

Superheroes don’t spend their lives focusing on struggles. They’re super because they use powers to make the world a better place! The sad reality is that society seems to focus on weaknesses of neurodivergent people. We'll explore how we can empower neurodivergent kiddos to identify superpowers and lead strength-based lives!

Speakers

Young Scholars Academy

Executive Director, Young Scholars Academy LA LLC

Young Scholars Academy is a virtual village helping twice-exceptional, differently-wired, & gifted students to feel seen, nurtured, and happy through strength-based courses, camps, and community!

Monday June 10, 2024 10:45am - 11:45am CDT
Barcelona 4

Creativity and Instructional Strategies

10:45am CDT

Unleashing Potential: Fostering Equity in Elementary Mathematics

Gain insights into the significance of high-quality instruction for GT students in marginalized communities. Discover how Beast Academy fosters equity through diverse perspectives, advanced problem-solving strategies, and personalized learning pathways. Explore the research backing its effectiveness and learn best practices for implementing Beast Academy to ensure equitable mathematics instruction.

Speakers

Alyssa Hanna

Sales Executive- Central South, Art of Problem Solving

With over a decade of experience and a master’s in Teacher Leadership, Alyssa's enthusiasm for education is evident. Prior to AoPS, she worked as a classroom teacher, Gifted and Talented Teacher, and Gifted and Talented Coordinator. Her passion lies in leveraging critical thinking... Read More →

Monday June 10, 2024 10:45am - 11:45am CDT
Barcelona 1

Differentiated Curriculum

10:45am CDT

Achieving Equity in Gifted Education: A New Inclusive Approach

Increasing diversity and achieving equity has long been a goal of gifted education. While districts recognize this, the fact remains that Brown and Black students and those living in poverty are glaringly missing from gifted programs. In this interactive session, participants will consider a new, inclusive approach for equitable identification and services that recognizes students with high potential.

Speakers

Dr. Dina Brulles

Gifted Program Coordinator, Arizona State University

Dina Brulles, Ph.D., is the Gifted Masters Program Coordinator at Arizona State University and the former Director of Gifted Education at Paradise Valley USD in Arizona. Dina has served as NAGC’s Governance Secretary and the board’s School District Representative. She received... Read More →

Monday June 10, 2024 10:45am - 11:45am CDT
Barcelona 5

Identification & Assessment

10:45am CDT

Transforming INVISIBLE to VISIBLE for Gifted LGBTQ+ Students

Current gifted curriculum that enables LGBTQ+ students to "see themselves" is rare, so implies LGBTQ+ individuals are unacceptable to society. This presentation will describe:
INVISIBLE: Barriers that hinder support and empowerment of gifted LGBTQ+ students (Each barrier starts with a different letter in INVISIBLE)
VISIBLE: Solutions to overcome those barriers (Each solution starts with a different letter in VISIBLE)

Participants will be given access to a "starter kit" to immediately support and empower gifted LGBTQ+ students and to help stem their high rate of depression and suicide. Participants will be:

Informed about barriers that prevent meeting needs of gifted LGBTQ+ students
Given a menu of solutions to overcome those barriers
Able to access a “starting kit” to help support and empower gifted LGBTQ+ students and help stem the high rate of suicide amongst this population.

Speakers

Alena Treat

Dr. Alena Treat is an educator, researcher and author. Gifted LGBTQ+ chapters are in Introduction to Gifted Education, Vol. 2 (Roberts et al, Eds., 2022), The Palgrave Handbook of Transformational Giftedness (Sternberg et al, Eds., 2022), and Empowering Underrepresented Gifted Students... Read More →

Monday June 10, 2024 10:45am - 11:45am CDT
Barcelona 2

Social and Emotional Needs of the Gifted

11:45am CDT

Lunch

Lunch is provided by TAGT, grab lunch from the foyer and connect with other attendees in Barcelona 3.

Monday June 10, 2024 11:45am - 1:00pm CDT
Barcelona Foyer

1:00pm CDT

Bridging Research and Practice: Evidence-Based Instructional Strategies That Work for Advanced Learners

Recently, there has been a surge of research examining equitable advanced education practices. It can be hard to keep up with the latest studies and apply those findings in the classroom. Join me to discuss practical applications for several evidence-based instructional strategies (e.g., acceleration, flexible grouping, psychosocial skills).

Speakers

Melanie S. Meyer

Lecturer, Baylor University

Melanie S. Meyer, Ph.D., is a lecturer in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at Baylor University where she teaches research methods and advises students conducting problem-of-practice dissertations in the Learning and Organizational Change Ed.D. program. For over 20 years... Read More →

Monday June 10, 2024 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT
Barcelona 2

Creativity and Instructional Strategies

1:00pm CDT

Emergent Bilingual Student Underrepresentation in Gifted and Talented Programs

Texas is a state with rich linguistic and cultural diversity. According to the 23-24 Student Programs Special Populations PEIMS Data Report, emergent bilingual students constitute 24% of the student population in Texas. Yet, these students remain vastly underrepresented in gifted and talented programs. This session will examine factors contributing to the underrepresentation of emergent bilingual students in gifted and talented programs and explore methods and programs for increasing equitable representation.

Speakers

Liz Barraza

Texas Education Agency

Monday June 10, 2024 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT
Barcelona 1

Identification & Assessment

1:00pm CDT

Cluster Grouping Using Building Norms Increases Inclusion: Overcoming the Obstacles!

Cluster grouping, when used with universal testing and building norms increases inclusion and enfranchises diversity in gifted services. Effective cluster grouping adapts to the school’s student populations and existing school initiatives and practices. Learn methods for developing, supporting, and advocating for an inclusive cluster-grouping model in any school or district.

Speakers

Dr. Dina Brulles

Gifted Program Coordinator, Arizona State University

Monday June 10, 2024 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT
Barcelona 5

Program Options and Design

1:00pm CDT

Culturally Responsive Trauma for Gifted Students

This training will enabled classroom teachers and counselors, (and anyone else who is in the room) to gain a better understanding of how and why it is important to understand what ‘culture’ and "trauma" is and how it makes a difference in the classroom.

Speakers

Cheryl Ivory

Clinicial Director, Enlightened Psychotherapy

Dr. Ivory, a Therapist, Pastor, PhD, and Author. Completed her PhD at the age of 63. Specializes in grief, depression, relationship issues and anxiety. She is passionate about serving those in ministry and those who are therapist. Therapy is about loving people where they are. She... Read More →

Monday June 10, 2024 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT
Barcelona 4

Social and Emotional Needs of the Gifted

2:00pm CDT

Connect with Exhibitors

Use this time to connect with exhibitors and each other during the break.

Monday June 10, 2024 2:00pm - 2:15pm CDT
Barcelona Foyer

2:15pm CDT

Finding the Funk: Culturally Responsive Critical Thinking Strategies for G/T Educators

When is a circle not just a circle? The standard curriculum will cover important concepts like radius and diameter, but we can go beyond the standards by asking students important questions about how that curriculum intersects with their lived experiences. What if that circle described the distance between your house and the nearest healthy food options? The nearest hospital? Any time we give gifted students the opportunity to not just analyze the world as it is, but to use their knowledge to grapple with how the world ought to be, we explicitly permit them to not just be problem solvers, but to embrace their identity as problem finders. This intensive workshop provides educators the opportunity to discover with their students what’s funky about even the most seemingly cut-and-dry learning goals.

Speakers

Gaby

Curriculum and Systems Specialist, thinkLaw

Gaby, a dedicated educator with a passion for serving her community in Dallas, Texas, brings over 14 years of experience teaching elementary bilingual and gifted and talented students. Her journey began with a belief in the transformative power of education, leading her to create... Read More →

Tabitha Ejinkonye

Partner Success Manager, thinkLaw

Before serving as thinkLaw's Partner Success Manager, Tabitha taught elementary math, science, and gifted and talented students in Dallas and Houston, TX and served as Special Education Department Chair. She has a M.Ed. in Special Education from the University of Houston-Victoria... Read More →

Monday June 10, 2024 2:15pm - 3:15pm CDT
Barcelona 5

Program Options and Design

2:15pm CDT

It's the Little Things That Count: Understanding the Sensitivities of Twice Exceptionality

Twice exceptional students have complex, unique needs caused by the collision of gifts and challenges resulting in students becoming particularly sensitive as they experience high levels of stress, anxiety, and bouts of perfectionism. We explore these subtle but often paralyzing issues and offer simple solutions for creating 2e friendly environments.

Speakers

Dr. Susan Baum

Chancellor, Bridges Graduate School

Susan Baum, Ph.D, is Chancellor of the Bridges Graduate School for Cognitive Diversity in Education and C0-director of the 2e Center for Research and Professional Development at Bridges Academy, a school for twice exceptional students. The author of many publications concerning the... Read More →

Monday June 10, 2024 2:15pm - 3:15pm CDT
Barcelona 4

Social and Emotional Needs of the Gifted

3:15pm CDT

Snack Break & Connect with Exhibitors

Use this time to connect with exhibitors and grab a snack and some tea or coffee.

Monday June 10, 2024 3:15pm - 3:45pm CDT
Barcelona Foyer

3:45pm CDT

Teaching Twice-Exceptional Students

Using specific cases, this session will focus on teaching twice-exceptional students. Participants will learn about definitions, characteristics, identification methods, and specific teaching approaches. Curricular modifications will be discussed for students who have gifted characteristics and disabilities. A menu of interventions will be distributed to participants.

Speakers

Susan Johnsen

Professor Emerita, Baylor

Susan K. Johnsen, PhD, is professor emerita of Educational Psychology at Baylor University. She has written three tests for identifying gifted students and more than 300 articles, monographs, technical reports, chapters, and books related to gifted education. She is editor-in-chief... Read More →

Monday June 10, 2024 3:45pm - 4:45pm CDT
Barcelona 2

Differentiated Curriculum

3:45pm CDT

Lost Einsteins: Unlocking Pathways to the Frontiers of STEM

From our unique and widespread approach to talent identification to the 10-year financial investment and support we provide to mathematically gifted students and their families, we will share how National Math Stars plans to support more kids from more communities in Texas in reaching the frontiers of STEM.

Speakers

Alex Lochoff

Head of Partnerships, National Math Stars

nationalmathstars.org

Monday June 10, 2024 3:45pm - 4:45pm CDT
Barcelona 4

Identification & Assessment

3:45pm CDT

Our Road to a Universal Screener: Bumps and Potholes Included

Austin ISD implemented a 2nd grade universal screener in 2023-2024. We discuss the strategies implemented to achieve a successful first year including “flipped” trainings, open communication, data tracking, family resources, and creating local norms. We share lessons learned from our first year to help you with your future implementation.

Speakers

Elizabeth Severance Ph.D.

Director of Advanced Academics, Austin ISD

Dr. Elizabeth Severance (“Sev”) is the Director of Advanced Academics (which includes Gifted and Talented, Advanced Courses, AP, IB, AVID, and GEAR UP) in Austin ISD. She has worked at the campus, district, and state levels supporting college readiness and advanced academics... Read More →

Dong Mei Li

Planning and Evaluation Coordinator, Austin ISD

Dr. Dongmei Li is an education scholar with international perspectives and about ten years of experience in equity focused education research and evaluations. She joined Austin ISD in 2022 as the planning and evaluation coordinator within the Office of Innovation and Development... Read More →

Monday June 10, 2024 3:45pm - 4:45pm CDT
Barcelona 5

Identification & Assessment

3:45pm CDT

Cultural Humility

In response to addressing the identified academic, cognitive and affective needs of diverse student populations, participants gain an understanding of intersectionality and its importance in our industry centered around Cultural Humility. Participants will develop inter/intrapersonal relationships to improve the way we communicate effectively and interact equitably with people across cultures.

Speakers

Michele Shampoe

Coordinator, Organizational Culture, Spring ISD

Michele Shampoe, M.Ed. currently helps lead district Organizational Culture efforts, K-12, for Spring Independent School District in a Coordinator position for Human Resource Services. Michele earned her Bachelor’s degree in English and Master’s degree in Educational Administration... Read More →

Pearl Ivory

Director, Organizational Culture, Spring ISD Human Resource Services

Pearl Ivory, a Pastor in the Lord's Church, has been in education for over 20 years. She has transitioned to a role in education that she is very proud to be in that combines the work she does in education and the work she does with her nonprofit…advocating for Equity as the Director... Read More →

Monday June 10, 2024 3:45pm - 4:45pm CDT
Barcelona 1

Nature and Needs of the Gifted

7:30am CDT

Coffee & Breakfast Tacos with Exhibitors

Tuesday June 11, 2024 7:30am - 8:00am CDT
Barcelona Foyer

7:30am CDT

Exhibits Open

Tuesday June 11, 2024 7:30am - 11:00am CDT
Barcelona Foyer

7:30am CDT

Registration Open

Pick up your badge or stop by to talk with TAGT staff if you have any questions.

Tuesday June 11, 2024 7:30am - 11:00am CDT
Barcelona Foyer

8:00am CDT

Don't Worry, Be a Critical Thinker: The Equity Case for Prioritizing AI (Actual Intellect)

The historic case for valuing education as a society revolves around the notion that knowledge is power. And the prioritized knowledge for those accessing this power has historically been knowing the “what” and the “how to.” But with the proliferation of artificial intelligence creating a present threat that almost any job capable of being reduced to an algorithm is at risk for automation, K-12 teaching and learning must shift its path. In this session, Colin Seale, educator, attorney, author of Thinking Like a Lawyer: A Framework for Teaching Critical Thinking to All Students and Tangible Equity: A Guide for Leveraging Student Identity, Culture, and Power to Unlock Excellence In and Beyond the Classroom, and thinkLaw Founder and CEO, will make the case for prioritizing a different kind of AI: Actual Intellect, as a key priority for today’s learners, and provide powerful, but practical tools educators can use to make critical thinking accessible to all students.

Speakers

Colin Seale

CEO & Founder, ThinkLaw

thinkLaw exists to create a world where critical thinking is no longer a luxury good. We help educators teach critical thinking to all students.

Tuesday June 11, 2024 8:00am - 9:00am CDT
Barcelona 5

Program Options and Design

8:00am CDT

Leading Schools with Effective Referral, Assessment, Identification for All Students

The training goal is for administrators to explore the Texas State Plan for the Education of Gifted/Talented Students to plan to successfully ensure their district supports the referral, assessment, and identification of all demographics of students in their districts. The importance of Teacher GT PD will also be discussed.

Speakers

Lindsay Orr

Gifted and Talented Coordinator, Ferris ISD

Lindsay Orr is the Gifted and Talented Coordinator in Ferris ISD. She has over 15 years of experience teaching. She has an M.A. in Educational Leadership and is working on her Educational Administration Ed.D degree through Texas A& M Commerce. The focus of her dissertation is research... Read More →

Tuesday June 11, 2024 8:00am - 9:00am CDT
Barcelona 2

Program Options and Design

8:00am CDT

Social-Emotional Learning and Gifted/Asynchronous Learners

Gifted learners are a neurodiverse population for which asynchronous development is a cornerstone. Asynchronous development is defined as an outside-the-norm difference in a child's physical, emotional, intellectual, and social growth. Let's explore the social-emotional needs of this culturally and neurologically diverse population, and how to meet them where they are.

Speakers

Blake Haygood, M.Ed.

GT Coordinator, Austin ISD

Blake Haygood works with gifted learners as GT Coordinator in Austin ISD. He is also the parent of a PG student and the current Parent Representative on the Board for the Texas Association for the Gifted and Talented. For his work with GT learners, he was named the TAGT Advocate of... Read More →

Tuesday June 11, 2024 8:00am - 9:00am CDT
Barcelona 4

Social and Emotional Needs of the Gifted

9:00am CDT

Connect with Exhibitors

Use this time to connect with exhibitors and each other.

Tuesday June 11, 2024 9:00am - 9:30am CDT
Barcelona Foyer

9:30am CDT

MasterMind Session: Creating a Comprehensive Plan of Equity for ALL Students

The words “equity for all students” have a distinct meaning for each school community. Whether based on race, socioeconomic status, gender or sexual orientation, districts across the country are creating strategic plans to increase the opportunity of ALL students. The planning requires a framework that revolves around a mission and goals that are measurable and practical for all members of the school community. Join Dr. Peters to answer the question, “How do we work together to transform perspectives about our children?” and understand why now, more than ever, building equitable structures is vital to success for ALL children.

Speakers

Robert Peters

Senior Vice President, Successful Practices Network and the National Dropout Prevention Center

Dr. Robert Peters of Dallas, Texas brings an outstanding record of public school administration to his role, along with a history of innovation and transformation in all aspects of leadership. Dr. Robert Peters is committed to ensuring that each student receives the highest degree... Read More →

Tuesday June 11, 2024 9:30am - 10:45am CDT
Barcelona 5

Program Options and Design

10:45am CDT

Connect with Exhibitors

Tuesday June 11, 2024 10:45am - 11:00am CDT
Barcelona Foyer

11:00am CDT

The Heart Work: The Equity Case for Prioritizing Psychological Safety in Gifted Education and Beyond with Special Guest Colin Seale

Brilliance is distributed equally, but opportunity is not. For almost a decade, Colin Seale and the thinkLaw team have used this framing as an impetus for obsessing over opportunity-creation and helping educators create systems where critical thinking is no longer a luxury good. But the tools to unlock brilliance and unleash critical thinking are meaningless when our students (and sometimes our adults) lack the psychological safety to be brilliant. In this session, Colin Seale will make the equity case for prioritizing psychological safety as a pre-requisite to learning and share powerful, but practical strategies to integrate psychological safety into instructional practices in gifted education and beyond.

Speakers

Colin Seale

CEO & Founder, ThinkLaw

thinkLaw exists to create a world where critical thinking is no longer a luxury good. We help educators teach critical thinking to all students.

Tuesday June 11, 2024 11:00am - 12:00pm CDT
Barcelona 5

Social and Emotional Needs of the Gifted