It's Still Not Too Late to Register!

Space is still available for all sessions if you wish to register for the conference.  You can register online through Monday, April 19th, at http://www.giftedpage.org/.  After that, you can register on site at the Sheraton.  Hope to see you there!

Featured Speaker - Nathan Levy

Applying his experience from over thirty year as a teacher, principal, author, and educational consultant, Nathan Levy has traveled extensively across the United States as well as South America, Europe, and Asia to bring his message realting to thinking and creativity.  His workshops cover many topics for a wide array of participants, and his publications assist people in discovering new and creative ways to develop their critical thinking skills.  Mr. Levy is the author of the famous book series Stories with Holes as well as several other books, including Whose Clues? and 100 Intriguing Questions for Kids (Adults, Too!).

Join Mr. Levy for his breakout session, Powerful Strategies to Enhance Learning of Gifted and Highly Able Students, on Saturday, April 24th.

Featured Speaker - Charles Jelley

Charles Jelley has an LLM in Health Law, having graduated from the University of Loyola School of Law, Institute for Health Law in Chicago, Illinois.  In April of 1993, he joined the firm of Tremba & Jelley in Westmoreland County.  His practice focuses on multiple areas of the law, including children’s issues, school law and legislative analysis.  Mr. Jelley has more than ten years of experience working with not-for-profit boards.  He is a member of the Bar Association Rules Publications committee, and is an active member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association Exceptional Children’s Committee.

Join Mr. Jelley for his breakout session on Saturday, April 24th, Legal Issues in Gifted Education.

Note: CLE credit is available for attorneys who attend this session.  A credit request form will be available at the conference registration table.  To receive this credit, a fee of $1.50 must be paid to PACLE.

Concurrent Sessions - Saturday, April 24th - Session D (2:00-3:00)

Understanding Your Child's Assessment: What Do Those Test Scores Really Tell You?
Presented by Dr. Victoria Damiani
Strand: Assessment and Identification

What Do Colleges and Universities Teach Their Students about Gifted Education?
Presented by Dr. Jennifer Rotigel
Strand: Foundations of Gifted Educaton

Ability Grouping: Helpful or Harmful?
Presented by Dr. Mary Ann Swiatek
Strand: Curriculum and Instruction

The Standing Machine
Presented by Deborah Smith
Strand: Math and Science

Caught in the Middle: GIEPs and Programming for the Middle School Level
Presented by Charlton Wolfgang
Strand: Programming and Services

Perfectionism in Gifted Students: Burden or Bonus?
Presented by Linda Deal
Strand: Counseling and Guidance

Concurrent Sessions - Saturday, April 24th - Session C (12:45-1:45)

Advocating for the Gifted Child: Working with School Personnel
Presented by Dr. David Mason and Marilyn Thomas
Strand: Parent and Community

Creativity: A Gift to Be Fostered
Presented by Linda Deal
Strand: Creativity and the Arts

More Rigor, Not More Work
Presented by Diane Chessman, Madeline Keri, and Joanna Mangiapane
Strand: Curriculum and Instruction

Encouraging the Participation of Girls and Women in Computer Science: Research and Action
Presented by Dr. Carol Frieze
Strand: Computers and Technology

Generators vs. Replicators: A New Perspective on Giftedness
Presented by Colette Silvestri
Strand: Assessment and Identification

It Takes a Community: Fostering Intellectual Identity Development in Students from Underrepresented Populations
Presented by Dr. Kimberly McGlonn-Nelson
Strand: Special Populations

Concurrent Sessions - Saturday, April 24th - Session B (11:15-12:15)

Parenting Gifted Kids: A Counselor’s Perspective
Presented by Dr. Jean Peterson
Strand: Counseling and Guidance

The Top Five Fundamentals of Gifted Education
Presented by Donna Benson, Julie Krause, Franny McAleer, and Dr. Jeanne Van Briesen
Strand: Foundations of Gifted Education

Gender and Giftedness
Presented by Dr. Mary Ann Swiatek
Strand: Counseling and Guidance

From Confusion to Clarity: Navigating through Jargon to a Better GIEP
Presented by Kimm Doherty and Melissa Bilash
Strand: Programming and Services

Working with High Achievers in Critical Thinking
Presented by Scott Hobson
Strand: Curriculum and Instruction

Academically Gifted and Artistically Talented
Presented by Kasey Kennedy
Strand: Creativity and the Arts

Concurrent Sessions - Saturday, April 24th - Session A (10:00-11:00)

Bullying of and by Gifted Students
Presented by Dr. Jean Peterson
Strand: Counseling and Guidance

Legal Issues in Gifted Education
Presented by Charles Jelley, Esq.
Strand: Foundations of Gifted Education

Powerful Strategies to Enhance Learning of Gifted and Highly Able Students
Presented by Nathan Levy
Strand: Curriculum and Instruction

Gifted Myths: A Reality Check
Presented by Marilyn Thomas
Strand: Foundations of Gifted Education

Resources for Gifted Preschoolers
Presented by Dr. Victoria Damiani and Susan Brianne Rambeau
Strand: Curriculum and Instruction

High School Gifted Programs: Four Years with the Letters
Presented by Donna Benson
Strand: Programming and Services

Concurrent Sessions - Friday, April 23rd - Session D (3:00-4:00)

Due Process: Views from the Sides
Presented by Jay Clark, Esq., and Linda Deal
Strand: Parent and Community

Everything I Wish I’d Known about Gifted Education Before I Started Teaching
Presented by Sharon Kroll, Kathy McHugh, Daniel Rosenberg, and Charlton Wolfgang
Strand: Foundations of Gifted Education

Giggles and Chuckles: Humor and the Gifted Learner
Presented by Janet Aaker Smith
Strand: Counseling and Guidance

Questions and Answers about Academic Acceleration
Presented by Dr. Mary Ann Swiatek
Strand: Counseling and Guidance

Biomimicry and Invention
Presented by Susan Clarke
Strand: Creativity and the Arts

Game Design: Using Computer Games to Promote Thinking Skills
Presented by Susan McCoy
Strand: Computers and Technology

Conducting Effective Parent-Teacher Conferences
Presented by Dr. Susan Sour
Strand: Parent and Community

Concurrent Sessions - Friday, April 23rd - Session C (1:45-2:45)

President’s Panel: Questions and Answers about Gifted Programs
Moderated by Dr. Judith Mosse
Presented by Dr. Victoria Damiani, Dr. Karen Rogers, and Dr. Ann Lupkowski Shoplik
Strand: Foundations of Gifted Education

What You Need to Know about the New Chapter 16 Guidelines
Presented by Dr. David Mason
Strand: Foundations of Gifted Education

Extreme Makeover: Brain-Compatible Differentiation
Presented by Janet Aaker Smith
Strand: Curriculum and Instruction   

Math Mystery Night
Presented by Kathy McHugh and Barbara Lewis
Strand: Math and Science

Challenges to Learning: Gifted Children in the Autism Spectrum
Presented by Dr. Diane Williams
Strand: Special Populations

Animation and Game Programming for Kids
Presented by Julia Tebbets
Strand: Computers and Technology

Expanding Gifted Pedagogy to All Students without Sacrificing the Gifted
Presented by Ron Schmiedel
Strand: Foundations of Gifted Education

Concurrent Sessions - Friday, April 23rd - Session B (11:15-12:15)

Teachers Who Make a Difference in Gifted Children’s Lives
Presented by Dr. Karen Rogers
Strand: Foundations of Gifted Education

Early Indicators: Revealing Learning Problems for the Twice Exceptional
Presented by Andy Mahoney
Strand: Special Populations

Giftedness and High Potential in a Corporation
Presented by Jane Schenck
Strand: Assessment and Identification

Guiding the Social-Emotional Needs of Gifted Children in Early and Elementary Years through Literature
Presented by Dr. Anne Slanina
Strand: Counseling and Guidance

Out of This World with Six Hats®: A Leadership Tool for the 21st Century
Presented by Franny McAleer
Strand: Curriculum and Instruction

Favorite C-MITES Math Activities and Resources
Presented by Pamela Piskurich
Strand: Math and Science

The Learning Enrichment Center: Programming, Screening, and Evaluation
Presented by Kellie Blasco, Butch MacQueen, Nancy Warner, Amy Stimmell, Diane Martin, Michelle Johnson, and Kim Angove
Strand: Programming and Services

Concurrent Sessions - Friday, April 23rd - Session A (10:00-11:00)

Do Australians Do It Better? An Outsider’s Perspective on Education “Down Under”
Presented by Dr. Karen Rogers
Strand: Programming and Services

The Price of Achievement
Presented by Andy Mahoney
Strand: Counseling and Guidance

Collected Wisdom: Reflections from Three Neuber-Pregler Award Winners
Presented by Ted Davis, Dr. David Mason, and Dr. Ann Lupkowski Shoplik
Strand: Foundations of Gifted Education

You Have the Right to Extend, Enrich and Challenge!
Presented by Janet Aaker Smith
Strand: Curriculum and Instruction

Gifted ABCs: An Overview of Gifted Education Terminology
Presented by J.J. Baker
Strand: Foundations of Gifted Education

A Private School’s Journey with Gifted Education
Presented by Kathy Dunlop and Susan Feguson
Strand: Programming and Services

Goal Setting and the Gifted Student: Using Interdisciplinary Enrichment Units to Address and Monitor Students’ GIEP Goals
Presented by Elizabeth Santucci, Kathleen Clark, Stefania Davidse, and Maureen Stanko
Strand: Programming and Services

Unveiling the Conference Logo

Special thanks to noted Baton Rouge artist Kefrin Woodham for her design of our logo.

Featured Speaker: Dr. Diane Williams

Diane L. Williams, Ph.D. CCC-SLP, Assistant Professor, Department of Speech-Language Pathology at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, conducts NIH-funded behavioral and neuroimaging studies of language and cognitive processing in high-functioning children and adults with autism in collaboration with the Center for Autism Research at the University of Pittsburgh and the Center for Cognitive Brain Imaging at Carnegie Mellon University. Dr. Williams has extensive clinical experience with children and adults with autism with a wide range of cognitive abilities and has served as a consultant for numerous school districts. A primary focus of her research program is the design of interventions for children with autism based on a neurobiological model. She is the author of Developmental Language Disorders: Language, Learning, and the Brain.

Join Dr. Williams for her breakout session on Friday, April 23rd, Challenges to Learning: Gifted Children on the Autism Spectrum.

Thank You to Our Sponsors

Special thanks to those sponsors whose contributions will add so much to our conference.  This year's major sponsors include:

The Summer Institute for the Gifted, Event Sponsor

Commonwealth Connections Academy, Sponsor of the Children's Program

The J.W. Foundation, providing each attendee with a complimentary copy of the book The Art of Learning

Conference Committee Emails

If you have any questions or wish to reach members of the conference committee, use the emails listed below.  While email is the preferred form of communication, you may reach someone by phone by calling the PAGE Helpline at 888-736-6443.

Conference Committee: PAGEgoes2Mars@gmail.com

Dr. Judith Mosse, Conference Co-Chair: JMosse@asd.k12.pa.us

Dan Rosenberg, Conference Co-Chair: danielr222@yahoo.com

Amy Villa, Exhibit Hall Coordinator: avilla1@pghboe.net

Linda Deal, Awards Committee Chairperson: lindajdeal@gmail.com

A Note about Meals

Breakfast

A full breakfast will be provided for all hotel guests as part of the room rate.  Due to costs and the fact that breakfast is included for those staying on site, breakfast will not be provided for those attendees not staying at the hotel.  Those who wish to purchase breakfast may do so at the hotel, as both a restaurant and a cafe are located in the lobby area.


Lunch

Lunch is on your own on Thursday.  A lunch buffet is available for purchase in the hotel restaurant for less than $10.  Numerous other restaurants are within close proximity to the Sheraton.


Friday's lunch (included with a registration for that day) consists of a chicken entree and will be a sit-down lunch.  Because many attendees will be traveling across the state on Saturday afternoon to return home, that day will feature a boxed lunch (included with registration).  By having this lunch option, we are able to end earlier than the previous day, giving attendees a chance to attend all four breakout sessions while still arriving home at a reasonable hour.

Note that the lunches on both Friday and Saturday contain meat items.  If you require a vegetarian option, please contact the conference committee at PAGEgoes2Mars@gmail.com.  A vegetarian lunch will be provided for you.

A Note to Exhibitors: If you prefer a boxed lunch on Friday so that you will be able to eat at your booth, please email PAGEgoes2Mars@gmail.com.

Featured Speaker: Marilyn Thomas

Marilyn Thomas is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin in Madison with a B.S. in Nursing.  After a career in public health nursing, health education, and medical sales, she and her husband became the parents of two gifted children, one of whom also has a learning disability.  She has been the president of the PAGE Affiliate in Lancaster County—the Lancaster County PArtners for Gifted Education (LC PAGE) since 2005.   In the fall of 2008 she helped to establish a parent support/advocacy group in her own school district known as the Hempfield Partners for Exceptional Children (HPEC).  She has presented at local affiliate meetings throughout Central PA, at previous PAGE Conferences, and at the national level at the annual Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA) Conference in Washington, DC.  She has recently been a member of the Chapter 16 stakeholders' group and was the 2008 PAGE Parent of the Year.

Join Mrs. Thomas at the conference where she will present the workshop Myths about Gifted Education and Gifted Children: A Reality Check and will co-present the session Advocating for the Gifted Child: Working with School Personnel with PAGE Past President and former school administrator Dr. David Mason.

Featured Speaker: Franny McAleer

Franny McAleer has several degrees in education, curriculum, supervision, and administration and taught in the classroom for over thirty years.  She is presently on the faculties of Indiana University of Pennsylvania as well as Wilkes, Chapman, Waynesburg, and Duquesne Universities. She has taught professional development courses for the Pennsylvania Department of Education for over twenty years.  She also developed and supervised educational programs throughout the United States in the areas of differentiating instruction, creativity, career planning, gifted and talented education, and restructuring America's high schools.  Ms. McAleer has authored 20 books as well as numerous magazine and journal articles.  She has served as PAGE president and has also been the Regional President of the Pennsylvania Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (PASCD), She is a member of various advisory boards, promoting educational practices that teach students to use their minds well and talents creatively.  She also facilitates gifted education reviews for districts wanting to improve their gifted programs.  For more information about Ms. McAleer, visit www.learnerslink.com.

At this year's PAGE conference, Ms. McAleer will be presenting the workshop Out of This World with Six Hats: A Leadership Tool for the 21st Century and will be serving on the panel The Top Five Fundamentals of Gifted Education along with Dr. Jeanne Van Briesen of Carnegie Mellon University, teacher of the gifted Charlton Wolfgang, and 2009 PAGE Parent of the Year Julie Krause.  In addition, Ms. McAleer will also be coordinating a course for graduate credit revolving around this year's conference.  If you are interested in earning graduate credit for your conference participation visit Learners Link.

Conference Forms

Here are the links to download conference forms:

Conference Registration Form

Additional Registration for Those Wishing to Receive Graduate Credit for Attending the Conference

Exhibitor Application

Full Day Session: Best Practices for Meeting the Needs of All Gifted Learners

This session will focus on the key components of a strong gifted program as well as specific and practical instructional strategies for use with gifted students.  We will discuss not only the importance of rigor but also how rigor can be heightened with certain choices for instructional strategies and curricula.  Time will also be spent looking at typically underserved populations of gifted learners such as the twice exceptional, students who are gifted and ELL, as well as underachievers and students of poverty.   Students' needs will be identified as well as coupled with best practices in curriculum and instruction to address their unique learning needs.  Strategies will be presented and demonstrated across grade levels and subject matter.

This workshop will be presented by Dr. Mary Slade of James Madison University from 8:30-3:30 (with one hour for lunch on your own) on Thursday, April 22nd.

Half-Day Sessions

The following 3-hour sessions are being offered on Thursday, April 22nd.

The Challenges of Parenting and Teaching Gifted Children
Presented by Andy Mahoney, Counselor of the Gifted

This session will include a discussion of some of the unique concerns for gifted children, their parents, and their teachers. We will discuss what it means for a child to be gifted and what it means to be a parent or teacher of a gifted child. We will focus on the needs of gifted children in educational, social-emotional, and developmental areas. The workshop will also explore the identity formation of the gifted child. How a well formed gifted identity impacts learning and the development of gifted ability, and how parents and teachers can foster a healthy productive identity for the gifted child.

This session will be offered from 8:30 A.M. - 11:30 A.M.


Developing Mathematical Talent
Presented by Dr. Ann Lupkowski Shoplik, Director and Founder of C-MITES

Mathematically talented students need a program that is different from the regular school math program. That’s common sense, but how do we do it?  In this practical session, learn how to set up a comprehensive, systematic program for students who are exceptionally talented in math. Discover how to modify the regular program for the students, and develop an understanding of the Pyramid of Educational Options for gifted children.  The Diagnostic Testing -> Prescriptive Instruction model is the backbone of this process; students are tested to determine their level of ability and achievement in mathematics, and instruction is tailored to their individual needs.  This practical model has been used in full-scale school district programs as well as for individual students in supplementary programs.  Whether you are a parent looking for options for your individual child or a gifted coordinator looking for ways to challenge your students systematically, this session will help you meet the needs of your students. Case studies of individual students and sample exemplary programs will illustrate the steps of the process.  Curriculum resources will be described and other resources for establishing a program (such as sample letters) will be included.

This session will be offered from 12:30 P.M. - 3:30 P.M.

Featured Speaker: Dr. Mary Ann Swiatek

Mary Ann Swiatek, Ph.D., has been doing research on giftedness since exploring the topic of acceleration in a library research project as an undergraduate in the late 1980s.  She graduated from Oberlin College with honors in Psychology and immediately went on to Iowa State University, from which she received her M.S. and Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology.  While at Iowa State, she was fortunate to work with Dr. Camilla Benbow and the Study of Mathematically Precocious Youth (SMPY).  Since receiving her doctorate, she has worked as a college professor at SUNY Fredonia and Lafayette College, and as a Research Specialist with C-MITES.  Currently, she is a psychologist at KidsPeace, a large psychiatric facility for children and adolescents.  She is a past member of the PAGE Board and continues to be an active member of the PAGE Speakers Bureau.  Her interests focus on academic acceleration and social coping among gifted students, but she regularly speaks on other topics related to giftedness, as well.

Join Dr. Swiatek for her breakout sessions Gender and Giftedness, Ability Grouping: Helpful or Harmful?, and Questions and Answers about Academic Acceleration.

Featured Speaker: Janet Aaker Smith

Janet Aaker Smith taught elementary and middle school gifted classes.  Subsequently, she took a position as a lecturer at the University of Melbourne and Deakin University and served as Vice President of the Victorian Association for Gifted and Talented Children.  Since Victoria (Australia) had no state policy concerning gifted education, Janet became involved in designing the government’s new policy and implementing its initiatives.

As an entrepreneur, Ms. Aaker Smith formed L.E.A.P., a consulting business to design and provide professional development for educators and co-founded Vibrant Learning, a company dedicated to educating teachers, administrators and businesses about Learning Styles. Along the way she has written nine books, including: Flying in Style with Altitude, Aptitude and Attitude; Bewitched, Bedazzled and Beguiled; and 90 Instructional Strategies for the Classroom and Challenging Puzzles Series: Social Studies, Science and Language Arts.

Join Ms. Aaker Smith for during the conference for her breakout sessions Giggles and Chuckles: Humor and the Gifted Learner, You Have the Right to Extend, Enrich and Challenge!, and Extreme Makeover: Brain-Compatible Differentiated Instruction.

Thanks to Our Exhibitors

Thank you to all of the exhibitors for our event.  To learn more about exhibitor and sponsor opportunities, email Dan Rosenberg at danielr222@yahoo.com.  PAGE encourages you to to support the following exhibitors, all of whom will have a presence at our conference.

Carnegie Science Center - http://www.carnegiesciencecenter.org

C-MITES - http://www.cmu.edu/cmites

Commonwealth Connections Academy - http://www.connectionsacademy.com/pennsylvania-school/free-online-public-school.aspx

Creek Connections/Allegheny College - http://creekconnections.allegheny.edu

CTY/Johns Hopkins University - http://cty.jhu.edu

Educational Impressions - http://www.brightideascatalog.com

EMC/Educators Source - http://www.emcp.com

Great Potential Press - http://www.giftedbooks.com

H.J. Heinz History Center - http://www.heinzhistorycenter.org

Indiana University of Pennsylvania Center for Gifted Education - http://www.coe.iup.edu/gifted

Invent Now Kids/Camp Invention - http://www.invent.org

Johns Hopkins University/CTY - http://www.cty.jhu.edu

Just Ducky Tours - http://www.justduckytours.com

Lehigh University Pennsylvania School for Global Entrepreneurship - http://www.iacocca-lehigh.org

Millersville University's College of Graduate and Professional Studies - http://www.millersville.edu/academics/educ/eled/graduate.php#MasterofEducationDegreeinGiftedEducation

Nathan Levy Books - http://www.storieswithholes.com

Pennsylvania Leadership Charter School - University Scholars Program - http://www.palcs.org

Pennsylvania Treasury Department, TAP Bureau/529 College Plan - http://www.makecollegepossible.com

Pieces of Learning - http://www.piecesoflearning.com

SAE International's A World in Motion Program - http://www.awim.org

Shady Side Academy - http://www.shadysideacademy.org

The Summer Institute for the Gifted - http://www.giftedstudy.org

Travel for Teens - http://www.travelforteens.com

The University of Pittsburgh Health Career Scholars Academy - http://www.hcsa.pitt.edu

Usborne Books and More - http://www.usbornebooks.com

Keynotes

Join us on both Friday, April 23rd, and Saturday, April 24th for keynotes presented by Dr. Karen Rogers of The University of St. Thomas and Dr. Jean Peterson of Purdue University, respectively.  Both keynotes will be for an expanded 75 minutes and will include a wealth of valuable information.


Friday: An Update on the Latest Research in Gifted Education
Dr. Rogers will share the aspects of the field that have become increasingly clearer in terms of what we know about giftedness and gifted learners. These aspects include knowledge of teacher effectiveness, instructional management techniques, curriculum adaptation strategies, and instructional pedagogy. An extensive handout will accompany this presentation.


Saturday: Social and Emotional Issues: Essential for Advocacy
Interest in and concern about the social and emotional development of gifted children and adolescents continues to grow in the field of gifted education. Advocates for differentiated curriculum and other services for gifted students can enhance their effectiveness by making these concerns part of their arguments. Dr. Peterson will present her perspectives on pertinent issues and share strategies for general advocacy, based on her extensive work with the burden side of high ability as a teacher, counselor, and researcher and on her advocacy as both a parent and a teacher.

Featured Speaker: Dr. Anne Slanina

Dr. Anne M. Slanina has been an educator for 30 years and is an associate professor of elementary/early childhood education at Slippery Rock University.  Anne is also the author of The Adventures of Annie Mouse series of picture books, which are designed to guide social/emotional growth.  Anne holds a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis in Gifted Child Education and a Masters degree in Reading Education.  Prior to teaching in higher education, Anne taught Kindergarten, Reading K-12, and Gifted 9-12 classes throughout several Ohio schools.  She is a frequent presenter at state, national and international conferences where she enjoys interacting with her audiences, as well as entertaining them with tales of her own successes and failures.  For more information about Anne and her books, visit her website at www.anniemousebooks.com.

Join Dr. Slanina for her breakout session Guiding the Social-Emotional Needs of Gifted Children in Early and Elementary Years through Literature during the PAGE conference!

Evening Events

Join us for two evening events at the Sheraton Hotel!  Both of these events are open to all and are not exclusively for conference registrants.

On Thursday, April 22nd, join us for the President's Reception from 7:30-8:30 in the Exhibit Hall and adjacent ballroom.  Take time to do some shopping in the Exhibit Hall and to visit with PAGE members, including the organization's Board of Directors, while enjoying music by the jazz ensemble of Shady Side Academy.

On Friday, April 23rd, the North Allegheny PAGE affiliate will host the first annual Networking Night in the ballroom from 7:30-9:00.  Join teachers and parents of gifted children from throughout the Pennsylvania to hear stories, share experiences, and discuss strategies for advocating, teaching, and parenting.

If you have any questions about these events or are interested in sponsoring either night's activity, contact the PAGE Conference Committee at PAGEgoes2Mars@gmail.com.

Featured Speaker: Dr. Victoria Damiani

Dr. Victoria Damiani is professor of educational and school psychology at Indiana University of Pennsylvania and former director of the IUP Center for Gifted Education. She holds a doctoral degree in school psychology from the College of William and Mary and is a nationally certified school psychologist. Her research interests include gifted education, counseling/crisis intervention, and families of exceptional children. Dr. Damiani is author of Crisis prevention and intervention in the classroom: What teachers should know (2006). She has done numerous presentations in gifted education with special emphasis on social/emotional issues, underachievement, and improvement of family-school relations. She was cited by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in 2004 as an educator making a significant impact in Western Pennsylvania and is a past president of the Association of School Psychologists of Pennsylvania.

Join Dr. Damiani on Friday, April 23rd, for the panel session Questions and Answers about Gifted Programs (also featuring Dr. Karen Rogers and Dr. Ann Lupkowski Shoplik) and on Saturday, April 24th, for the concurrent session Understanding Your Child's Assessment: What Those Tests Really Tell You.

Featured Speaker: Linda Deal

Linda Deal has been an advocate for gifted students in a variety of formats for almost 30 years.  As an educator, she earned her masters in Gifted Education from Millersville University in 1991 and is currently a part-time instructor in that program.  She also works with elementary gifted students and accelerated math students in the Penn Manor District.  In 2005, she received the Educator of the Year Award from PAGE and currently serves on the PAGE Board and the Pennsylvania Office of Dispute Resolution Stakeholders Panel. In addition, Linda is the author of the book The Boredom Solution: Understanding and Dealing with Boredom (Dandy Lion Publications).  Her greatest joy, however, has come from parenting two gifted sons and spending time with her gifted grandchildren.

Join Linda at the PAGE conference where she will present the breakout sessions Perfectionism in Gifted Students: Bonus or Burden?, Creativity: A Gift to Be Fostered, and Due Process: Views from the Sides.

Become a Friend of PAGE!

Have your name or the name of someone you’d like honor featured both in the PAGE conference program at on this blog!  For only $50, you or your organization can be listed as a friend of PAGE both in the program and on the blog.  All proceeds go toward funding the awards PAGE presents annually.  These include the Nicholas Green Distinguished Student Award for children in grades 3-6 and the Service and Scholarship honor for students in grades 10-12.

Please make your check out to PAGE, Inc. and mail the check in the amount of $50 to:
Barb Penrod
290 Greenich Street
Johnstown, PA 15902

Names will be posted on the blog upon receipt of payment.  Payment must be received by March 1st in order to be included in the conference program.  Please be sure to include the name of the individual or organization you would like listed with your payment.

Help Wanted

Calling all volunteers!  The PAGE conference committee is looking for help.  At present, we need particular assistance in identifying and contacting potential sponsors, donors and exhibitors and in publicizing the conference.  In addition, we will soon need help in all aspects of the conference, including hospitality, technology, and logistics.  If you are interested in volunteering or if you have any suggestions of funding sources, please call the PAGE Helpline toll free at 888-736-6443 and leave a message with any of the affiliate coordinators or (preferably) email the conference committee directly at PAGEgoes2Mars@gmail.com.
 

Featured Speaker: Dr. Ann Lupkowski Shoplik

Dr. Ann Lupkowski Shoplik is the Director of the Carnegie Mellon Institute for Talented Elementary and Secondary Students (C-MITES) at Carnegie Mellon University, a position she has held since 1992.  She conducts the annual Elementary Student Talent Search in Pennsylvania and oversees the C-MITES summer program and Weekend Workshops for academically talented students in kindergarten through 9th grade.  Her research interests include identifying mathematically talented elementary and middle school students and studying their characteristics and academic needs.  She co-authored Developing Math Talent (Prufrock Press) with Susan Assouline and is also a co-author of the Iowa Acceleration Scale (Great Potential Press) with Susan Assouline, Nicholas Colangelo, Jonathan Lipscomb, and Leslie Forstadt.

Join Dr. Shoplik on Thursday, April 22nd, and Friday, April 23rd.  She will be presenting the 3-hour session Developing Mathematical Talent and will also be part of two panels: Questions and Answers about Gifted Programs (also featuring Dr. Karen Rogers and Dr. Victoria Damiani) and Collected Wisdom: Reflections of Three Neuber-Pregler Award Winners (also featuring Dr. David Mason and Ted Davis).

Featured Speaker: Andy Mahoney

Andy Mahoney earned his bachelor's degree at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, his master's at Western Illinois University and completed postgraduate work in counselor education, supervision and family therapy at Virginia Polytechnic Institute. He has taught at George Mason University. Mahoney was a long-standing executive board member and the past chair of the Counseling and Guidance Division of the National Association of Gifted Children. He also is a trainer and supervisor of counselors. For more than 20 years, Mahoney, a Licensed Professional Counselor and Marriage and Family Therapist, has explored and developed frameworks for the counseling and psychotherapy of gifted and talented people. He works with clients individually, in groups and with their families. Nationally, he often presents his work at conferences, symposiums, consultations and training workshops for fellow counselors, educators and parents. His focus on identity offers a new and original perspective.  You can learn more about Mr. Mahoney by visiting his website, http://www.counselingthegifted.com.

Join Mr. Mahoney on both Thursday, April 22nd, and Friday, April 23rd, as he presents three different sessions: The Challenges of Parenting and Teaching Gifted Children, The Price of Achievement, and Early Indicators: Revealing Learning Problems for the Twice Exceptional.

Featured Speaker: Dr. Kim Maguire

Dr. Kim Maguire has been involved in gifted education for more than fifteen years, as a parent, teacher, and school district Director of Gifted Education. She earned her doctorate in Gifted Education, Curriculum and Teaching at Columbia University, and is currently the Director of Curriculum and Instruction at the Delaware County Intermediate Unit. She has presented on topics in gifted education at numerous conferences and workshops, and created and leads an annual Gifted Education Regional Conference in southeastern Pennsylvania. Dr. Maguire believes that equity in education demands that we challenge all learners to reach their full potential, including high-ability or gifted students.

Join Dr. Maguire on Thursday, April 22nd, for her full-day session GIEPs: New Forms, Enhanced Functions.

The Art of Learning

Courtesy of the JW Foundation, the first 600 conference registrants will receive a complimentary copy of the book The Art of Learning, written by Josh Waitzkin.  Josh was the subject of the book and movie Searching for Bobby Fischer and was the keynote speaker at this year's NAGC convention.

Conference Schedule

Wednesday, April 21st

• Registration -- 7:30 P.M.–9 P.M.

Thursday, April 22nd

• Breakfast for Hotel Guests -- Beginning at 6 A.M.
• Exhibit Hall Open -- 11 A.M.-9 P.M.
• Registration -- 7 A.M.–8:15 A.M.
• Graduate Students’ Meeting -- 8 A.M.
• Full-Day Sessions -- 8:30 A.M.–3:30 P.M. (includes one hour for lunch on your own)
• Half-Day Sessions -- 8:30 A.M.-11:30 A.M. and 12:30 P.M.-3:30 P.M.
• President's Reception -- 7:30 P.M.-8:30 P.M.
  
• Registration -- 7:30 P.M.-9 P.M.

Friday, April 23rd

• Breakfast for Hotel Guests -- Beginning at 6 A.M.
• Exhibit Hall Open -- 7 A.M.-6 P.M.
• Registration -- 7 A.M.–8 A.M.
• Graduate Students’ Meeting -- 7:30 A.M.
• Opening Remarks and Keynote Address -- 8:00 A.M.-9:45 A.M.
• Breakout Session A -- 10 A.M.-11 A.M.
• Breakout Session B -- 11:15 A.M.-12:15 P.M.
• Lunch (included with registration) -- 12:15 P.M.-1:45 P.M. 
• Lunch consists of chicken Dijon served with pasta Primavera.  Please email PAGEgoes2Mars@gmail.com if you require a vegetarian meal.
• Breakout Session C -- 1:45 P.M.-2:45 P.M.
• Breakout Session D -- 3 P.M.-4 P.M.
• PAGE Business Meeting -- 4:15-5 P.M.
• Networking Night (open to all PAGE members, regardless of conference registration) -- 7:30 P.M.-9 P.M.

Saturday, April 24th

• Breakfast for Hotel Guests -- Beginning at 6 A.M.
• Exhibit Hall Open -- 7 A.M.-3:30 P.M.
• Registration -- 7 A.M.–8 A.M.
• Children’s Program (for students in grades 3-8; sponsored by Commonwealth Connections Academy) -- 8 A.M.-3 P.M.
• Opening Remarks and Keynote Address -- 8:00 A.M.-9:45 A.M.
• Breakout Session A -- 10 A.M.-11 A.M.
• Breakout Session B -- 11:15 A.M.-12:15 P.M.
• Boxed Lunch Available (included with registration) -- 11:30 P.M.-1 P.M.  
• Lunch consists of a smoked turkey croissant served with pasta salad.  Please email PAGEgoes2Mars@gmail.com if you require a vegetarian meal.
• Breakout Session C --12:45 P.M.-1:45 P.M.
• Breakout Session D -- 2 P.M.-3 P.M.

What's New at This Year's Conference

PAGE is headed to Mars!  Join us for our next conference from April 22nd through April 24th at the Four Points North by Sheraton Hotel in Mars, PA.  In keeping with the theme of Exploring New Worlds in Gifted Education, this year’s conference will include many new and exciting features.

New Location.  This year’s conference will be at the Sheraton Hotel in Mars, about 30 miles north of Pittsburgh.  Located near the intersection of Interstate 79 and the Pennsylvania turnpike, the hotel is easily accessible from the major highways.  Parking is free, and there are many attractions within a 30-minute drive, including the Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh, Hartwood Acres, and the Grove City Outlets.  Rooms are available for $120 per night and include a full breakfast.  To reserve your room, call the toll-free reservation line, (888) 627-8175, making sure to mention the PAGE conference to get this special rate, or visit www.starwoodmeeting.com/book/PAGE2010.

New Technology.  Keep up with the latest conference news on this blog.  In addition, you can also network with parents and teachers of gifted children throughout Pennsylvania and talk about the conference at the PAGE Goes to Mars site on Facebook, http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=139031349787.

New Session Strands.  In order to assist in planning your schedule, each breakout session will be classified in one of ten strands.  These strands are:
•    Assessment and Identification
•    Computers and Technology
•    Counseling and Guidance
•    Creativity and the Arts
•    Curriculum and Instruction
•    Foundations of Gifted Education
•    Math and Science
•    Parent and Community
•    Programming and Services
•    Special Populations

Expanded Keynotes.  Friday will feature Dr. Karen Rogers of The University of St. Thomas providing and update on the latest research in gifted education, while Saturday will begin with Dr. Jean Peterson of Purdue University discussing the importance of social and emotional issues when advocating for gifted learners.  Both women will speak for 75 minutes, providing conference attendees with more in-depth information about these important topics.

More Invited Presenters.  In order to offer a wide range of sessions, we have developed a schedule consisting of more invited presenters than ever before.  On Thursday, a mix of full- and half-day sessions will be offered by Dr. Mary Slade of James Madison University (“Best Practices for Meeting the Needs of All Gifted Learners”); Dr. Ann Shoplik of C-MITES (“Developing Mathematical Talent”); Andy Mahoney, counselor of the gifted (“The Challenges of Parenting and Teaching Gifted Children”); and Dr. Kim Maguire of the Delaware County Intermediate Unit (“GIEPs: New Forms, Enhanced Functions”).  To lead breakout sessions on Friday and Saturday, we have:

• Dr. Karen Rogers (“Do Australians Do It Better? An Outsider’s Perspective of Education Down Under” and “Teachers Who Make a Difference in Gifted Children’s Lives”)
• Dr. Jean Peterson (“Bullying of and by Gifted Students” and “Parenting Gifted Kids: A Counselor’s Perspective”)
• Andy Mahoney (“The Price of Achievement” and “Early Indicators: Revealing Learning Problems for the Twice Exceptional”)
• Dr. Victoria Damiani of Indiana University of Pennsylvania (“Understanding Your Child’s Assessment: What Do Those Tests Really Tell You?” and "Resources for Gifted Preschoolers")
• Linda Deal of Millersville University (“Perfectionism in Gifted Students: Burden or Bonus?” “Creativity: A Gift to Be Fostered,” and “Due Process: Views from the Sides”)
• Dr. Carol Frieze of Carnegie Mellon University (“Encouraging the Participation of Girls and Women in Computer Science: Research and Action”)
• Dr. Jennifer Rotigel of Indiana University of Pennsylvania (“What Do Colleges and Universities Teach Their Students about Gifted Education”)
• Dr. Mary Ann Swiatek, psychologist and researcher (“Ability Grouping: Helpful or Harmful?” “Gender and Giftedness,” and “Questions and Answers about Academic Acceleration”)
• Charles Jelley, attorney ("Legal Issues in Gifted Education")  
• Dr. Diane Williams of The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (“Challenges to Learning: Gifted Children and the Autism Spectrum”)
  

First Annual President’s Panel.  Led by PAGE President Dr. Judith Mosse, this year’s panel will consist of Drs. Karen Rogers, Ann Shoplik, and Victoria Damiani.  These leaders in gifted education will be available to answer any questions you may have.

Networking Night.  On the evening of Friday, April 23rd, we will host a networking night at the hotel that will be open to all PAGE members.  Conference registration is not required to attend this event, which is sponsored by the North Allegheny PAGE Affiliate.  Join fellow parents and teachers from across the state to discuss what is happening in your district and hear what others are doing and experiencing throughout the state.

New Award.  PAGE has established a Service and Scholarship Award exclusively for children of our members.  This award, which will be presented for the first time at this year’s conference, honors 10th, 11th and 12th graders who have demonstrated leadership and excellence in both academics and community service.  This year’s honoree will receive a $500 award to apply toward an academic or service endeavor of his or her choosing.

More Prizes.  We are currently exploring various opportunities for sponsors and vendors.  As such, we will be offering more prizes.  In addition to our traditional raffle (used to support the new Scholarship and Service Award), we will be featuring an Exhibit Hall stamp card program.  By visiting selected vendors, all participants can be entered in a drawing for a number of prizes, including a free three-day registration to the 2011 PAGE conference in Harrisburg.  No purchase is necessary in order to participate in this raffle.

The registration form for the conference will be published in the December issue of the PAGE newsletter UPDATE and can also be found online at www.giftedPAGE.org.  You can also receive a copy of the registration form by emailing PAGEgoes2Mars@gmail.com or by calling the toll-free PAGE Helpline at (888) 736-6443.

Invitation for Exhibitors

Dear Exhibitor:

The 2010 Pennsylvania Association for Gifted Education (PAGE) State Conference will be held at the Four Points North by Sheraton Hotel from April 22nd through 24th in Mars, Pennsylvania, located approximately 30 minutes north of Pittsburgh.  Approximately 500 educators and parents are expected to attend the conference.  The conference will also include a one-day student program.

This year’s featured speakers include:
•    Dr. Karen Rogers of The University of St. Thomas, the author of Re-Forming Gifted Education: Matching the Program to the Child
•    Dr. Mary Slade of James Madison University, an editor of Aiming for Excellence: Annotations to the NAGC PK-12 Gifted Program Standards
•    Dr. Jean Peterson of Purdue University, the author of The Essential Guide to Talking with Gifted Teens
•    Dr. Ann Lupkowski Shoplik of Carnegie Mellon University, the co-author of Developing Mathematical Talent: A Guide for Challenging and Educating Gifted Students.

This is an excellent opportunity for your company to exhibit and sell your products and services. Many of the conference attendees look forward to viewing and purchasing materials for their classrooms and children.  To encourage participants to visit the Exhibit Hall, each conference attendee will receive a stamp card.  After visiting eight different exhibitors, each participant may enter a drawing for a variety of prizes, including a free registration for the 2011 PAGE conference.  While all exhibitors will be part of this stamp card program at no additional charge, you do have the option of being a mandatory stop.  For an additional fee, all participants would be required to visit your booth in order to be entered in the drawing.  A limited number of these opportunities is available; see the post below or contact me for all pricing information.

Various opportunities for sponsorship are also available.  Please see the post below for more information.

Please let me know as soon as possible if you intend to be a part of the 2010 PAGE Conference.  As soon as payment is received, your company will be listed on our website with a link to your website.  You will be listed in the program as well as the spring issue of our quarterly newsletter if we have your paid application no later than March 1, 2010.

Please contact me if you have any questions or need additional information.

Sincerely,
Amy Villa
Pittsburgh Gifted Center, Room C-12
1400 Crucible Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15205
(412) 323-3966
avilla1@pghboe.net

Exhibitor Registration Form

The Pennsylvania Association for Gifted Education
Annual State Conference -- April 22-24, 2010 -- Mars, PA

EXHIBITOR’S REGISTRATION

Note: This form will also be available on the PAGE website (www.giftedPAGE.org) beginning in November.  You can also receive the form by email by contacting either Amy Villa at avilla1@pghboe.net or Dan Rosenberg at PAGEgoes2Mars@gmail.com.


Please type or print the following information as it should appear in the Official Program.

Exhibit Representative:

Company/Organization:

Street Address:

City, State, Zip:

Contact Person:

Phone Number:

Fax:

Email Address:

Type of Material Being Displayed:

Website:

Authorized Signature:

Date:


Electrical Outlet Required?  YES     NO

The cost for a full table (6’ x 30”, with skirt and 2 chairs) is $250.  Each additional table costs $225.  Please send payment along with this application.  Make check payable to: PAGE, Inc.  Please respond promptly, as table space is limited.  Refunds for cancellations will be made only if notice is received by March 1, 2009, and if another exhibitor can use the space reserved by the canceling exhibitor.  Exhibitors may set up as early as 3 P.M. on Wednesday, April 21, 2010.  The exhibit area will be open from 11 A.M.-9 P.M. on April 22nd, from 7 A.M.-6 P.M. on April 23rd, and from 7 A.M.-3:30 P.M. on April 24th.  Lunch is included on both April 23rd and April 24th.

_____Table exhibit: $250
_____Additional tables: $225 each
_____Display space (flyers only): $50
_____Flyers included in the folders of all participants: $100
_____Mandatory stop in the Exhibit Hall stamp card incentive program: $200
_____Provide Door Prizes
_____Present workshop at one of our sessions   
_____Ad in Program (camera-ready ad must accompany payment and be received no later than March 1, 2010)

• 1/6 page: $75 if exhibit table purchased; $100 otherwise
  
• 1/3 page: $130 if exhibit table purchased; $175 otherwise
  
• ½ page: $205 if exhibit table purchased; $275 otherwise
• full page: $395 if exhibit table purchased; $525 otherwise 

Total Amount Enclosed  $_______________

Check #____________________   

Mail payment and completed form to:  
Amy Villa
Pittsburgh Gifted Center, Room C-12
1400 Crucible Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15205

Call for Sponsors

The 2010 conference of the Pennsylvania Association for Gifted Education will occur on Thursday, April 22nd through Saturday April, 24th at the Four Points North by Sheraton in Mars.  I hope that you will consider one of the following sponsorship opportunities.

Platinum Sponsor: $5,000
•    Name and logo noted with all mentions of the conference
•    Logo in all advertising and on front cover of the conference program
•    Prominent position on the conference page of our website
•    Signage at the event
•    Full-page advertisement in conference program
•    Year-long promotion on both the PAGE website (with link) and quarterly PAGE newsletter
•    Recognition at general sessions on both Friday, April 23rd and Saturday, April 24th
•    Exhibitor’s booth
•    Inclusion as a mandatory stop on our exhibit hall stamp card incentive program
•    Opportunity to address all conference attendees and to introduce a keynote speaker (either Dr. Karen Rogers or Dr. Jean Peterson)

Gold Sponsor: $2,500
•    Name and logo noted with all mentions of the conference
•    Logo in all advertising, in the conference program, and on the conference page of our website
•    Signage at the event
•    Half-page advertisement in conference program
•    Recognition at general sessions on both Friday, April 23rd and Saturday, April 24th
•    Exhibitor’s booth
•    Year-long promotion on both the PAGE website (with link) and quarterly PAGE newsletter

Event Sponsor: $1,000
•    Name noted with all mentions of the conference, including on the conference page of our website
•    Signage at the event
•    Quarter-page advertisement in conference program
•    Recognition at event sponsored (e.g., President’s reception, featured presentation, networking night)
•    Exhibitor’s booth
•    Year-long promotion on both the PAGE website (with link) and quarterly PAGE newsletter

Thank you again for your consideration and support of PAGE.  I look forward to hearing from you regarding this sponsorship opportunity.

Sincerely yours,
Daniel M. Rosenberg
Second Vice President
2010 Conference Co-Chair
PAGEgoes2Mars@gmail.com

Join Us on Facebook!

Join the PAGE Goes to Mars group on Facebook!  Ask questions, share ideas and network.

New Location!

This year's PAGE conference will be held at the Four Points North by Sheraton Hotel in Mars, a suburb of Pittsburgh. Ample free parking is available, and the hotel is within a 30-minute drive to various attractions, including downtown Pittsburgh, the Carnegie Museums, Hartwood Acres, and the Grove City Outlet Mall. In addition, numerous shops and restaurants are within a one mile radius.

Room rates are $120 per night, with breakfast included for hotel guests. Contact the hotel at (724) 776-6900 or visit http://www.starwoodmeeting.com/Book/PAGE2010 to make your reservation. You must mention the PAGE conference in order to qualify for this discounted rate.

Flying In?

Super Shuttle has offered a special promotion for PAGE conference attendees. Round trip transportation from the airport to the Sheraton is $34. Book online at www.supershuttle.com, making sure to indicate promotion code QKC3V.

Children's Program

Commonwealth Connections Academy is sponsoring this year's Children's Program. It will occur on the last day of the conference (April 24th). More details to follow.

Keynote Speaker: Dr. Jean Peterson

Dr. Jean Sunde Peterson, professor and coordinator of school counselor preparation at Purdue University, was a classroom teacher for many years and was involved in teacher education prior to graduate work in counseling at The University of Iowa. A licensed mental health counselor with considerable experience counseling gifted youth and their families, she conducts school-based workshops on academic underachievement, cultural values as related to identification for special programs, prevention-oriented school counseling, listening skills for teachers, and social and emotional development of high-ability students-all of these related to her practitioner-oriented research. She is author of The Essential Guide to Talking with Gifted Teens and co-editor of Models of Counseling Gifted Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults, among over 80 publications. She is currently a member of NAGC’s Board of Directors and formerly was chair of the organization’s Counseling and Guidance Division.

Join us on Saturday, April 24, 2010, to hear Dr. Peterson's keynote address, Social and Emotional Concerns: Essential for Advocacy. Dr. Peterson will then present two additional sessions: Bullying of and by Gifted Students and Parenting Gifted Kids: A Counselor's Perspective.

Look for Dr. Peterson's recent article, "The Role of Teachers When Gifted Students Experience Negative Life Events," in the next issue of UPDATE, PAGE's quarterly newsletter.

Keynote Speaker: Dr. Karen Rogers

Dr. Karen Rogers is Professor of Gifted Studies at The University of St. Thomas in Minnesota. She began teaching gifted children in 1967 and has been involved with them ever since, receiving two Master’s degrees in gifted education and a doctorate in Gifted Curriculum and Instructional Systems. Dr. Rogers spent three years as Director of Research for GERRIC at the University of New South Wales. She has served on the Board of Directors for NAGC and is a Past President of The Council for Exceptional Children. Dr. Rogers is on the editorial boards of most of the major journals in the field, including Journal for Advanced Academics, Roeper Review, Gifted Child Quarterly, and Gifted and Talented International. She has written more than 100 journal articles, a similar number of magazine articles, three books (include Re-Forming Gifted Education: Matching the Program to the Child), and 20 book chapters. She also wrote and co-produced a ten-part television series called One Step Ahead. In addition, she has evaluated numerous schools, gifted programs, gifted curricula, and gifted research projects.

Join us on Friday, April 23, 2010, to hear Dr. Rogers's keynote address, An Update on the Latest Research in Gifted Education. You can also hear two additional breakout sessions led by Dr. Rogers on that day: Do Australians Do It Better? An Outsider's Perspective of Education "Down Under" and Teachers Who Make a Difference in Gifted Children's Lives. Then, join an interactive panel of Dr. Rogers along with Dr. Ann Lupkowski Shoplik of C-MITES and Dr. Victoria Damiani of Indiana University of Pennsylvania. These three leaders in the field of gifted education will be on hand to answer your questions.

Take a "sneak peek" at Dr. Rogers's session Teachers Who Make a Difference in Gifted Children's Lives by accessing a PowerPoint of that presentation at www.scgifted.org/Keynote.ppt. (Note: After clicking this link, you may need to manually change the URL so that the "K" in keynote is capitalized in order to access this presentation.)

Featured Speaker: Dr. Mary Slade

Dr. Mary Slade is an Associate Professor in the Department of Exceptional Education at James Madison University. She received her B.S. in Elementary Education with an emphasis in secondary English from Longwood College, and her Master’s and Doctorate from the University of Virginia. Dr. Slade has taught in higher education for 20 years and currently serves primarily as an instructor in the area of gifted education. Previously she taught in elementary, middle, and high schools as a fourth-grade, gifted education, and English teacher. She is a member of the Board of Directors of NAGC, and won the Early Leader Award from that organization in 1997. Over the past 15 years Dr. Slade has presented over 200 in-service sessions to educators in pre-K-12 education, and has written more than 175 professional papers, several articles, book chapters, and reports as well as three books. She is also one of the editors of Aiming for Excellence: Annotations to the NAGC PK-12 Gifted Program Standards.

Join us on Thursday, April 22, 2010, for Dr. Slade's full-day session Best Practices for Meeting the Needs of All Gifted Learners.

Visit http://www.softconference.com/nagc/sessionDetail.asp?SID=178291 to hear Dr. Slade's recent webinar entitled Classroom Indicators of Giftedness. The session is free for members of NAGC.

PAGE Is Going to Mars!

Come to the 2010 Conference of the Pennsylvania Association for Gifted Education (PAGE) in Mars, PA!

April 22nd through 24th at the Four Points by Sheraton North.