SENG Honor Roll

Alabama

Alaska

Arizona

Elizabeth Burley
Gateways School for the Gifted

Heidi Johnson
Gateways School for the Gifted

John Katz
Gateways School for the Gifted

Karen Mensing
Sonoran Sky Elementary School

Kip Perkins
Gateways School for the Gifted

Barbara Rosenberg
Gateways School for the Gifted

Arkansas

California

Jason Baeten
Julia Morgan School for Girls

Bruce Harlan
St. Matthew's Parish School

Cindie Jue-Leong
Joaquin Miller Elementary School

Mary Oates
Central Unified School District Office - Educational Services  

Jennifer Reed
Acacia Elementary School

Paul Rotaru
STAR Prep Academy

Susan Stueber
The Archer School for Girls

Colorado

Mary Ann Miller
West Elementary Schools

Anne Shargel
West Elementary School

Connecticut

Katie Augustyn
Connecticut Association of the Gifted Board of Directors

Lisa Kaplan
Tracey School

Cara Martin
Holmes School

Robert McCain
Nathan Hale Middle School

Kerstin Warner
Bedford Middle School

Delaware

District of Columbia

Florida

Hank Dewhurst
Miami Killian Senior High School

Kathleen L. Casper
Ridgecrest Elementary School

Linda Rich
Seacrest Country Day School

Georgia

Pamela Hendrix
Thomas Crossroads Elementary School

Hawaii

Idaho

Illinois

Kathleen Cochrane
Stuart R. Paddock Elementary School

Mary Ellen Hodapp
Mundelein School District #75

Jeanette Holliday
Broadmeadow School

Susan Posmer
Traughber Junior High School

Barb Zailyk
Townline Elementary

Terri Zazove
Sunset Ridge School

Indiana

Richard Reese
John Glenn School Corporation

Iowa

Kansas

Andy Bricker
Lawrence High School  

Pam Davis
Baldwin High School
Conference Registration Winner!

Mike Ortmann
Lawrence High School  

Cynthia Rhodes
Andale High School
Conference Registration Winner!

Vicki Sisco
Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy

Kentucky

Amy Cordrey
Goshen Elementary School at Hillcrest

Melissa Ford
Flaherty Elementary School

Louisiana

Peggy Gaffney
Metairie Academy for Advanced Studies

Maine

Gail Gibson
Mapleton Elementary School

Maryland

Massachusetts

Cynthia DeAngelis
McCall Middle School, Winchester Public Schools

Michigan

Allyson Apsey
Grand Traverse Academy

Heidi Gauger
Dearborn Heights Montessori Center

Susan Knight
Novi Meadows Elementary School

Noble Newman
Brighton Area Schools

Minnesota

Monica Bowler
Friedell Middle School

David Eisenstat
Salem Hills Elementary

Kathy Gerber
Salem Hills Elementary

Mississippi

Missouri

Montana

Diane Gallagher
Roosevelt Middle School

Nebraska

Nevada

New Hampshire

Joyce Igo
Henry W. Moore

New Jersey

Mrs. Mallozzi
J.A. Coles Elementary School

New Mexico

New York

Nancy Biamonte
La Grange Middle School

Jenn Chason
Pawling Elementary School

Matt Herz
Pawling Elementary School

Eric Tarsia
Vail Farm Elementary School  

Bonnie Walmsley
Karigon Elementary School

North Carolina

Lois Pipkin
Hillsborough, NC

North Dakota

Ohio

Laurie Frank
Sycamore Schools

Stacy Hawthorne
Claggett Middle School

Loi Latscha
Nativity School

June Trenty
Heritage Elementary School

Laurel Williams
McDowell Elementary,
Hudson City School District

Oklahoma

Oregon

Keely Porter
Byrom Elementary School

Pennsylvania

Donna Bulatowicz
Pope John Paul Regional Elementary

Sarah Gerding
Jarrettown Elementary School

Debbie Kinard
Lincoln Elementary School

Nancy Krial
Durham Nockamixon Elementary School

Dorina Passio
Pine Run Elementary School  

Rhode Island

Molly Therrien
Wakefield Elementary School

South Carolina

South Dakota

Tennessee

Texas

Miriam Antich
Parish Episcopal School

Lisa Ayoub
Morehead Middle School

Richard Bouchard
Rainard School

Jorge Jacquez
MoreHead Middle School

Christie McWilliams
Cy-Fair High School

Joshua Noah
Rainard School for Gifted Children

Utah

Vermont

Virginia

Mrs. McLellan
Hope Montessori School
Conference Registration Winner!

Washington

Karen DeBruler
Apollo Elementary School

West Virginia

Wisconsin

Dorothy Witzeling
Odyssey

Gretchen Yagow
Eagle River Elementary School

Wyoming

International

New Zealand

Frances Hill
Alpha Education Consultancy Ltd

Letters of Nomination

Read on for wonderful testimonials about the SENG Honor Roll nominees, listed in alphabetical order. Or click on a name above to jump to the nominee's testimonial below:

Miriam Antich

Parish Episcopal School

Dallas, TX

Miriam Antich is tireless in her work making math fun and accessible.  In addition to teaching her regular classes, she runs several levels of math clubs.  My son has participated in MathCounts after school with her for several years and always comes home enthused and ready to show me new concepts or tricks.  She is continually working after school and weekends to give our kids a great start in math.

Allyson Apsey

Grand Traverse Academy

Traverse City, MI

As an extraordinary advocate for gifted students, Allyson Apsey, is like no other, succeeding where others have failed.

As principal at Grand Traverse Academy, Mrs. Apsey uses her creativity and out-of-the-box thinking to ensure profoundly gifted students receive the education they crave. She removes boundaries to assure school-system issues do not prevent appropriate placement for these learners. Mrs. Apsey works unceasingly to seek opportunities for review, re-evaluation and modification of cirricula and teaching strategies while also looking out for students' intellectual, social and emotional well-beings.

Allyson Apsey is a true education professional and is extremely deserving to be recognized and honored for her tireless work and dedication to the profoundly gifted.

Katie Augustyn

Connecticut Association of the Gifted Board of Directors

Westport, CT

Katie Augustyn is the President of the Connecticut Association for the Gifted (CAG) and Board Member of the National Association of Gifted Children. She is a tireless advocate on behalf of gifted children. She is a trusted advisor on gifted issues to administrations, parents, teachers, children and specialists in the field. Within CAG, Katie leads CAG to statewide levels of influence. Katie travels throughout Connecticut doing presentations and providing invaluable information on gifted children. Examples of Katie's activities on behalf of gifted children include: radio shows, meetings with Connecticut Department of Education officials, lobbying the Connecticut legislature, setting up Minds in Motion day-long enrichment activities for gifted children with sessions for parents and teachers, providing written materials for parents and teachers on the challenges of gifted children, supporting teachers through conference grants, recognizing gifted children's achievements through special awards, and serving on the planning committee for the Urban Gifted Showcase.

Lisa Ayoub

Morehead Middle School

El Paso, TX

Kind, understanding and willing to accept and nurture all children blessed by her teaching style. Wonderful, kind science teacher for the gifted!

Jason Baeten

Julia Morgan School for Girls

Oakland, CA

It is with great joy and appreciation that I nominate Jason Baeten, Assistant Middle School Director of Julia Morgan School for Girls, for the SENG Honor Roll. Jason was my daughter's 6th grade advisor and math teacher this year and he went out of his way to provide her the support that she needed in making the transition from elementary school to middle school.  Jason spent extra time with my daughter and met with me as well to determine the best strategies to address her uniqueness and how she could succeed to her fullest potential in helping herself and others. Jason exhibits the characteristics of a true education professional; he has a great understanding of educational methods and theories and his application of core constructs has given him a bulk of experience. Jason is well aware of ALL of his students' uniqueness and social and emotional needs.  We are very thankful that Jason was there for us this year. Thanks, Jason, for making a difference in our lives!

Nancy Biamonte

La Grange Middle School

La Grangeville, NY

On the occasion of the retirement of my colleague, educator Nancy Biamonte, I nominate Mrs. Biamonte to the SENG Honor Roll Award.   For the last 20 years, Mrs. Biamonte has run our MathCounts Club. She has mentored and inspired many gifted and talented students, and she has exhibited a sensitivity to the affective needs of these students as well as to their academic needs.  Her efforts have helped our students achieve confidence, success and satisfaction—and an appreciation for challenge.  She led our team to victories at least 12 times, selflessly giving up many weekends to accompany the team to statewide competitions at RPI. Mrs. Biamonte has helped our students maintain their joy of learning, and for her important influence on our gifted students, she is deserving of recognition via this honor. 

New SENG Honor Roll recipient Nancy Biamonte, from the Arlington Central School District in New York, receives her certificate of award from Superintendant Frank Pepe and SENG Executive Director Amy Price, with help from Mrs. Biamonte’s former students.

Richard Bouchard

Rainard School

Houston, TX

"Dr. B." has been doing the admission screening for Rainard School, which is for gifted students, for over 20 years. He greets each child with enthusiasm and complete acceptance, establishing instant rapport with both the timid and the wild. In less than an hour, he is able to employ his 60 years in education to learn a wealth of information about that child's intellect and heart. When he sits down to share the results with parents, they often sigh or cry with relief over confirmation of their intuition, and they come away from their meeting with a better understanding of how to serve their gifted child's needs. He has met with hundreds of gifted children over the years, and they were each better for the experience.

Monica Bowler

Friedell Middle School

Rochester, MN

Monica Bowler is the principal of Friedell Middle School, which hosts a brand new school within a school for highly gifted students.  She has actively sought to learn about the needs and methods of educating gifted and highly gifted students.  She also led her staff to learn about giftedness.  She encourages them to truly differentiate instruction and assignments for their students.

When a possible special program for highly gifted middle school students was discussed, she expressed interest in having it start at Friedell as soon as possible.  She arranged for a professor of gifted education from an area university to travel to Friedell to offer courses leading to certification in gifted education.  She encouraged all of her staff to enroll, and the vast majority of them are taking the courses.

All of this study paved the way for the implementation of extended classes for gifted and high achieving students in 2005.  The knowledge and insight the staff gained also
helped them to prepare for the first class of HG students who started last September.  Monica herself has made it possible for students to take above grade level classes. She has encouraged and supported her teachers to allow independent study and alternative assignments for students who need them.  She facilitates the grouping of students in classes based on their needs so that students with similar needs can be instructed together and benefit from regular contact with their intellectual peers.

Monica continues to listen to input from parents in general and from our advocacy group in particular.  She implements requests and improvements when they are feasible.
For instance, Monica encourages flexible grouping when placing Friedell students in math classes so that they will be challenged and stimulated. As a result, about half of he 6th grade math sections offered at Friedell are above-grade-level classes.

Anyone who knows Monica can attest to her passion and enthusiasm for education, for her students, and for her staff.  She truly cares for and values each individual student at Friedell and wants them to be happy and enjoy learning. She has cultivated a collaborative and respectful leadership style. She has been a courageous leader in gifted education within the Rochester school district.  Her dedication is inspiring.

Monica Bowler has led her staff to implement improvements which have improved the education of both gifted students and the entire student population at Friedell Middle School.  Monica and her entire staff are to be commended for the time and effort they have invested in learning about and addressing the needs of gifted students.  Monica continues to advocate for changes to better meet the needs of gifted students both in the HG program and throughout the school. Monica truly deserves to be honored for her great work and dedication to gifted students.

Lawrence High School

Lawrence, KS

My daughter transferred to an out-of-district school last year, for her junior year in high school - in order to take more advanced classes than were offered in our small town school. Mr. Bricker, a physics teacher at Lawrence High School, knew nothing about my daughter, yet 3 days after classes started he accepted her into his AP Physics class even though she had not taken Intro to Physics and had not yet taken Calculus - just on the word of the Intro to Physics teacher that her abilities were beyond his class. Even though science and math have always been my daughter's strength, I was concerned that this was a big step for her, given the much slower pace her previous high school had moved her through these classes. Mr. Bricker not only gave her a chance he helped to inspire her and motivate her to use her skills. Not only did my daughter's confidence level in her abilities grow as she met the challenges he offered her, but he pushed her even beyond the classroom. In the Spring, he encouraged her to apply for a paid internship at the University of Kansas in the particle physics department; he had nominated her and a few of his other students for these positions. This turned out to be a wonderful experience for my daughter, she learned a tremendous amount during this internship and the group was provided a trip to Fermi National Accelerator Lab in Chicago. The whole experience really contributed to my daughter fully realizing her potential and the limitless possibilities for her future. Throughout everything Mr. Bricker was always there to challenge and encourage my daughter to use her skills and expand them, for this I am extremely grateful and feel that Mr. Bricker deserves acknowledgement for the steps he takes to push his students, as I know that my daughter is not the only person who benefits from such an amazing, caring teacher.

Donna Bulatowicz

Pope John Paul Regional Elementary School

West Brandywine, PA

My son's education has been tough. Five years at a public school mislabeled and with plummeting self esteem, a stint at an online charter school with a gifted program that was unorganized and only "gifted" in name, and countless other obstacles. A part of our bittersweet experience was being a part of SIG, Summer Institute for the Gifted, a gifted camp that was wonderful. It was bittersweet as we tried to compare other educational outlets to this extraordinary experience. We interviewed public and private schools from our town to over an hour away from us. Nothing seemed to be a fit to bring a thriving education to our son; until we found the present school he is in. This is where Ms. Bulatowicz comes in.

Ms. Bulatowicz was gifted herself and understands not only the intellectual challenges of a gifted child but also the emotional and social needs as well. She is his seventh grade teacher and though she is in initial development of proposing a gifted program, she is not a specific gifted teacher. What is incredible about this, is that it is easier to be a gifted or enrichment teacher when you have a group of only gifted youth; yet Ms. Bulatowicz has the ability to have a mixed level classroom with all very different needs and meet all of those needs. So, I speak not only for my own experience but the observations for all the youth. She, I feels, not only acknowledges and can develop the gifted who are labeled as such as my son has been but, more importantly initiates the giftedness in all of the youth. As many know, the diagnoses per se, of a gifted child is tough, because not all gifted fit into neat boxes and since gifts vary, and testing does not, many youth with gifts are unnoticed; yet not with Ms. Bulatowicz.

She is a teacher who exemplifies superior teaching, by not only bringing children to their height, but by being strong enough to create boundaries and a safety and respect that encourages the intellectual, social and emotional lives of each student that she teaches. This is why, with the highest respect, I nominate this fine educator. She sets an example not only for other gifted educators but for educators in our country to aspire to. I can only hope that by programs like this, the Honor Roll, the standards of education will rise as the acknowledgement of educators who have touched lives across the United States are honored; and to us, Ms. Bulatowicz could easily be the spokesperson for giftedness, from experience in gifted programs as a gifted youth and adult, and an educator.  She understands giftedness from the inside out.

Elizabeth Burley

Gateways School for the Gifted

Tucson, AZ

Elizabeth Burley has developed a school (Gateways School for the Gifted) that supports gifted children in both emotional and academic areas. She has provided a much needed resource in Tucson. Her creative, persistent, tireless efforts have truly resulted in something special.

Kathleen L. Casper

Ridgecrest Elementary School

Largo, FL

Kathleen Casper is an all round outstanding gifted teacher in the full-time gifted program at Ridgecrest Elementary School. She was my daughter's 4th grade teacher and we will never forget her devotion and energy. Ms. Casper created an atmosphere in which my daughter blossomed and felt free to express herself academically, socially, and emotionally.

Kathleen Casper doesn't treat her students as a homogenous group of gifted students preparing for a test, but as individual and independent learners who value the subject being taught as much as she does. She is a creative thinker who demonstrates that learning does not stop outside of the schoolyard, and that real life applications are more than just theoretical classroom assignments. Kathleen capitalizes on her gifted children's intense interests, curiosity, and individual gifted traits, thus earning their trust so they feel confident to activate their higher level thinking talents both inside and outside the classroom environment. In addition, Kathleen Casper is an unbiased open and clear communicator to both parents and children, which creates an inviting and friendly atmosphere for everyone involved.

In her one year with Ms. Casper, my daughter stepped out of her role as thoughtful observer to run for and win a position on the student council, volunteer as a math mentor to younger children, have many of her creative writings receive both local and national recognition, and earn her first gold medal on her science fair project. It is clear to me that Kathleen Casper's knowledge of gifted learners and her devoted attention to their social and emotional wellbeing, in addition to her devotion to their academic wellbeing, contributed greatly to my daughter's success in these areas throughout 4th grade. Kathleen Casper�s knowledge and passion for the content she teaches, her love of teaching gifted children, and her ability to inspire her students to reach their gifted potential shine through with each and every encounter.

Jenn Chason

Pawling Elementary School

Pawling, NY

Jenn Chason is an outstanding first grade teacher at Pawling Elementary School in Dutchess County, NY. In the spirit of adventure in learning, Jenn whole-heartedly agreed to take our kindergarten daughter into her first grade class. Several things made this extraordinary. First, whole grade acceleration in New York State is currently out of favor. Secondly, there were only seven weeks left to the school year. But that didn't intimidate Jenn. Courage.

We had agreed to transition our daughter per the principal's recommendation, half-day split between kindergarten and first grade for two weeks before full-day first grade. Of course we were all anxious about how this transition would go. Jenn kept us updated at the end of every day via email and was very responsive to our questions and concerns. Jenn dove into the material gathered for her by our daughter's assessor, the school's enrichment teacher, and ourselves. Interest. Dedication.

On day two of the transition period, our daughter wrote Jenn a note asking to be in Jenn's first grade class all day. I later learned from the principal that Jenn went running into the office waving the note with excitement, "You're not going to believe this!" From the start she was a champion for our daughter. By day three of first grade, our daughter had advanced five reading levels. On day four Jenn asked permission to have a special lunch just with her because Jenn read in multiple sources about interest inventories and she would like to sit down and do one with her which she did on day 5. Passion.

We wish to nominate Jenn Chason outstanding educator. Jenn took a very discouraged and disappointed little girl, embraced her, believed in her, blew a little air under her wings and whispered, "You can do it." Support.

It only took two days for our daughter to undergo a complete personality change, back to her former self, the little girl with fierce determination whose right to learn would be not be impeded by anyone. Great Outcome.

Now, just six weeks into this transition, I spoke with Jenn. She is very interested, very enthusiastic and very excited by what she's learning. Her willingness to take a risk, her devotion to the children and her outstanding talent as a teacher deserve to be noticed and she deserves acknowledgement for her efforts and her successes. Reward.

Kathleen Cochrane

Stuart R. Paddock Elementary School

Palatine, IL

Kathleen Cochrane has inspired and challenged her gifted students to reach their full potential. Under her direction they have been awarded national recognition at the Department of the Interior in Washington, D.C. for their environmental activities. They have also consistently scored in the top ten percent in a national analogy competition. From students with autism to those with behavior concerns, all students rise to meet the challenge. As she tells them, "To whom much is given, much is expected".

My son, Allen, was identified as a G/T student in the general category last year. During his earlier years of elementary school, though, he was suspected to have ADD due to the fact that he got distracted in the classrooms, despite the fact that he otherwise did well academically. Some teachers even got upset when Allen sat by himself, reading books or otherwise day-dreaming, instead of listening as he was expected. As inexperienced parents, my wife and I sought helps from all resources we could find, but not much really worked, even though the educational psychological experts at University of Kentucky believed that he did not have ADD. Being constantly criticized, his self-confidence was heading straight down.

I relocated in 2005 and Allen was transferred to Goshen Elementary. There we met Mrs. Cordrey, who was the instructional coordinator at the time. Based upon her experience and her observation on individual students, she recommended specific strategies, and closely coordinated with teachers and parents to carry them out. Mrs. Cordrey talked with individual students, like my son, from the time to time and got to understand their needs, intellectually and emotionally. She monitored the progress and adjusted the strategies when she felt necessary. So over the next couple of years we saw changes happening to my son. With constant encouragement, he became more and more motivated to pursue academic excellence in school with his intellectual ability. He tested very well in virtually all subjects measured by the Gifted and Talented Educational Service program. He has been more attracted to Science than ever before. He willingly spent his summer vacation on Stanford EPGY online math class. He had even become a good writer before he graduated, although he hated writing when he first came to Goshen Elementary.

And my son was not alone. He was just one the many kids there lucky enough to have great educators like Mrs. Cordrey who took huge nurturing efforts to help students live up to their potentials.

Baldwin High School

Baldwin City, KS

Pam is the gifted (extended learning) teacher for our area's educational co-op; she works with gifted students at 3 different high schools.  Since we are in a smaller area, the schools themselves do not always offer the range of academic resources for advanced students which some larger districts have.  Pam has always gone above and beyond to assist the gifted students in obtaining challenging materials for them, taking them on educational trips to colleges and other areas to show them where they can go and what is out there for them.  She has played a large role in helping my daughter realize her full potential, to set high expectations for herself and to not give up even though her regular class work my not live up to her potentials. 

I cannot begin to explain how great it is to know that my daughter has an advocate in the school setting, someone to encourage her and just to listen to her when she becomes frustrated, board, etc with the normal school day.  I think a large number of people believe that if a child is gifted they are lucky and should be satisfied with fact that regular educational requirements are easier for them - Pam understands that this is not how it really is.  Gifted students face challenges that are not even considered by most teachers and other students, they have to learn to "deal" with regular classrooms and rules that do not allow them to progress at the rate they are able to, they must find a balance to keep them from "getting bored" with education in general and they must have a vision and maintain that vision to get through their assigned classes so that some day they can make it into an environment where they can finally soar. 

Pam is wonderful in this respect, even if she is just listening to their troubles and is encouraging in her responses - she is is still "there" for these students.  She is definitely the one constant in their lives who never lets them forget their talents, who finds ways to challenge them and gets them to reach for more on a regular basis. 

Pam deserves to be honored by the gifted community as she is one of the few in our area who really understands and cares about the needs of these special, talented kids.  

Cynthia DeAngelis

McCall Middle School, Winchester Public Schools

Winchester, MA

As supervisor of the middle school program Cynthia has shown commitment and great attention in meeting the needs of all special education students including highly gifted students with special needs. She is an educator who is deeply concerned about the needs of children and works tirelessly to assure that each child is taught in a way appropriate to their needs. As you are aware educating highly gifted students can be a challenge which is only compounded when the child has special needs as well. These children have much to offer our society and need people like Cynthia DeAngelis on their team.

Karen DeBruler

Apollo Elementary School

Renton, WA

Ms. Karen DeBruler has helped my son make the emotional adjustment into the 5th grade Gifted Program in our school district. Our family moved to WA from TX two years ago. Ms. DeBruler was very understanding to our child's needs. She told us from the beginning of the year that if he ever had a problem, to let her know and that she'd help.  He transitioned into her class beautifully, with the help of her calming disposition. 

Throughout the year, she was available for counsel when assignments looked larger than life to our son.  She calmly sat with him, walked through the assignment, and encouraged him to take one step at a time. Other days, when he would forget a book and felt "the world had ended", she calmly understood that things in life happen that we cannot control. She eased his fears by letting him know he could borrow another book for the day.

I know that our son is not the only one that has benefited from Ms. DeBruler's insight of the emotional needs of gifted students through the years.  Others have told me that they've too experienced these qualities of a truly gifted educator!  We wish to honor her! 

Mr. Dewhurst provided me an opportunity to develop my leadership skills throughout my high school years as a member of the band. He recognized my potential and provided me the opportunity to develop interpersonally and intrapersonally. I have thought many times throughout the 20+ years since I was in school that his foresight was essential to how I came to understand the social, ethical, and emotional awareness that is essential to effective leadership. Beyond challenging my musical talents and feeding my soul through performing arts, he contributed significantly to my character development, developing maturity, and belief in self. I am thankful to him for his vision and his passion for education.

David Eisenstat is a full time teacher in my gifted magnet program. He has been a part of the program since its beginning in 2002. His dedication to seek out and create valuable learning experiences that excite and extend his students’ learning has helped to make our program a great success.

Ms. Frank has been a tireless advocate for the needs of gifted students in the Sycamore Community Schools for many years, first as a gifted resource room teacher in the schools, and for the past several years as Assistant Director of Student Services, overseeing gifted services for the entire district. In this role she has helped many gifted students both directly, in advocating for the needs of individual students, and indirectly by developing model policies and programs for delivery of gifted services in the district. The work she has done and continues to do in the district will improve the lives of many, many gifted students for years to come. The individual students who were privileged to have her in the classroom will never forget the difference she made in their lives.

Mrs. Ford is a gem among teachers.  She looks at each student as an individual that needs acceptance and validation beyond just a grade on a report card.  Mrs. Ford does not focus on gifted students, underachievers or average students.  She simply gives each student the emotional support that he or she may need. For Benjamin, that meant that Mrs. Ford gave the encouragement and reassurance that he so desperately needed.  The self-confidence that my son built over the 2006 – 2007 school year, 5th grade, with her was a life altering experience for Benjamin.  He grew to enjoy reading, came to say that he was good in mathematics and expanded his horizons by entering into a drama group to act in a musical performed before the school and parents. 

Benjamin has always been a bright child and a quick learner.  Anyone could present the content material to him.  However, it was not until the unconditional support and understanding given by Mrs. Ford that he realized his abilities and gained the confidence to acknowledge what others already knew.  Standardized tests and state testing demonstrate the level of content mastery that Benjamin has achieved; he is excelling!  This is far different from the child that arrived in Mrs. Ford’s room, new to the school and unacquainted with anyone there.  Melissa Ford is a wonderful example of what teachers can achieve when they are receptive to and supportive of the emotional needs of gifted and other students.  It is with greatest gratitude and respect that I say “Thank you, Mrs. Ford!”

My son is the type of gifted child that doesn't impress teachers. If he's interested in something, you can't drag him away from it. But if he's not interested, there's almost nothing that can get him to do the work. He can entertain himself inside his own head for hours or distract the other children from doing their work. While amazingly intelligent, he can be a teacher's worst nightmare. Peggy Gaffney was so patient and creative with him. She challenged him in his interest areas to keep him engaged and from being disruptive. While other children were doing 8+3, she might have him doing 823+342. When a new student joined the class, she let him show the student the ropes and help him get adjusted to the routine. She even went so far as to let Skylar think up some wrong answers for a test. He was a happy six year old.

Mrs. Gallagher was my gifted teacher a good twenty-five years ago. She made my school life interesting and fun, opening up not just academic challenges but great activities as well to me. Because of her, I learned to write for a paper, develop film, and build balsa wood bridges. I didn't think much about how hard it must have been to develop a good program - I just appreciated it. But now that I'm a parent and having to help my own children's education, I am beyond impressed with Mrs. Gallagher - and the Red Lodge schools - for the great variety of gifted children's accommodations they achieved -- and its happy results for kids who weren't labeled gifted but shared in the activities. My son's CT public school has nothing on what Red Lodge managed on far less money. I'm convinced that's due to a combination of Mrs. Gallagher's imagination, research, and determination, and an administration and teachers willing to listen to her and try something different. She made my life a far more interesting and happier one. I only wish I could send my own kids to be taught by her today.

Mrs. Heidi has been a godsend for our family.  She and my kindergarten aged daughter, Erin, have a wonderful relationship.  Mrs. Heidi knows when to nudge Erin a little bit and when to stand back and let Erin dive into something.  She has taught her wonderful coping skills to use when she is excited or frustrated about something.  She has been open to us sharing information with her that we found on the SENG website, and has even shared this great website with other families.  Overall, she accepts Erin for who she is and it's amazing to see how far she has come.  As a result, Erin loves school, and our concerns about her not being challenged at school were put to rest a long time ago.  Thank you, Mrs. Heidi, for playing such a key role in all of our lives!

Kathy Gerber is a full time teacher in my gifted magnet program. She has been a part of the program since its beginning in 2002. Her dedication to seek out and create valuable learning experiences that excite and extend her students’ learning has helped to make our program a great success.

Sarah Gerding is a teacher that believes in gifted education. She is the gifted teacher at three out of four of the elementary schools in our school district. She has been the gifted teacher for our children since they were first identified as needing enrichment. She has worked long and hard to make the experience in her classroom that of education and fun. Some of the things our children did this year were: made marble runs, did parabolic cooking ,and made solar cars. However, the one thing that really stood out was the children read Macbeth , wrote their own rendition called McDonald, and performed it in front of their fifth grade class. It was an experience the children won't soon forget.

Ms. Gerding cares for all of her students. Our school district had a review of our gifted education programs two years ago. Ms. Gerding had done a presentation for our school board at that time. The following year the school district had a task force to follow the review along with focus groups. Who was at every task force and focus group meeting? Sarah Gerding. She works very hard to improve gifted education in our school district. Sarah Gerding deserves to be recognized for all she has done or gifted education and our children.

Ms. Gibson has always exceeded our expectations by going “to bat” for gifted children. She knows that Gifted Children are not always the children who do well in school and get good grades. She recognizes highly gifted children even when they don’t “perform” and recognize themselves. She realizes that it is important for children to receive academic challenges that will require them to learn how to study, to cope with grades less then an A, and to interact with intellectual peers before they go to college. She encourages them to discover the correlation between effort and results. She makes the goal of having a child who is happy, loves to learn, and receives a good education a worthwhile journey. Ms. Gibson truly deserves this recognition.

Bruce Harlan is a very special man and educator who has the gift of identifying a child who has special needs.  He also has the desire to reach out to the kids in any way he can.  He has gone above and beyond with his time and kindness to support our son to give him special assignments to keep him stimulated and to encourage the love of learning for the sake of it.  He has also set up his classroom to support many types of learners and still provides and enriching, stimulating environment.  He does this with humor, his vast science knowledge, intelligence, sensitivity, personal experience, and with a kind heart. 

This nominee has helped many gifted children by using innovative ways to encourage gifted middle schoolers to reach for the stars. This can be a tough age group to reach, however she always gets them to put their all into every project that she assigns. This year alone, she was awarded a grant by the National Middle School Association for her 6th grade group to develop a video that educates other students about financial literacy. Also, she started a "lunch club" for 6th grade girls to feel good about being smart and provide options to the peer pressure.

I nominate Pamela Hendrix from Thomas Crossroads Elementary.  This individual took over the gifted program this year at our school, and immediately qualified more students.  She has come up with creative lessons, and has held gifted students accountable for their work.  She has also helped the school community by providing ideas for lessons for typical peers, and ways that we can use our time more wisely.

Principal Matt Herz, in his first year at Pawling Elementary School, chose to take a risk and put the needs of one gifted child ahead
of politics. It was a gusty move to accelerate a kindergarten child in the last seven weeks before school ends. Especially gutsy if it is your first year in a new school district. Matt read the independent assessment, which arrived eight weeks before the end of the school year, and agreed with the recommendations. Matt Herz trusted his instincts and took that leap of faith. As a result of Matt's courage, the life of at least one child has been permanently altered for the better. The immediate result is that our child is now getting the appropriate curriculum for her and is thriving where once she was withering. The possible long-term result extends beyond this one child as administrators and teachers take an interest in the fascinating information available on giftedness, as Matt has. Matt Herz has shown courage of his convictions, integrity, and passion for learning.

Frances Hill and her husband Tony -- with the help of their children -- have developed an on-line virtual school in New Zealand primarily for gifted children and specialising in those with co-existing learning difficulties.  They have an entire curriculum from preschool to the end of secondary school.  As funding has been a problem, Frances teaches at a local school part-time in order to earn enough money to keep Alpha operating.  Frances has also written several books.

Frances is an amazing teacher and shares her love of learning with the students.  I would have to call her a genius!  The curriculum includes social and emotional literacy. Frances and Tony have dedicated their lives to gifted education with a strong focus on helping gifted underachievers.  They are both state trained secondary school teachers/principals with a breadth of experience in both Primary and Secondary education.  They recognised that these children were missing out and developed Alpha (at personal cost and effort) to address the discrepancies in the education system.  So, so deserving of recognition!

Mary Ellen has served as the gifted coordinator for many years. While I was a gifted teacher in the district she worked tirelessly to support my program and the students. She provided materials, attended after school events, and advocated for the needs of the gifted students. She always attended to the needs of the parents in the program and sought out new ways to educate them and involve them in their children's lives.

After an emotional and unpleasant Kind. year, my son (Cody) was discovered to be gifted during his first grade year.  Cody's gifted teacher (Jeanette) has been a ray of shining light for my son for the past 4 years.  Even though his gifted class only meets one day a week, it is the one day that Cody doesn't feel different.  Jeanette has given him the confidence to believe that he is just as important as any other student - gifted or not.  In a time when school funding is based so much on test scores, many times there is not funding available for gifted students and learning.  Jeanette has been known to spend her own hard earned money on supplies that are needed for her classroom.  She has encouraged her students to learn their way - and not to conform to other's ideas or thoughts.  She realizes that not everyone learns the same way or has the same interests.  She incorporates drama, history, culinary, art, writing, and math into the classroom - all in one day's  learning!  She has been supportive and informative during her own personal issues.  It is wonderful to have this woman involved in our lives.  She is amazing!

Joyce Igo

Henry W. Moore

Candia, NH

Mrs. Igo has read several books about my sons needs and how to help him find his way at school and for the years to come. She has helped him grow emotionally and educationlly by listening to him and watching his indivdual needs. She has watched him grow so.... much this year and has even chose to move up and teach forth grade next year so they can learn and explore togehter for another school year.

Wonderful, wonderful math teacher, smiles. Accepts and works with the uniqueness of each student with compassion. Role model for other teachers.

Cindie Jue-Leong has four levels of assignments for each classroom project, homework assignment, school-wide program and district-wide program. She is a first grade teacher at Joaquin Miller Elementary School in Oakland, California. Our school does not officially identify gifted students until third grade. Our school district is bankrupt and has been taken over by the State of California. And, Cindie does not let any of this affect her four levels of assignments. My daughter, who began talking at 7 months with the word "diaper" with all three syllables intact, was a student in Cindie's classroom. The children learned Chinese, how to write the symbols and what the characters mean, she learned the craft of African fabric printing, my daughter wrote a speech for the school-wide Martin Luther King, Jr. Oratorical, while she did not win, one of her classmates placed second district-wide. High achieving / highly motivated students were encouraged to participate in the science fair. And my daughter learned how to write a five paragraph essay. With the outline, rough draft, three sets of modifications and the final copy.

Because of Cindie's effort in first grade my daughter was able to attend the Academic Talent Development Program sponsored by the University of California, Berkeley and write a 13 page report on seahorses to end her three week course on Ocean Studies.

The expectation of working up to your potential was set in first grade. When my daughter now evaluates her own work and that of others, her comments range from that is not my best work, I need to work on it some more, to, Mom, the two pay report that my friend turned in is his best work.

John has been able to provide the guidance and flexibility my son needed to continue to advance in math, even though he is ahead of the rest of the class.

When my son entered Lincoln Elementary, I already knew that he was profoundly gifted.  What I did not know was that he also has bipolar disorder, which caused many behavioral problems in the classroom setting.  (To compound this, he had previously been homeschooled and so the school setting was especially new and stressful.)  Everyone at Lincoln Elementary worked extensively with my son on both his academic and his social skills.  He is leaving Lincoln more stable, happy, and confident.

Mrs. Debbie Kinard, in particular, showed amazing patience in dealing with my son's early behavioral issues.  She was willing to try many different strategies to gain his trust and respect.  Many other teachers might have given up in such situations; I would not have blamed them.

In addition, she saw my son's exceptional abilities.  She worked with him individually on math and reading.  When it became clear that his abilities surpassed her areas of expertise, she successfully advocated for him to go to the middle school to take geometry with 8th graders, despite the fact that such acceleration had never before been allowed.  She recognized the importance of this advancement, not only for his intellectual development, but also for his self-esteem and confidence. 

She also facilitated meetings between me and other members of the school and the middle school, in order to find the best placement for my son in the future.  In all of our interactions, Debbie remained focused on all of my son's needs.  She could see his social and emotional delays, but also recognized the extent of his giftedness and how that could be used to address his weaker areas.  She understood the dilemmas that I faced, as a parent, in trying to juggle his multiple needs and helped me to brainstorm many options.  Her support was very important to me.

My son and I feel extremely fortunate that he had two years at Lincoln Elementary and especially that he had Debbie's guidance.  She has literally changed the direction of his life.  In addition to helping him on to a more positive path, her influence has inspired him to want to teach gifted students in the future, whether on a volunteer or professional basis.

We appreciate this opportunity to publicly thank Debbie for all that she has done for our family.

Mrs. Knight inspires students by setting the kind of example that is easy to want to follow. She is confident and strong, yet compassionate and understanding. She approaches each day with energy and a passion that is contagious. She is always prepared, always enthusiastic and always working hard. Most of all, Mrs. Knight sets the highest of expectations for her students while at the same time instilling the confidence it requires to meet such expectations. This is truly a gift.

Mrs. Knight taught me to always strive for perfection. She was demanding, yet positive and supportive at the same time. She taught me how important it was to continually challenge myself, even if I was already a step ahead of my peers. Good was not good enough for Mrs. Knight unless she knew it was your very best; and she took the time to learn what each student's very best could be.

Mrs. Knight was my music teacher, my piano teacher, my role model and friend. She took a genuine interest in my development as a student, a musician and more importantly, as a person. She taught me to believe in myself and to stay true to what I believed in. She helped me to learn how important it is to treat others with love and compassion. She inspired me to be a person of class and integrity, no matter what the circumstances. I cannot think of a person more deserving of this award. Mrs. Knight is truly an excellent educator and a wonderful human being.

Susan Knight is the type of teacher that awakens her students to realize that they are part of something greater than themselves, a larger world, and works with each of them to stay on the right track to realize their place in our world at large. Susan Knight is a woman of unwavering character. She is countless Meadow students' role model and hero, by her example and actions. Susan Knight celebrates the cultural diversity and backgrounds of her students. I am honored and humbled to nominate her for this prestigious award. Susan Knight is a teacher of excellence!

Mrs. Krial has worked with my two boys for the past 9 years.  Quite simply, she is the perfect model for what a teacher of the gifted should be.  Our family and the Palisades School District have been greatly benefited by her many years of work here.

Our daughter's 2nd grade was tumultuous, and ended with her self-esteem next to nothing. We felt like we were losing the joyful little girl we knew. We were so frustrated, and nothing seemed to be working. It was the schoolyear of "What's Wrong With Rosie?" and she no longer wanted to go to school. She was evaluated over the summer and found to be 2E with giftedness and mild ADD. It was clear that third grade was now "make or break" - she'd either love school or hate it from here on out. Her 3rd grade teacher, Loi Latscha, made her #1 goal to get Rosie's confidence back up, everything else came second.

Loi is compassionate, encouraging, intuitive, supportive, and accepting of our child's emotional and intellectual needs. She even discovered Rosie has acute hearing & solved it with headphones and classical music. All the while, explaining to the rest of the class Rosie's learning differences, and encouraging them to celebrate their uniqueness. She has created a safe haven for our daughter, understands her issues, supports her, and has allowed her the necessary room to grow. Above all, and the reason we are nominating Loi, is because of her, we have been given back our vibrant, funny, inquisitive little girl. Loi Latscha has been a Godsend when we needed it the most.

Mr. McCain is the principal of Nathan Hale Middle School. In 2008, Mr. McCain discovered that two of his gifted program students had earned near perfect scores on the math portion of the Connecticut Mastery Test. He decided that they should receive differentiated instruction in the classroom and worked with their math teacher to develop a totally differentiated curriculum for these two students. As a result, (these students) continue to be appropriately challenged each and every day! Additionally, Mr. McCain has had his entire staff trained in how to work with gifted children in the regular classroom. He has demonstrated a genuine commitment to challenging all children. Thank you Mr. McCain!

My daughter tested ready for kindergarten when she turned 2. Mrs. Mac (as the children call her) took my daughter for a half-day class when my daughter was 2 1/2. No other school would. Mrs. Mac thought my daughter was ready for the full-day kindergarten when my daughter was 3 1/2. She was by far the youngest in the class and a head shorter than everyone else, but she thrived. Mrs. Mac kept my daughter's mind stimulated while working on the physical - mental disconnects, such as knowing what to write but not having the physical skills to do so. Mrs. Mac established an environment where my daughter was viewed as an equal of the other children, while watching out for social imbalances due to age. We are extremely grateful that Mrs. Mac was my daughter's teacher.

Mrs. McLellan (on left) receiving her
SENG Honor Roll Certificate from Hope
Montessori School, Annandale VA .

I have had the pleasure of working with Christie McWilliams as a colleague in the English IV Department for six years at Cy-Fair High School.  While currently retired from teaching, I still remained active at Cy-Fair High School by substituting for dual-credit and honors classes until I recently moved to Arlington, TX.  Last summer, Christie attended the SENG Summit in Salk Lake City, and I became interested in your organization.  After perusing your website, I decided to nominate Christie for the SENG Honor Roll, an honor which she highly deserves.

I am still truly amazed by Christie, a truly gifted leader and creative teacher, who goes that extra mile in every endeavor she attempts.  She motivates, positively influences, and inspires all students and teachers directly or indirectly by her influence (even teachers with master’s degrees in gifted education who have taught thirty years such as me!).

Christie’s Dual Credit English IV classroom, comprised of high achieving and gifted learners, is phenomenal because of her excellent academic and educational qualifications and her abounding energy.  With a master’s degree in English Education from SHSU and currently completing her doctoral work in Gifted Education at the University of Houston, she motivates and electrifies classroom lessons for her students by making every lesson a multi-disciplinary, differentiated, and enriching experience.  She has even taken on extra classes during the day to satisfy student needs.  AND, she has started the first DC ENGL IV Service Learning course in Cy-Fair ISD., where her Dual Credit students complete at least fifteen hours of community service related to their self-selected research topic.  Students want to take her classes, as evidenced by her class load of 165+ (more than double the student load than other English IV teachers), and teachers come to Christie for guidance in effectiveness of their lessons.

Not only does Christie teach these extra classes and work on her doctorate degree, she finds time to teach at the college level as well in the evenings!  Because of her desire to share her techniques with others, she has presented at many workshops including at the University of Warwick in England last summer and more recently at the Texas Association for the Gifted and Talented (TAGT) and TCTELA (the statewide branch of the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE)) conferences.

I have also had the pleasure of traveling with one of Christie’s student European trips. Yearly, because the district doesn’t offer enrichment activities for gifted students, she sponsors trips so they may experience firsthand the old world literature studied in her classroom.  Whether in Canterbury, England, discussing Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales, or in Stratford-on-Avon immersing themselves in Shakespeare’s life and works, Christie brings the literature to life for her students.  These young adults form lasting memories because of Christie’s leadership, vision, and devotion to offering life experiences.  Christie’s energy level for offering interesting and challenging experiences for her students never ceases to amaze me!

Therefore, Christie is a much-deserving candidate for the SENG Honor Roll.

As part of my weekday morning ritual, I stand with a class of wiggly-giggly kids, my son included, on the playground of Sonoran Sky Elementary School. We hang out until the first bell rings, at which time Ms. Mensing leads her self-contained class of K-2 gifted students into school. Every morning, without fail, she receives a hero's welcome. The kids literally clamor at her feet; their faces brighten at the sight of her. What's not to love? Here's a teacher with boundless energy, a warm smile and a quick wit. Her curriculum is quirky and engaging, and she exudes an earnestness that kids sense and admire. She communicates clearly, without condescension. This alone sets her apart in my son's experience (he once said his former teacher spoke to children "like we were puppies and not people"). A cloud was lifted for him when he entered her class. He isn't simply challenged - he's inspired. He would jump over the moon for Ms. Mensing. Come to think of it: so would the vast majority of her students, and their parents as well. Bottom line: We know a winner when we see one. Thank you, Ms. Mensing, for your tremendous commitment to gifted kids.

I wish to wholeheartedly nominate Anne Shargel and Mary Ann Miller to the SENG Honor Roll. Mrs. Shargel is a teacher and Mrs. Miller is her invaluable teaching assistant. They are in charge of 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders in the Colorado Springs District 11 EAGLES program (Exceptional Academic Gifted Learning Experience Site).

I first met Mrs. Shargel and Mrs. Miller when our son James was in 3rd grade. He was struggling mightily in trouble all the time, miserable, having nightmares, hating school (yet he had all "As"!). He had been identified as above his grade level in Kindergarten and as gifted in 2nd grade (but the school did not have any services until 3rd grade). We met with his teacher, the GATE teacher, the principal, the school psychologist, even took him to a private therapist (who said there was not a thing wrong with him). The principal actually told us that they'd "never seen a kid like James" and suggested that there was something "organically" wrong with him.

My husband heard an ad for the EAGLES program on the radio and we decided to move him from our small town school to the neighboring District 11. I visited Mrs. Shargel's classroom at the end of the 2008 school year and sat observing for over 2 hours. I was enthralled! Mrs. Shargel and Mrs. Miller had a classroom full of gifted children eating out of their hands! I was mystified how could these two women have such control? After observing and speaking with them I saw that it was magic it was the magic of two people who genuinely cared about the little hearts and minds of their charges.

Mrs. Shargel and Mrs. Miller are compassionate and caring when dealing with the kids yet they are also "no nonsense" and hold the students to high standards. In addition, they are educated with regard to gifted children and constantly seek to learn more. From speaking with me briefly (and having not even met James yet), Mrs. Shargel identified that he was probably a spatial learner and promptly handed me a book on the subject. (By the way, she was 100% correct in her assessment!)

Both Mrs. Shargel and Mrs. Miller encourage positive friendships for James (and the other students), they encourage and nurture his leadership skills and encourage and support his interests (currently medieval weaponry). They challenge him to reach his full potential and do so without criticism and all the while boosting his self-confidence. They are both advocates for James and for all the children in their charge.

But the bottom line for me, and the reason I am making this nomination, is that Mrs. Shargel and Mrs. Miller have saved James' life. If he had stayed in his previous situation we would have lost him (probably both literally and figuratively). Mrs. Shargel and Mrs. Miller returned to us our sharp-witted, inquisitive, highly intelligent, very funny little boy and are now working to make him into a content, well-adjusted, educated and still very funny young man.

Noble Newman… draws upon a wealth of personal knowledge and research to teach his students on all levels. Noble Newman embraces the multiple intelligences research in virtually everything he does. He actively praises students, inspires them, and engages them in a variety of ways. Noble Newman effectively prompts, leads, encourages students to take risks in their thought process, and compels students to spend time on task. Students vigorously learn even during transition times. He orchestrates learning in group settings by matching appropriate forms of social interaction to the various instructional formats. Noble Newman uses his understanding of individual and social learning theory, as well as child and adolescent development theory to form his decisions about how to teach. He strives to provide multiple contexts in which to promote and evaluate student achievement. Students learn to take ownership of their learning and selves through his guidance. Noble Newman excites his students to reach beyond themselves to find their own answers, own questions, and own voice… Mr. Newman shows great concern for his students' dignity, self-concept and motivation which he maximizes to develop his students' affective and physical domains… Mr. Newman cared about our son's learning first and foremost, not rules. It is a great honor and privilege to recommend Noble Newman as a true educator.

Mr. Joshua Noah is a bright, sensitive, and thoughtful teacher who has a special ability to connect with and nurture the gifted
middle school students he teaches.  He has understood my son's learning style and gone out of his way to help my son use his strengths and work on his weaker areas.  Mr. Noah sees the strengths in his students even when others are seeing the struggles, and works to help the students see themselves in a positive light.  He is creative in his teaching, adapting material to each student's level and abilities. Even more importantly, Mr. Noah has taught them about themselves, the world, and life in general. Mr.
Noah was a gifted student himself who clearly loves working with his students.  My son is lucky to have had Mr. Noah to guide him this past year.

Lawrence High School

Lawrence, KS

My daughter transferred from a small town high school to a larger out-of-district high school last year, her junior year, in order to take higher level classes than were offered at her district school. Mr. Ortmann became my daughters AP US History teacher. While my daughter is gifted in math and science, history is not only a difficult subject for her, she also has always disliked the subject of history. My daughter and I knew that it was likely she would have trouble in this class, but felt it was better to have her experience a difficult class in high school (something which had never occurred in my daughters previous school years) than it was to have her go through this in college for the first time. I was amazed initially at how much my daughter spoke about Mr. Ortmann's abilities to make the class fun, even though it was hard and not an interesting subject for my daughter. However, after the first test, my daughter was extremely discouraged when she received a "C" - which had never happened to her and she had difficulty understanding, since she had actually studied hard (in her estimation at that time) for the test. I met with Mr. Ortmann and found out that it was possible for her to bring her grade up to an "A" in the class by the semester, but she would have to really work hard and receives "A's" on almost everything else, including a major research paper and project. Both I and Mr. Ortmann discussed this with my daughter and then the changes began to happen. For the first time in my daughter's education an "A" would not be easy, she had to learn new ways of studying the information and she had to learn how to even do a research paper; since her previous school had never had such an assignment in all her previous classes. Mr. Ortmann was wonderful with my daughter, not only did he deliver fun and interesting classroom lessons, he continually praised and encouraged the changes she was making and she did make it - she achieved not only an A in his class, this summer we found out that she scored a 4 on the AP exam. I cannot express enough how major of an accomplishment this was for my daughter, she was challenged in an area she was extremely weak in and motivated to rise to the occasion. It has always been a fear of mine that once she really faced an academically challenging class, especially in a subject she did not enjoy or have a natural aptitude for, that she would give up - she was so use to things being easy for her. I truly believe that if I was the only one standing behind her she may have faltered (because I am her mom and she knows I always believe in her) but, having Mr. Ortmann be so interested and involved in the process made all the difference in the world. I truly believe that it is the supreme test of a teacher to be given a student who dislikes a subject and has no real aptitude for that subject and then to achieve the outcome of a student who excels in the class, a national exam over the materials, and in the end has the utmost respect and admiration for that teacher - Mr. Ortmann obtained just that with my daughter and I will be forever thankful. If all teachers had the same belief in their students and even half the passion for their subjects as Mr. Ortmann does, this would really be a different world for all students.

As a third grade teacher, Mrs. Dorina Passio truly exemplifies superior teaching in the challenging settling of a public school and its particular broad range of academic student abilities. By expressing her own curiosity and love of learning her highly engaging teaching style becomes a 'contagious' tool in inspiring the most reluctant learner as well as the gifted child. Mrs. Passio intuitively embraces the uniqueness of every student by nurturing each child with acceptance and by stressing the importance of self-expression.

Her consistent message to the gifted child is that she values his fast-pace thinking skills and ever questioning, highly curious nature in the most non-judgemental way and equally guides him to work on his weaknesses. This exceptionally gifted educator excels at creating an all important safe haven by encouraging risk taking and not perfectionism. Aside from the academic enrichment that this non-specialty, homeroom teacher naturally provides to her gifted student and advanced learners, she gives them the far greater and lasting gift of social and emotional acceptance as well as group belonging. We are eternally grateful for the difference that this remarkable educator makes in her students' lives.

Lois Pipkin has served as an advocate for gifted students in the Orange County schools as a teacher in several schools and has assisted in developing system-wide programs. As an advocate for students she understands the importance of offering challenging lessons, differentiating the curriculum in those lessons, connecting with the students personally, and offering encouragement and counsel for their parents. Her classroom is a warm and welcoming oasis where students are challenged academically and are comfortable asking those questions gifted peers might also ask. She understands that "square pegs" should not be forced to fit "round holes" but should be allowed and encouraged to flourish in their uniqueness. As one of her fortunate principals I was continually impressed with the relationship she developed with students and the challenges she offered them academically.

Mrs. Keely Porter, TAG Specialist for Byrom Elementary School in Tualatin, Oregon, is a very special person and talented educator who advocates for all her students, including those who attend the school and may not be identified by district standards.  Mrs. Porter provides a variety of activities that are fun, challenging and allows time for exploration of current interests for all her TAG students and their friends. She works hard to provide a stimulating learning environment, and uses creative, diverse, and scientifically researched teaching methods to allow her students the freedom to be challenged.  Mrs. Porter provides valuable resource materials and instruction to the entire staff at our school and district and is always available for parents who may need additional support in raising their exceptional children. She has helped our two sons in so many ways - socially, emotionally and especially intellectually. Although he had a rough time in elementary school, he is resilient, and is doing fabulous in middle school.  Mrs. Porter saved him, and has helped him become an outstanding young man that he is today.  He is able to visit her on occasion and she still provides him a strong foundation in support and advice on how to be his own person.  He is a Star Scout in Boy Scouts, OA member, and is on the trail to Eagle Scout.  Mrs. Porter ROCKS! We are looking forward to our youngest son working with her soon.

Susan Posmer treats each child in her class as if that child were the ONLY child in the class.  Personality quirks?  No problem, she helps children realize the greatness in individuality.  Difference of opinion?  Fabulous!  It becomes a subtle chance to model constructive tactics for persuasive arguing.  As a teacher, Susan is a student's dream.  For G/T students, she is a lifesaver.  Her poise is unflappable, her sense of humor witty and sharp.  A more compassionate, demanding, fun-loving, focused educator you will never find.  Mrs. Posmer is gifted education's prima ballerina.

Jennifer Reed

Acacia Elementary School

Thousand Oaks, CA

Mrs. Reed was the first and only teacher to take the time to complete the necessary paperwork to nominate my child for GATE testing. In fact, she took the time to nominate at least 5 students in her class that same year. She strives to bring out the best in all of her students and rewards them with kindness.

Richard Reese

John Glenn School Corporation

Walkerton, IN

Richard Reese has a heart for all students.  Since becoming superintendent of schools in Walkerton, he has supported the High Abilities program with action.  He has "walked the walk" when funding has been in question.  Mr. Reese has backed the program and provided staff with educational opportunities to learn more about High Ability needs. He has given staff precious time to work on programming ideas.  When a presenter, Dr. Jean Peterson, was scheduled to speak to parents regarding the special social and emotional needs of high ability youth, Mr. Reese made it possible for the entire school corporation staff to have a professional in service day opportunity with Dr. Peterson.  He has placed great value on helping to educate our staff from kindergarten through grade 12 on the specific counseling and guidance needs of high ability youth.  He is quickly becoming a champion of high ability youth in our district and is making a difference in the lives of our high ability students with his support.

Cynthia Rhodes

Andale High School

Andale, KS

During the past fifteen years, Cynthia Rhodes has inspired her gifted students to discover the potential of each and every individual child.  She has encouraged these students, teachers and parents towards a greater understanding and acceptance of the needs of the gifted.  She has worked tirelessly to provide each of the students with learning opportunities to expand knowledge, to make progress in academics, as well as to develop their personal character.  Ms. Rhodes certainly has been, and continues to be a bright part of many students' days and school years.

Linda Rich

Seacrest Country Day School

Naples, FL

This wonderful teacher makes every effort to role model appropriate behaviors and attitudes so that every child may see first hand how to be a good friend. She also tirelessly extends herself in creative ways to help our child "survive" in the ever-stressful regular classroom. We are forever grateful for your dedication to all the children and especially to those that couldn't make it without you!!!  

Barbara Rosenberg

Gateways School for the Gifted

Tucson, AZ

Paul Rotaru

STAR Prep Academy

Culver City, CA

Paul is a creative and dedicated math teacher who consistently goes way beyond the textbook to make math compelling and fun for the gifted high school students he teaches. He has created a math club, a math blog and daily math challenges/puzzles that engage and inspire both gifted students who aren't math aficionados and those math gifted who need and want more depth. Paul is innovative and utilizes technology in the classroom, integrating the curriculum with the internet and using a computer based virtual chalkboard for all his classes. By getting to know each student, their strengths and their possibilities, Paul personalizes his instruction and serves as both a mentor and a coach. His love of math and his ability to explain its relevance in day-to-day life inspires many different gifted students to excel in the field -- his students have been awarded full scholarships to college in part because of their math facility.

Anne Shargel

West Elementary School

Colorado Spring, CO

I wish to wholeheartedly nominate Anne Shargel and Mary Ann Miller to the SENG Honor Roll. Mrs. Shargel is a teacher and Mrs. Miller is her invaluable teaching assistant. They are in charge of 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders in the Colorado Springs District 11 EAGLES program (Exceptional Academic Gifted Learning Experience Site).

I first met Mrs. Shargel and Mrs. Miller when our son James was in 3rd grade. He was struggling mightily in trouble all the time, miserable, having nightmares, hating school (yet he had all "As"!). He had been identified as above his grade level in Kindergarten and as gifted in 2nd grade (but the school did not have any services until 3rd grade). We met with his teacher, the GATE teacher, the principal, the school psychologist, even took him to a private therapist (who said there was not a thing wrong with him). The principal actually told us that they'd "never seen a kid like James" and suggested that there was something "organically" wrong with him.

My husband heard an ad for the EAGLES program on the radio and we decided to move him from our small town school to the neighboring District 11. I visited Mrs. Shargel's classroom at the end of the 2008 school year and sat observing for over 2 hours. I was enthralled! Mrs. Shargel and Mrs. Miller had a classroom full of gifted children eating out of their hands! I was mystified how could these two women have such control? After observing and speaking with them I saw that it was magic it was the magic of two people who genuinely cared about the little hearts and minds of their charges.

Mrs. Shargel and Mrs. Miller are compassionate and caring when dealing with the kids yet they are also "no nonsense" and hold the students to high standards. In addition, they are educated with regard to gifted children and constantly seek to learn more. From speaking with me briefly (and having not even met James yet), Mrs. Shargel identified that he was probably a spatial learner and promptly handed me a book on the subject. (By the way, she was 100% correct in her assessment!)

Both Mrs. Shargel and Mrs. Miller encourage positive friendships for James (and the other students), they encourage and nurture his leadership skills and encourage and support his interests (currently medieval weaponry). They challenge him to reach his full potential and do so without criticism and all the while boosting his self-confidence. They are both advocates for James and for all the children in their charge.

But the bottom line for me, and the reason I am making this nomination, is that Mrs. Shargel and Mrs. Miller have saved James' life. If he had stayed in his previous situation we would have lost him (probably both literally and figuratively). Mrs. Shargel and Mrs. Miller returned to us our sharp-witted, inquisitive, highly intelligent, very funny little boy and are now working to make him into a content, well-adjusted, educated and still very funny young man.

Vicki Sisco

Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy

Overland Park, KS

Vicki has been involved with our daughter's educational needs for seven years, since she entered second grade. When [our daughter] expressed a desire to participate in the national spelling bee, Vicki facilitated the school bee and coordinated [our daughter's] participation on the district and state level, which was no easy feat since we are at a small, private school. ... Vicki has designed and implemented the gifted resource program in our school since its inception. She is a great inspiration to the students and a strong advocate for the students.

Susan Stueber

The Archer School for Girls

Los Angeles, CA

Ms. Susan Stueber has been THE motivating, positive force, inspiration, role model and mentor to my highly gifted but underperforming ADHD daughter. She innately understands my daughter's potential and hurdles and thus has managed to motivate her to love music, challenge herself to identify and achieve her unique potential, and to develop confidence in herself as a musician, wherever she currently is on the spectrum of music appreciation and performance.  In particular, she has taught my daughter that through daily practice and reasonable goal-setting, she will grow and flourish as a musician.  Ms. Stueber's positive, consistent support and understanding of my daughter have made a profound and permanent mark on our family and for that I will be eternally grateful! 

Our daughter Isobel is gifted and has moderate Tourette Syndrome. Ms. Therrien has consistently recognized Isobel's emotional as well as intellectual needs, withdrawing Isobel immediately from the ordinary reading curriculum and setting her on a path of guided study that started with the Redwall Series and came to include works such as The Wind in the Willows, The Wee Free Men and the His Dark Materials series. In parallel developments Ms. Therrien procured a computer program that allowed Isobel to explore Greek and Latin etymology while also inviting her to examine Einstein's life and some basic issues in space science. This year Ms. Therrien has been an eloquent advocate as we work with our school district to address the challenges posed by twice-exceptional children in the mainstream classroom. At present Ms. Therrien is encouraging Isobel's work on an independent Colonial History project (with a fifth grader) while also inspiring Isobel to write a book of her own. Because of Ms. Therrien's warmth, intelligence, support and innovation, Isobel has learned to love rather than dread school.  Our school district has followed Ms. Therrien's lead in responding to the needs of Isobel and others like her. Molly Therrien cares for the individual child. She is remarkable!

Mrs. Trenty has not helped just one gifted child, she has helped many.  She goes out of her way to find creative and inventive ways to stimulate all facets of giftedness in children, e.g. math, language arts and dramatic arts.

Not only do "identified gifted" children benefit from Mrs. Trenty's expertise and love of teaching, but all children at the school benefit.  She does activities with entire classrooms and grades that benefit every child, e.g. annual play for 4th and 5th graders, introducing high-level math concepts (venn diagrams) to entire classrooms in a way that anyone can understand.   

She has not only been a blessing to my child's educational development, but she has provided opportunities to so many children over the years.

Bonnie Walmsley was my three (gifted and sensitive) sons' kindergarten teacher, and she expertly guided us and our children for years. Our oldest son is profoundly gifted, yet we entered the public school system knowing he fit in beautifully within our gifted family, but unaware of how different he was from the other children he would encounter there. Because Bonnie is an expert (and author) on differentiated education, she had a curriculum and teaching style that not only recognized high ability, but also embraced and nurtured it. She once asked the children how many different ways they could make ten, and when my son answered "two to the tenth power minus 1,014", she initiated a complete evaluation, which led us to various national organizations and experts. She set up a mentorship and visits with local experts in areas of my son's special interests, and got his writings published in various venues. Bonnie advised and advocated successfully for us over t! heir elementary school career, multiple accelerations, programs, and provider choices, always with our sons' happiness foremost in her mind. We truly would have been lost without her, and continue to be grateful for her help on a daily basis. The solid foundation Mrs. Walmsley laid for our family continues to be celebrated in our happy, healthy, and well-adjusted sons.

Kerstin is the teacher of the gifted at the middle school my son attended in grades 6-8.  Being a gifted individual herself, she definitely "gets" the kids and helps them understand themselves.  Kerstin goes out of her way to make sure her students are not only challenged, but become better people by being in her class.  She is a lifelong learner who also continues to challenge herself.  She attends gifted conferences and is always looking for new ideas.  She advocates for her students with classroom teachers and administrators. My son once told me that the only thing that got him through middle school was Ms. Warner's "workshop class" and I think that says it all!

Laurel Williams

McDowell Elementary, Hudson City School District

Hudson, OH

Laurel Williams is my nominee to the SENG Honor Roll. During her 30 years as an educator, Laurie has inspired, challenged, nurtured, and championed gifted students in grades 1-3. Her colleagues recognize her as an ideal teacher and coach and cherish the times they collaborate with her. She is a talented writer of gifted curriculum and all of the teachers in our district want her on their team, on their committee, and in their classrooms, modeling best teaching practices for all students. Administrators look up to her and value not only her skills as an educator, but also as a compassionate and caring friend. She is a keen observer of children and has made a huge difference in the lives of gifted students, recognizing in these youngsters burgeoning gifts that may, in the early years, make school a bit difficult. I so admire and love her and my life is richer for having known her.

Dorothy Witzeling

Odyssey

Appleton, WI

Gretchen Yagow

Eagle River Elementary School

Eagle River, WI

Barb Zailyk

Townline Elementary

Vernon Hills, IL

Mrs. Zailyk has motivated and inspired me to work harder than I would normally have in class. I have had Mrs. Zailyk as a teacher for the past three years. In math she helped me raise my MAP test scores 36 points! I love her use of Einstein awards and challenges. I learned how to make a stellated icosahedron for our polyhedraville project. Mrs. Zailyk has been a great teacher to me these past few years and I would like her to be recognized for it!

Terri Zazove

Sunset Ridge School

Gurney, IL

Terri recently helped a gifted student through a project with another teacher. The teacher wanted them to come up with a character for a story. The gifted student replied "average." The other teacher considered this unacceptable. In the coming days, Terrie immediately asked the student what he meant by "average." The student replied, "someone who fits in and is well-liked by their peers." Something this student is not. She promptly had a group conference with the student and teacher, with the student explaining what he meant by this. The teacher had never encountered a reply or a student like this. After the meeting, the teacher and the student came away with new respect.