SENGinar - From Guidance to Action: Helping GT Families Organize to Change Policies in Public Schools

Redefining and Expanding the Role of Gifted Stakeholders. Families of gifted children often feel helpless in public schools, but in many cases, parents can work together to change policies and improve public schools for gifted learners. Research supports the critical role of academic opportunity in supporting student motivation and self-esteem. When schools fail to follow best practices and applicable GT laws, the result can be underachievement, lower self-esteem, and negative coping behaviors. Too often, advocacy is necessary to ensure that schools can both identify and meet the needs of gifted students in high-risk populations, including twice-exceptional and low-SES students. Gifted students need access to appropriately challenging curriculum and opportunities to work with gifted peers, and without continuous advocacy for gifted services, this may not happen in grades K - 12. Well-informed parents can bring about the changes needed to ensure that all gifted students have the opportunities they need to support their social-emotional wellness as gifted individuals

Join a group of parent leaders from the Gifted Education Family Network who have succeeded in organizing and making changes – and who believe that public schools must fully serve gifted learners from all racial, cultural, economic, and disability backgrounds.  Our presentation will address advocacy, gifted educational needs, building relationships, and the impact of academic fit on emotional wellness.

About the Presenters: 

Kim Farbisz GEFN Board Member is a parent of two highly   gifted students and a past President and board member of GC-SAGE, a GT parent   group that helped to create the GCISD ASPIRE Academy for the Highly Gifted.   Kim is beginning her seventeenth year of volunteering for PTA and served as   PTA Council President in Grapevine-Colleyville ISD. She currently sits on   five different boards related to public education. In her professional life,   she is an experienced international corporate consultant and has provided   business strategy and advice to companies all over the globe. She currently   owns her own business coaching firm and works primarily in the DFW market.

Lin Lim, GEFN Board Member,   SENG Board Member

Dr. Lin Lim earned a Ph.D.   in psychology from Boston University, an Academic Graduate Certificate in   twice-exceptional education from Bridges Graduate School of Cognitive   Diversity in Education, and an Academic Graduate Certificate in Mind, Brain   and Education from Johns Hopkins University Graduate School of Education. Dr.   Lim volunteers for education-related non-profits throughout her parenting   journey with her two gifted children, one twice-exceptional and the other   radically accelerated. She is currently a SENG board of director and an   associate dean at Bridges Graduate School.

Emily Villamar-Robbins,   GEFN Board Member

Emily   Villamar-Robbins is a graduate of Harvard Law School and holds a Graduate   Academic Certificate in Gifted and Talented Education.  She has   volunteered for gifted education in state and local roles, and she serves as   a member of the Texas Education Commissioner’s Advisory Council on the   Education of Gifted/Talented Students.  She is a founding Board Member   of the Gifted Education Family Network.