Tell Me More...
Hey, there. I'm Emily.
I've been involved in gifted education in some way for most of my life. In third grade, I began participating in my district's gifted program. (It was called PITS. Seriously. PITS. Explain that to a bunch of elementary students without snickering. Program for Intellectually Talented Students. PITS. I contend that they could have spent a bit more time working on a different acronym.) I was also identified as a twice-exceptional leaner in fifth grade when I was diagnosed with ADHD. As an adult, I've realized I also had clinical anxiety as a child, but that went unidentified until I was in college. I was 2e before 2e was 2e. ;) My teachers had no idea what to do with me when I earned failing grades because I was unable to get my worked completed. After deciding to go into teaching, I knew I wanted to work with gifted and talented learners. I earned my master's degree with gifted certification and began teaching in gifted education in 2003. I taught both elementary and middle school gifted learners, in both pull-out programs and center-based gifted programs. I even spent a year teaching in a full-time program for exceptionally gifted learners. As my passion for the social and emotional development for gifted learners grew, I decided to return to school and earn a second master's degree in counseling and family therapy. I currently work in private practice providing counseling to high-ability, identified gifted, and twice-exceptional learners. Most recently, my path in gifted education has come full circle as I became a parent of a gifted child. Facing the challenge of advocating for my own gifted child has been a great learning experience. I'm also the founder and president of the Gifted Support Network. Our mission is to provide information, connection, and enrichment to high-ability and identified gifted learners and their families. |
Need a speaker for your event? We're so glad you asked!
Emily frequently presents to parent groups and provides professional development to both educational institutions and mental health professionals about ways to best meet the needs of gifted, high-ability, and twice-exceptional learners. Possible topics include:
Send us a message for more information about potential topics and speaker fees. 
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