Gifted Support Network Speaker Series
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LOCATION:
St. Charles Community Commons @ Spencer Road Library 427 Spencer Road, St. Peters, MO 63376 Enter through the Community Commons entrance on the left (Boone Hills Drive) side of the building COST: GSN Speaker Series Events are FREE to the public, however, advance registration is required (see below). |
GRAD CREDIT FOR EDUCATORS:
Educators who attend both sessions during the fall semester (September 15, 2022 and November 3, 2022) are eligible to earn one (1) graduate credit hour through Lindenwood University. Information will be sent to registrants who attend and sign-in at the event. FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN: We kindly request that adults and/or interested older teens attend the speaker series events. |
FALL 2022 SPEAKER TOPICS:
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September 15, 2022 @ 7:00-8:00 PM
Encouraging a Flexible Mindset in Gifted Individuals Presented by: Justin Villet, Sphinx Gifted Consulting LLC Giftedness can be a double-edged sword; it can be wonderful during some instances, and truly debilitating during others. In order to try to aid in the development of the whole child, a flexible mindset is necessary, but "having" one is easier said than done, especially with a young gifted individual. The problem is that many people don't really know how to focus on this in a "real" and logistically-sound way. Educators are often asked to foster flexible mindsets without really knowing what this means, how to integrate this into a class that is content-mastery driven, or how to make sure social-emotional development has “staying power.” Parents might know how to encourage a different mindset, but might not know how to come together with educators to make sure their child is getting the same messaging throughout their day. This presentation outlines some of the issues, guides educators through creating a system that integrates content mastery and skill mastery, and provides formats so that educators and parents can effectively work together. About the presenter: Justin Villet, president and founder of Sphinx Gifted Consulting, LLC, has been an educator and administrator in the field of gifted education for a decade; he is a PhD candidate in education and has three Masters degrees in the field of education, including one in gifted education. Starting his career as an 8th grade history and English teacher, Justin has created and helped to reform numerous gifted programs, focusing on equitable practices, flexible programmatic approaches that have “staying power” within a community, and tiered cognitive opportunities for all students. Recently, Justin has been employed by districts to perform quality reviews of gifted programs, provide professional development opportunities for stakeholders, and help navigate the politically charged world of gifted education. |
November 3, 2022 @ 7:00-8:00 PM
Perfectionism, Stress, and Anxiety in High-Ability Youth Presented by: Emily Kircher-Morris, LPC (Neurodiversity Podcast & Unlimited Potential Counseling) Gifted and twice-exceptional learners have unique environmental factors that influence the types of situations that cause them stress and anxiety. They may show signs of perfectionism when overwhelmed or frustrated that things are going the way they expected. How can parents and educators support these bright learners to regulate their emotions and manage their stress? This presentation will focus on practical strategies that can help these children and teens thrive. About the presenter: Emily Kircher-Morris, M.A., M.Ed., LPC, inspired by her own experiences as a twice-exceptional (2e) learner, is dedicated to supporting 2e children—including her own—in a way she wasn’t during her academic years. She has taught in gifted classrooms, has been a school counselor, and is now in private practice as a licensed professional counselor, where she specializes in helping gifted and twice-exceptional kids. Emily is the author of two books related to the development of twice-exceptional learners. "Teaching Twice-Exceptional Learners in Today's Classroom" (Free Spirit Publishing, 2021) focuses on supporting 2e learners in the educational setting, and "Raising Twice-Exceptional Children: A Handbook for Parents of Neurodivergent Gifted Kids" (Routledge, 2022) is a guide for parents navigating the world of twice-exceptionality. Emily is the founder of the St. Louis-based nonprofit Gifted Support Network. She speaks at statewide, national, and international conferences and frequently provides virtual and in-person professional development to educators worldwide. She also hosts The Neurodiversity Podcast, which explores parenting, counseling techniques, and best practices for enriching the lives of neurodivergent people. |
Educational Credit:
- CE Credit for Mental Health Professionals is now available for select speaker events.
- Graduate Credit for Educators is also available through our partnership with Lindenwood University.
Did You Miss A Presentation?
Speaker Event notes, handouts and now online recordings of all of our upcoming speaker events are available with a GSN Membership package. The package also includes some other great benefits, including a larger discount on Enrichment Classes and a wealth of resources!