In this episode of the Turning the PAGE Podcast, we sit down with NAGC Closing Keynote Speaker Dr. Brian Housand, a nationally recognized speaker, author, and curiosity provoker who brings energy and insight to gifted education. As Program Coordinator for the Academically or Intellectually Gifted program at UNC Wilmington, Dr. Housand blends research, creativity, and a touch of whimsy to ignite new ways of thinking. Whether on stage or in the classroom, he inspires educators to embrace complexity, unlock student potential, and transform learning into an exciting adventure of discovery.

Join us for an insightful conversation that offers a sneak peek into his powerful closing keynote, connected to the theme "Won't You Be My Neighbor? Creating Community and Connection in Gifted Education." Beyond his keynote, this episode explores rich, meaningful discussions about his influential work as a researcher, advocate, scholar, parent, and passionate educator. Tune in to hear how Dr. Housand is shaping gifted education by fostering community, nurturing connection, and championing impactful advocacy.

Sessions: https://nagc25.eventscribe.net/searchGlobal.asp

In this episode of the Turning the PAGE Podcast, we sit down with the NAGC Closing Keynote Speakers, Dr. Corey Gray and Dr. Keishana Barnes, alongside NAGC President Dr. Catherine Little and Director of Content and Learning Lacy Compton. Join us for an insightful conversation that offers sneak peeks into their powerful closing keynotes connecting to the theme "Won't You Be My Neighbor? Creating Community and Connection in Gifted Education." Beyond their keynotes, this episode engages in rich, meaningful conversations about their influential work as researchers, advocates, scholars, parents, and dedicated educators. Tune in to discover how they are transforming gifted education by fostering community, nurturing connection, and driving powerful advocacy efforts.

Sessions: https://nagc25.eventscribe.net/searchGlobal.asp

Corey J. Gray, Ph.D. is an educational philosopher, creativity advocate, and equity champion based in Atlanta, Georgia. He holds a Ph.D. in Gifted and Creative Education from the University of Georgia, where his research focused on culturally responsive gifted education and teacher perceptions of creativity. His work has been featured in academic and practitioner-based journals and on local, national, and international stages. Corey currently serves as an elementary educator, with experience across diverse educational settings.

Over the past 25 plus years, Dr. Keishana L. Barnes has studied and worked in the field of education. A former GATE kid, she graduated with a double major in Special Education and Child Development from Vanderbilt University, earned a master’s degree at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, and her PhD in Educational Psychology and Research at the University of Memphis. She now works as a professor teaching future teachers.

Dwayne Reed is an author, rapper, proud husband, father, and public school teacher in Chicago, IL. In 2016, he released his viral music video, “Welcome to the 4th Grade,” which garnered millions of views and catapulted him into the national education spotlight. Reed believes relationships mean everything in education and that every child—no matter their race or social status—deserves a fair chance at a quality education. His message is one of grace, love, and equity, and his aim is to rehumanize the learning experience for every scholar, everywhere.

In his upcoming keynote, Being the Educator They Need, Reed will help educators rediscover their WHY of teaching and emphasize the importance of building and maintaining positive relationships with students, both in and outside of the classroom. The session is filled with practical talking points grounded in social-emotional learning, restorative justice, and trauma-informed practices. Each participant will leave with dozens of actionable, relationship-building strategies they can immediately implement in their classrooms.

Connect with him at tmreed.com or @TeachMrReed on all platforms.

The Pennsylvania Association for Gifted Education (PAGE) is a dedicated board that advocates passionately for gifted children, their parents, and the teachers who support these exceptional students. PAGE offers a wide range of professional development opportunities, including programs like Webinars, Teacher to Teacher (T2T), Parent to Parent (P2P), the PLUG course for administrators, a Help Line, as well as engaging podcast episodes on Turning the PAGE Podcast! These initiatives provide multiple pathways for advocacy, education, and growth to enhance the learning experiences of gifted students, teachers, administrators, and parents across Pennsylvania. As the proud host affiliate for the upcoming 2025 NAGC conference in Pittsburgh, all of us at PAGE are thrilled to showcase our commitment and expertise!

Through our advocacy efforts, we represent gifted education interests at both the state and national legislative levels, closely monitor Pennsylvania’s regulations and compliance, and keep our members informed about important state and federal developments. As an affiliate of the national organization, NAGC, we are connected to the global gifted education community. PAGE provides essential connections to educators and advocates, collaborating with other professional learning organizations supporting affiliate chapters within school districts by training leaders and strengthening their initiatives.

Meet the PAGE Board! https://www.giftedpage.org/about-us/meet-the-board/

PAGE is proud of its incredible team and looks forward to welcoming you to NAGC 2025 in Pittsburgh!

Welcome to today’s episode, where we explore the fun and exciting things to do in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, during our NAGC 2025 conference! Whether you’re a local or visiting our great city for the first time, Pittsburgh has much to offer. We are excited to share some of the best attractions and experiences with you as attendees for NAGC 2025 in this vibrant city. Enjoy a lively discussion with guests, Lacy Compton (NAGC's Director of Content and Learning), Kacey Shoupe (PAGE Administrative Director), and Melissa Survinski (PAGE Board Member) as they discuss Pittsburgh attractions such as:

• Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens
• Heinz History Center
• Andy Warhol Museum
• The Duquesne Incline
• Carnegie Museum of Natural History
• Point State Park
• Heinz Field
• Shopping in the 'Strip District'

We look forward to welcoming you to the NAGC 2025 Conference in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania—the iconic Steel City, famous for its rich history and vibrant community!

Let's explore what makes gifted education in Pennsylvania unique and how it differs from other states nationwide.

Welcome to the first episode of the Turning the PAGE Podcast NAGC Conference series, launched in preparation for the 2025 NAGC Conference in Pittsburgh. In this episode, podcast guests Dr. Catherine Little (NAGC President-Elect, NAGC Board of Directors) and Dave Mendell (PAGE President) explore what makes gifted education in Pennsylvania unique and how it differs from other states nationwide.

Gifted education in the U.S. varies widely due to differences in state laws, local policies, and funding, with many decisions left to local school districts. Pennsylvania, as the 2025 NAGC Conference host state, offers a distinctive model shaped by specific state regulations, identification processes, and support services. Catherine and Dave discuss how Pennsylvania defines and identifies gifted students, highlighting contrasts with the approaches of other states. They explain the range of services available and how schools tailor curriculum differentiation to meet diverse student needs.

The episode also emphasizes the critical role of parents in advocating for gifted learners and directs listeners to valuable resources, including NAGC’s National Standards in Gifted and Talented Education and the State of the States reports. Catherine and Dave share how the Pennsylvania Association for Gifted Education (PAGE) actively advocates for gifted students statewide and supports ongoing collaboration among educators, families, and policymakers.

Listeners will gain a comprehensive understanding of Pennsylvania’s gifted education landscape, common challenges faced by students and families, and promising trends shaping the future of gifted education in the state. Join us for this insightful conversation that sets the stage for the upcoming NAGC 2025 conference and deepens awareness of gifted education’s evolving priorities nationwide.

Resources:

Standards of Gifted Education Programs from NAGC: https://nagc.org/page/National-Standards-in-Gifted-and-Talented-Education

A variety of resources may be found at: https://nagc.org/page/knowledge-center

Tracey’s mission is to directly impact the lives of students by creating an environment

that encourages high levels of problem-solving and risk-taking. Her vision is to build

sustainable programs where celebrations of intellect occur on a daily basis and children

become aware of the power within themselves.

With 30 years of dedicated experience in K-12 education, she brings both expertise and

passion to her mission of nurturing our brightest young minds. Her journey as an

advocate for gifted education began personally when she observed her

kindergarten-age son writing solar system reports while his classmates were still

mastering basic letter and number recognition. Rather than simply identifying this

educational gap, she committed herself to becoming part of the solution.

Driven by her belief that every child deserves appropriate learning opportunities, Tracey

collaborated with her school district to establish their first comprehensive policy for

whole-grade acceleration. Her academic credentials include a Master's Degree

specializing in gifted education and K-9 Certification in Gifted Education. Throughout

her career, she has served in diverse roles from classroom teacher to Director of Gifted

Education, bringing a well-rounded perspective to educational leadership.

Tracey's talent for program development is evident in her many successful initiatives,

including a summer enrichment program serving over 600 students and a dynamic high

school robotics program. She was also instrumental in creating a robust gifted/talented

program that continues to thrive. For eight years, Tracey contributed her expertise as a

member of the Board of Directors for the Illinois Association for Gifted Children, further

extending her influence in the field.

Beast Academy Info and Contact Information

Special Education Supervisor and PAGE Board Member Matt Levin, along with Gifted Education Coordinator Audra Golder, speaks on behalf of their collaborative school model, approaching every aspect of their administrative roles with advocacy and support for the staff and students they serve. Listen as they explore the benefits of this model while sharing their honest perspectives on its challenges. Please enjoy this 'podcast short' recording from the 2024 PAGE Conference, Gifted 24/7.