SAGE Speaker Series & Parent Education Archive

4/25/2024 12:00 am

2024 Spring Speaker Series — Dr. Matt Zakreski: Perfectionism & Anxiety

Publication Date: April 2, 2024

SAGE hosted nationally recognized child psychologist Dr. Matt Zakreski for a talk titled “The Perfectionist Trap: Understanding and Managing Anxiety and Perfectionism in Gifted Kids.” Dr. Zakreski is co-founder of the Gifted, Bright, and Twice-Exceptional Consulting Practice and specializes in work with gifted and 2e individuals. The event provided strategies for parents to help their children cope with the stress of high expectations and manage the emotional fallout of mistakes.

2023 Fall Workshop: Understanding the ASPIRE Program

Publication Date: September 15, 2023

SAGE hosted a focused parent workshop led by GCISD Advanced Academics Director, Dr. Cheryl Taliaferro, covering the structure and curriculum of the ASPIRE Academy. Topics included the differences between ASPIRE and Pre-AP/AP, the identification process, and how to support highly gifted learners in the specialized program. This event was highly attended, indicating strong community interest in the program’s details.

2022 Speaker Series — Dr. Gail Post: Motivation & Resilience

Publication Date: October 25, 2022

Psychotherapist and author Dr. Gail Post was the featured speaker, presenting on "Helping Gifted Kids Find Motivation, Resilience, and Their Best Selves." Dr. Post addressed common issues like underachievement, fear of failure, and the need for intrinsic motivation over external rewards. The presentation emphasized the importance of a growth mindset in gifted education.

2021 Virtual Speaker Series: College Admissions for Gifted Students

Publication Date: November 1, 2021

SAGE partnered with GCISD College and Career Readiness to host a virtual panel discussion focusing on the specialized college application landscape for highly gifted students. Topics included:

The role of the ASPIRE profile in college applications.
How to leverage research and independent projects.
Writing the college essay to showcase intellectual curiosity over mere achievement.
Understanding selective admissions trends.

2020 Speaker Series — Carol Bainbridge: Asynchronous Development

Publication Date: September 8, 2020

SAGE hosted gifted education specialist Carol Bainbridge, known for her site Giftedness Handout, for a presentation on “Asynchronous Development: The Gifted Child’s Internal Challenge.” The session focused on the uneven intellectual, emotional, and physical development often seen in gifted children, providing parents with tools to navigate the resulting social and emotional challenges.

2019 Fall Speaker Series — Dr. Jim DeLisle: Parenting Gifted Kids

Publication Date: October 10, 2019

Nationally renowned author and speaker Dr. Jim DeLisle presented “The Best and the Worst of Parenting Gifted Kids: A Look at the Rollercoaster Ride.” Dr. DeLisle is a former university professor and has authored several foundational books on gifted education. His talk covered the unique joys and challenges of raising gifted children, including perfectionism, intensity, and communication.