McKelle Nilsen serves as Parent Advocacy Chair for the Utah Association for Gifted Children and is a board member of the Davis Association for Gifted Children. She is the mother of four children with diverse learning needs and educational experiences, and her own experience as a gifted learner continues to shape her perspective.

McKelle believes that children are able to thrive when families, educators, and communities work together. She is passionate about helping parents feel informed, supported, and empowered as they advocate for their children, and she hopes every gifted learner has the opportunity to grow into a curious, confident, and compassionate lifelong learner.

Shari Taylor is one of the Assistant Principals at Lehi Junior High School. She chose to enter administration at the middle school level. She loves the energy of teenagers; walking into the lunch room usually makes her smile. She has been an educator for the district for 29 years teaching all elementary levels in music and advanced 5th & 6th grade instruction for all subjects.  In addition to teaching children, Mrs. Taylor teaches adults working on their Utah State Gifted and Talented Endorsement and teachers for identified advanced classes through BYU.  Mrs. Taylor’s passion in education is advocating for gifted and advanced programs. She is the past president of the Utah Association of Gifted Children and Director of Gifted Services in Alpine School District.  Although gifted education is her work interest, other interests include outdoor activities such as skiing, hiking, biking, and site seeing, and her real passion is family. She and her husband spend time with their three children and many extended family members. Mrs. Taylor loves her career as a life-long educator and learner and is currently working on her Doctorate in Educational Leadership.