UAGC Newsletter Spring 2021
President's Message
We hope this newsletter finds you and your loved ones well! Though we still cannot meet in person with you, the Utah Association for Gifted Children is moving forward with virtual events. Last fall, and in collaboration with the Utah State Board of Education (USBE), we facilitated a virtual book study focused on closing excellence gaps. Our annual winter symposium provided an opportunity for our first large-scale, virtual event. In March, we are facilitating a parent-focused book study, and an exciting workshop series, also in collaboration with USBE, addressing the needs of students who are twice-exceptional (2E). Details of all of these events, as well as our annual summer conference, are in this newsletter.
Our cause is important! We are grateful for opportunities to be able to learn together, even in these most unusual circumstances. In fact, moving to a virtual platform enabled participants from Logan to St. George to attend events together! A wider outreach and more opportunities to connect across our state has certainly been a silver-lining in this cloudy time. We look forward to continuing with these options in the future, and invite you to join us, no matter where you reside!
Tina Jensen Named President Elect
Tina Jensen, a GT magnet teacher in Salt Lake City School District, is the newly named President Elect of the Utah Association of Gifted Children. Ms. Jensen’s tenure as president will begin in July 2021. We are excited to work alongside Tina in this capacity! Please watch for more information about the UAGC Board to be emailed this spring.
Save the Dates!
We look forward to having you join us virtually, for an amazing learning opportunity with Lisa Van Gemert and Jim Delise. We will have Networking sessions, Creativity rotations and lots of new ideas and strategies to share. Please watch for the registration to be posted on UAGC.org!
Excellence Gaps in Education Book Study
UAGC Awards and Honors
Do you know a teacher or student who deserves recognition?
Each year at the annual summer conference, UAGC takes the opportunity to honor people who have made outstanding contributions to gifted children in our state. Please consider outstanding educators, volunteers, and elementary students whom you might nominate to receive an award. Descriptions of the awards and a link to the nomination form is found below. The deadline for submissions is May 1st.
The Calvin W. Taylor Outstanding Educator Award is designed to recognize an exemplary Utah educator of gifted and talented youth. This award was established to honor educators who, like Dr. Taylor, greatly impact the lives of their students. Please assist us in recognizing our gifted and talented educators. You are invited to nominate an educator who has made a significant impact in the lives of gifted and talented youth.
Criteria to be Considered:
- Nominee possesses the essential characteristics of effective teachers of the gifted and talented youth.
- Nominee has demonstrated exemplary competencies, skills and knowledge needed to work well with gifted and talented youth Nominee has demonstrated superior performance when working with gifted and talented youth
- Nominee is committed to the advocacy of gifted and talented youth.
The Local Leadership Award was established in honor of Dr. Sally M. Todd who was a master teacher, an excellent scholar, and a woman of service. The Sally M. Todd Local Leadership Award is designed to recognize and honor community members who have displayed a long-standing commitment to gifted children and/or related issues, while living in the state of Utah. Please assist us in honoring non-educators who have made a significant positive contribution to gifted education in their local communities.
Criteria to be Considered:
- Nominee is a non-educator living in the state of Utah.
- Nominee has displayed a long-standing commitment to gifted children and/or related issues.
- Nominee has made a significant positive contribution to gifted education in their local community, which has greatly impacted large numbers of parents, students, and/or teachers.
- Nominee is committed to the advocacy of gifted and talented youth.
The Jewel Bindrup Award is presented to any person who, while living in Utah, has contributed significantly to the specific needs of Utah’s gifted children.
Criteria to be Considered:
- Nominee has completed work in an area of gifted concern which has greatly impacted large numbers of parents, students, and/or teachers.
- Nominee has displayed a long-standing commitment to gifted children and/or related issues.
- Nominee possesses personal and professional skills which nurture gifted children.
The National Association for Gifted Children Nicholas Green Distinguished Student Award recognizes excellence in young children. The award is made to a student who is in grade 3 through 5 and has distinguished him or herself in academics, leadership, or the arts.
The Utah Association for Gifted Children Distinguished Student Award recognizes excellence in students in middle grades. The award is made to a student who is in grade 6 through 9 and has distinguished him or herself in academics, leadership, or the arts.
Please take a moment to nominate at uagc.org
UAGC Parent Focused Virtual Book Study
UAGC is hosting a virtual book study the second Monday of March, April and May from 8:00-9:00 p.m. When Gifted Kids Don't Have All the Answers (Galbraith and Delisle, 2015) will be the foundation of the book study. (Of note: Dr. Jim Delisle, one of the authors, will be the Keynote Speaker at the annual UAGC summer conference, June 15-16-17, 2021.)Parents are encouraged to read the chapters before the discussion, but will find the discussion valuable even without prior reading. Participants can purchase the book or request one of 25 free copies from UAGC (while quantities last). Register on at uagc.org for the zoom link and detailed information.
