giftED24

Here more of E's story in conversation with Michael Flusche.

Mexican American author, filmmaker and youth literacy activist e.E. Charlton-Trujillo is the recipient of the prestigious Michael L. Printz Award 2024 for The Collectors. Trujillo has written several award-winning books for teens and children, most notably the Fat Angie series, an ALA Stonewall Award Winner, and Prizefighter en Mi Casa, a Parents’ Choice Silver Honor Winner. Their Lupe Lopez: Rock Star series, co-authored with NYT Bestseller Pat Zietlow Miller, illustrated by award-winning illustrator Joe Cepeda, has received a number of accolades such as the International Latino Book Award, Junior Library Guild Gold and Bank Street Best Spanish Book. A Girl Can Build Anything also written with Zietlow Miller, illustrated by Keisha Morris was a National Science Teacher Association Winner. e.E. is the Executive Director of the youth literacy nonprofit Never Counted Out that supports access to books and creative mentorship. Trujillo is also a proud member of the Las Musas collective.

Learn more about Ilana Walder-Biesanz and the compelling story behind National Math Stars.

Ilana founded National Math Stars in 2023. Prior to that she worked as a management consultant for Bain & Company, advising for- and non-profits in education, climate, and manufacturing. She started her career as a product manager at Yahoo! She holds a B.S. in Engineering from Olin, an M.Phil. in European Literature from Cambridge, and an MBA from Stanford. In her spare time you'll find Ilana attending the theater, reading novels, petting her two cats, and solving all sorts of puzzles.

Hear more about what drives Dina and her work in the field of gifted education in this conversation with Michael Flushe.

Dina Brulles, Ph.D., is the Gifted Masters Program Coordinator at Arizona State University and the former Director of Gifted Education at Paradise Valley USD in Arizona. Dina has served as NAGC’s Governance Secretary and the board’s School District Representative. She received the 2022 NAGC Anne Isaacs Award for Distinguished Service and NAGC’s inaugural Gifted Coordinator Award in 2014. Dina’s work emphasizes equitable and inclusive identification practices and programming in gifted education.

Learn more about Michael Matera and his dedication to learning and play!

Michael Matera (@MrMatera) is a Milwaukee, Wisconsin-based sixth grade teacher and founder of EMC2Learning.com as well as the author of Explore Like a Pirate: Gamification and Game-Inspired Course Design to Engage, Enrich and Elevate Your Learners (2016), and Fully Engaged: Playful Pedagogy for Real Results (2021) – the latter of which he co authored with John Meehan.

Hear more about the energy and sparkle that Stephanie Higgs, better known as Little Miss Gifted, brings to the classroom everyday.

Stephanie Higgs, best known as @littlemissgifted on Instagram, is an award-winning, Nashville-living gifted educator and differentiation coach. Stephanie is a quick thinking, fast talking, and passionate international professional development presenter who infuses a little sparkle and shine into educating gifted learners. Her sessions are always filled with immediate, easy-to-implement, FUN takeaways you'll be eager to try with your kiddos immediately. Stephanie favorite humans are teachers, and she is here to love and serve you however she can. She'll be your #1 hype girl as you strive to better yourself in the field of gifted education. Stephanie leaves a little sparkle wherever she goes, so prepare to leave her webinar feeling energized, equipped, and empowered to give your gifted education a glow up!

Learn more about Wendy's dedication to equitable educational opportunities and why she believes this work is so important.

Wendy Behrens is the Gifted Education Specialist for the Minnesota Department of Education. Her work focuses on creating an equitable infrastructure supporting gifted, talented and high potential learners through policy, advocacy, and teacher training. She has authored several books, and chapters and frequently presents to national and international audiences on comprehensive service design, acceleration, under-served populations, and policies that support highly able learners.