WATG President Stacy Novak Meets with Preservice Teachers

As a part of collaboration between WATG and the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, WATG President Stacy Novak was invited to present to a group of preservice teachers this winter. The University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point offers a class on gifted education for special education majors and Novak collaborated with me (the course’s instructor). As WATG Board President-Elect, I believe that this collaboration is very important.

WATG President Novak spoke about the current situation of gifted education in Wisconsin and the mission of WATG. She also mentioned that this year WATG will offer some scholarships for preservice teachers to WATG’s fall conference on October 9-10, 2023, at the Wilderness Conference Center in Wisconsin Dells.

Preservice teachers were very excited about the presentation, and they mentioned that it was an eye-opening opportunity for them. As their instructor, I also pointed out the importance of  advocacy organizations like WATG for gifted education and for gifted students and their families.

Novak will speak with preservice teachers again in the spring semester of 2023.

At WATG, we are aware of the importance of training preservice teachers to help our gifted students. We will continue to  reach out to other colleges to help their teachers prepare to work with gifted students as well. 

Thank you to President Novak and her work on behalf of WATG and preservice teachers! 

Dr. Uzeyir Ogurlu, WATG Board President-Elect

WATG extends a huge thank you to Dr. German Diaz of Milwaukee Public Schools for translating this article into Spanish for our families and educators who speak Spanish. The translation can also be found on our website.