board updateS

February 2026

This is an exciting year for gifted education in Wisconsin and for WATG. For the first time, the National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC) will hold its annual conference in our state. This November, experts from across the country will gather in Milwaukee, offering a rare opportunity for anyone interested in gifted education and advanced learners.


With such a monumental event on the horizon, it’s natural for the weight of responsibility to set in. As a Board, we are reflecting on key questions:


Strategic Impact & Legacy

  • How can we leverage this moment to create a lasting positive impact for gifted learners in Wisconsin?
  • What unique opportunities arise from not hosting our own annual conference this year?
  • Where can we focus our efforts to make the greatest difference?


Engagement & Community Building

  • Who from our community and beyond will join us at NAGC in November, and how can we encourage more members to participate?
  • How are we connecting gifted advocates and fostering meaningful networking before the conference?
  • How can we continue to effectively support our partners, such as Between the Lakes e-school in Kiel and the Center for Advanced Academics?


Logistics & Preparation

  • How many proposals will WATG members submit for NAGC26 and how can we support them?
  • When is the best time to schedule our onboarding with Lacy Compton, the Senior Director of Professional Learning & Publishing at NAGC?
  • How can we best prioritize our collective efforts to ensure we succeed as the Host Affiliate?


Leadership, especially in a nonprofit, often comes with tension. Fear of making the wrong decision can stall progress. Boards are made up of many leadership styles: visionaries ready to accelerate, overthinking perfectionists focused on details, cautious stewards who value what works, and doers eager to execute. Each plays an important role. These leaders need to work together.


Our Board of Directors has ideas for moving forward. What we need now is people power.


Now is a great time to get involved with WATG. Here are a few specific ideas:

  • Volunteer your time on a current WATG project.
  • Join the Government Action Committee to review draft Assembly Bills supporting gifted education. (Next meeting: March 2)
  • Participate in the Programming Committee, which is developing offerings for students, families, and coordinators across Wisconsin (Next meeting in March TBD).
  • Join the Book Club, Gifted and Distractable, Hosted by Dr. Jenna Cramer and Mary Pape and sponsored by our Membership Committee.
  • Support WATG by shopping Amazon using our links, found here.
  • Become a WATG member by using this link ($40).
  • Become an NAGC member by using this link ($129).


Now is an important moment for WATG and we welcome your involvement. Together, we can turn this opportunity into meaningful, lasting impact.


- Terese Weiler, WATG Board President


This article has been translated for our Spanish speaking educators and families.

January 2026

Several WATG board members had the opportunity to spend time in Pittsburgh last month at the annual National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC) Conference. We began our time together early Thursday morning by participating in the State Affiliate and Special Interest Group Leadership meetings, an energizing start that grounded us in both connection and purpose. 


One of the biggest treats was hearing from Paul Siefken, a former high school English teacher and CEO of Fred Rogers Productions. Siefken shared an inspiring journey rooted in Pittsburgh native Fred Rogers’ enduring messages of kindness, inclusion and social/emotional learning. Those themes were woven throughout the conference, serving as gentle reminders of the importance and humanity in the work we are called to do in gifted education. 


This year, our time at NAGC was intentionally split between learning and leading. We immersed ourselves in sessions focused on best practice and emerging ideologies in gifted education, while also keeping a forward-looking lens on NAGC 2026, coming to Milwaukee. From connecting with Visit Milwaukee’s Representative, Tim, who was enthusiastically serving Usinger’s sausage at his exhibitor booth, to spending time learning from Pennsylvania Association for Gifted Education (PAGE) leaders, the host affiliate for NAGC25, and attending the Friday evening NAGC event at the Heinz History Museum, every minute in Pittsburgh sparked ideas and fueled our excitement for the year ahead. 


We are also thrilled to announce that NAGC just announced their Call for Proposals for NAGC 2026. This is a fantastic opportunity for our members and constituents to submit presentations that balance theory with real-world application. We strongly encourage teachers, administrators, coordinators, psychologists, counselors, and leaders in the field to consider submitting a proposal. For more information, please visit the NAGC website prior to the February 2, 2026 deadline. 


We can’t wait to welcome you to Milwaukee in November 2026 as we come together to learn, connect and continue advancing gifted education!


- Mary Pape, President-Elect, WATG



Thank you to Dr. German Diaz of Milwaukee Public Schools, and WATG treasurer, for his translation of this article for our Spanish speaking educators and families.