board updateS

March 2026: Each One Reach (at Least) One

Gifted and talented students work better when everyone around them is informed, connected, and working together. As we look ahead to the National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC) Annual Conference, the Wisconsin Association for Talented and Gifted is asking you to take on an easy but very powerful challenge. We would like you to reach out to at least one other person and invite them to consider attending NAGC the NAGC conference November 5-8, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.


The success of gifted education does not fall on just one group of people. Instead, it depends on a strong, diverse community of advocates and collaborators. Here’s why each voice matters:

  • Gifted and Talented Coordinators – bring a vision and ensure services are aligned, equitable, and sustainable
  • Classroom Teachers – often the first people to recognize the potential of a student being gifted and benefit from NAGC’s practical strategies and research-based practices
  • Special Education Teachers – ensure that twice-exceptional students receive support that balances the students’ strengths and needs
  • Administrators – make the decisions about the policy and resources in the school and gain valuable insight at NAGC into building effective, district-wide gifted systems
  • School Counselors and Psychologists – support social-emotional development in gifted students and can learn how to guide gifted students both academically and personally
  • Parents, Caregivers, and Grandparents – can become stronger advocates through NAGC’s parent sessions and national perspective
  • Business and Community Leaders – can gain a deeper understanding of how investing in gifted students can strengthen local workforce and community innovation


The NAGC Conference offers learning, collaboration, and inspiration for all of these groups of people, and when we attend together, the impact multiples.


This month, WATG challenges you to reach out to at least one person. Share why WATG and NAGC matter. Invite them to attend the NAGC conference with you in November. Together, we can expand and strengthen the network that supports gifted students across Wisconsin and beyond. We are counting on you.


Stacy Novak, WATG Executive Assistant

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.