Taking a Chance on Gifted Ed – Great Odds for All

Day by day, our educational system is evolving, and despite changes, the promise of education shines on. Educators and advocates must serve all students, including those who are neurologically diverse and those with advanced abilities. It is imperative that the educators of these students have a plethora of tools to provide appropriate learning environments for their population. Current realities imply that educational institutions must also expand and embrace alternative delivery models to attain this goal. Simply stated, school systems succeed when their home communities believe that all students, with adequate and appropriate support, thrive. Where, then, is the best place to hone your skillset and fill your toolkit?

The 2025 WATG conference, Take A Chance on Gifted Education, October 6-7 at the Wilderness Conference Center in Wisconsin Dells, will provide an opportunity for participation in invigorating learning dedicated to the belief that excellent education matters for all students. With two phenomenal keynote speakers – Dr. Dante Dixson and Dr. Matt Zakreski – and a plethora of informative breakout sessions, the conference will offer opportunities for all members of the educational community – parents, teachers, administrators, school leaders, and community members – to grow their skillsets and thrive.

Beyond a niche service, gifted education, at its core, lays the foundation for a creative blending of key principles and new ideas. Gifted education has often been on the cutting edge of ways to reimagine education. For example, many neurodiverse individuals thrive when directions about changing behaviors are framed as opportunities for intellectual exploration. Intellectual exploration then becomes the “on ramp” for behavioral change. Similarly, academic subjects always require the teaching of facts and skills while sharing knowledge. Curious students benefit most when current best practice unites with intriguing educational theory. Students learn best when their curiosity is piqued.

Our WATG Fall Conference, Take a Chance on Gifted Education, will offer many ways to stimulate your thinking and ignite your teaching. Take a chance, learn new things, and join our community. Then take this learning back to your community, because education plays a critical role in the foundation of strong communities!

We look forward to seeing you at our conference to share ideas and support our mission to educate and advocate for the needs of all gifted and talented individuals in Wisconsin.

By Dr. Maria Katsaros-Molzahn, Ed.D, WATG Secretary