Meet the New 2018 Network Chairs-Elect

Congratulations New Chairs-Elect!

Thank you to everyone who put their name forward as a candidate for Chair-Elect. Networks cannot function without leaders.

 

Arts, Chair-Elect

Cappie Dobyns
Teacher, Arts, Gifted and Talented, Ames (IA) Community School District (CV)

Statement of Candidacy

As the Arts Network Chair, my leadership priorities would be to inform, build community, and increase our visibility. NAGC’s most valuable assets are its membership and resources. Merging both through traditional and innovative means will support growth. Through communication, we can gain knowledge about research, educational trends, and best practice. Through community, we can build relationships among the students, parents, teachers, and administrators/researchers within the Arts Network and across networks. Through new collaborations, we can gain insight into issues and diverse perspectives that afford purposeful, reciprocal partnerships, and opportunities for increasing awareness of art’s true potential within education.

 

Curriculum Studies, Chair-Elect

Tracy Missett, Ph.D.
Director of SEP and Gifted On-line Administrator University of Virginia (CV)

Statement of Candidacy

At the heart of gifted programming lies the implementation of curriculum supporting the academic and affective growth of gifted students. Knowing this, I have engaged in research investigating the impact of curriculum on the learning or gifted learners on learning. I have also translated this research into practice by writing curriculum units for gifted students, two of which have received NAGC curriculum awards.

If elected to serve as Chair-Elect of the Curriculum Studies Network, I would commit to promoting research and development in curriculum for gifted students, disseminating research-based curriculum to educators, and collaborating with other NAGC Networks and members to those ends.

 

Early Childhood, Chair-Elect

Rebecca O'Brien
Ph.D. Student, Educational Psychology, University of Connecticut-Storrs (CV)

Statement of Candidacy

I have been a member of NAGC and the Early Childhood Network for over 7 years and would be honored to be the network’s Chair-Elect.  I was a classroom teacher for 6 1/2 years years before becoming a Ph.D. candidate in giftedness, creativity, and talent development. My work focusing on identifying and developing potential in primary grade students has increased my awareness of and commitment to the unique needs of early childhood.

My goal is to collaborate with network members and other leaders to pursue the Early Childhood Network's mission of responding to the needs of early childhood learners and those who support them.

 

Research & Evaluation, Chair-Elect

Cindy Gilson, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor Academically or Intellectually Gifted Program, University of North Carolina, Charlotte (CV)

Statement of Candidacy

It would be such an honor to serve the NAGC Research & Evaluation Network as the next Chair-Elect. For the past 7 years, I have collaborated and served with the talented members of the R&E Network in a variety of capacities, including the following: (1) Program and Assistant Program Chair, (2) Awards Committee Co-Chair, (3) Graduate Student Network Committee Chair, (4) NAGC Annual Conference proposal, Research Gala, and Dissertation Award Competition reviewer, and (5) Did You Know? Newsletter writer.

If elected, I would tap into the R&E members’ collective expertise to enhance and expand our offerings and increase our membership.