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Graduate Studies in Education

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  2. Center for Gifted Education
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Speakers

Keynote Speakers

Headshot of Kristie Speirs NeumeisterKristie Speirs Neumeister, Ph.D.

Kristie Speirs Neumeister is a professor in the department of educational psychology at Ball State University, where she directs the gifted licensure program and teaches graduate courses in educational psychology relating to gifted education. Throughout her career she has focused her research on aspects of perfectionism and how perfectionism influences the achievement of academically gifted students. Speirs Neumeister serves on the NAGC Board of Directors and was the recipient of the National Association for Gifted Children's Gifted Child Quarterly Paper of the Year and Early Scholar Awards. She is also the co-author of Perfectionism in School: When Achievement is not so Perfect; An Introduction to Gifted Education: The Complete Kit for Facilitators, Coordinators, and In-Service Training Professionals and Gifted Program Evaluation: A Handbook for Administrators and Coordinators.

Headshot of Claire HughesClaire E. Hughes, Ph.D.

Claire E. Hughes professor of special, gifted and twice-exceptional education at Cleveland State University. Previously, she was professor of elementary and special education at the College of Coastal Georgia, faculty director of special education programmes at Canterbury Christ Church University in the U.K., and has been a Fulbright Scholar to Greece twice. Winner of the Gifted & Award from NAGC, she is President of the Association of the Gifted for the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC-TAG). Her research areas include: twice-exceptional children – particularly gifted children with autism; generational studies; the use of AI in education and international education.

Headshot of Emily MofieldEmily Mofield, Ed.D.

Emily Mofield is an associate professor at Lipscomb University, teaching courses in the Gifted Education & Advanced Academics Program and Ph.D. and Ed.D. Programs in Leadership. With over 25 years of experience in gifted education as a teacher, district leader and researcher, Mofield is passionate about developing high-quality resources to equip teachers to identify, serve and support gifted and high-potential students. Mofield has authored or co-authored several books, award-winning gifted curricula (with Tamra Stambaugh/Vanderbilt PTY), articles and chapters in the field and has been recognized by NAGC with the Hollingworth Award for excellence in gifted education research (with Megan Parker Peters). She has co-authored Collaboration, Coteaching, and Coaching in Gifted Education: Strategies to Support Gifted Learners with Vicki Phelps, recognized as NAGC Book of the Year (2021). She has also recently co-authored A Teacher's Guide to Curriculum Design for Gifted and Advanced Learners (2022) (with Tamra Stambaugh). Her newest books include Vertical Differentiation for Gifted, Advanced, and High-Potential Students: 25 Strategies to Stretch Student Thinking (2023) and Coaching in Gifted Education (with Vicki Phelps). She is currently working on her next book project, Beyond the Screen: Tools for Deep Thinking and Meaningful Inquiry in a Digital World.

Mofield lives in Nashville with her wonderful husband, creative and caring daughter (7th grade) and darling poodle. She loves serving in her church, riding the Peloton and playing piano.

Featured Speakers

Sarah Boin

Sarah Boin is in her 13th year of public school teaching. She is currently supporting a cohort of 4th and 5th grade highly capable students at Coupeville Elementary School. Her diverse background – commercial fishing in Alaska, fisheries biologist, small business owner, local TV show host, traveler and teacher-researcher for a summer season in Antarctica – enriches her classroom community of "Boinville," where real-world experiences fuel curiosity and engagement. Always ready to learn more, Sarah is working toward her MAT in teaching, gifted education & equitable Instruction at Whitworth University.

Nick Castilleja, MAT

Nick Castilleja is a teacher on special assignment (TOSA) for highly capable education in Pasco, Wash. Drawing on a wide variety of teaching assignments and experiences, Castilleja advocates for dynamic, challenging and engaging curriculum and instruction for all students. He earned his master's in gifted & talented education from Whitworth University in 2019 and recently completed a term serving as a board member at large for WAETAG. Castilleja specializes in delivering experiential professional learning sessions on tailoring engaging learning environments, differentiating instruction, Project-Based Learning, Depth and Complexity, as well as identifying and serving multilingual advanced/high potential learners.

Jen Flo, M.Ed., MAT

Jen Flo is a dedicated educational leader with over 25 years of experience focused on transforming district cultures and expanding learning opportunities for all students. Currently serving as a lecturer for Whitworth University's gifted education graduate program, she specializes in advanced learning, early career educator support and systems improvement. Flo is a Whitworth gifted education program alumna and has established herself as a recognized expert in gifted education; supporting educators in districts and presenting at state, national and international conferences. Her collaborative approach to educational improvement has fostered successful partnerships with multiple school districts and a statewide PLC for district coordinators, where she supports districts in designing and revising gifted services to meet the needs of advanced learners, sustainable mentoring systems, and provides school improvement supports. As an active member of several professional organizations, including serving in leadership roles with the Washington Association of Educators of the Talented and Gifted and serving on the OSPI Advisory for Highly Capable Programs, Flo continues to advocate for educational excellence, earning recognition through awards such as the WAETAG Dedication to Excellence honor and various teaching distinctions throughout her career.

Jody Hess

Jody Hess serves as program supervisor for highly capable at OSPI and is project director for Jacob K. Javits Project HiCapPLUS: Access and Equity online professional learning modules. A former paraprofessional, teacher, HiCap coordinator, principal and district administrator, Jody has experience using a variety of identification and service delivery models for advanced learners. She has particular interest in talent development strategies to help recognize and serve “harder to find” underserved students such as multilingual learners, students with disabilities and those affected by poverty. Jody was nominated by a former student and awarded the SDB Fellowship of the Johns Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth. She was proud to be recognized by WA Association of Educators of Talented and Gifted (WAETAG) for the Kari DeMarco Lifetime Achievement Award in 2023.

Tamra Stambaugh, Ph.D.

Tamra Stambaugh is a professor and the Margo Long Endowed Chair in Gifted Education at Whitworth University. Stambaugh is the co-author/editor of several articles, monographs, book chapters, and award-winning books and curriculum units including the Vanderbilt PTY Curriculum, the Jacob's Ladder Reading Comprehension Program. Her research interests include curriculum and instructional interventions for promoting talent development and expertise as well as strategies and systems for identifying and serving students from low income and rural settings. Stambaugh serves on several boards including the Gifted Child Quarterly advisory board, the American Educational Research Association Gifted SIG executive committee, and the WAETAG board. She has also served on the National Association for Gifted Children board of directors as a member at large and as an officer in the role of treasurer. Prior to her role at Whitworth University, Stambaugh was the executive director of Programs for Talented Youth and an associate research professor at Vanderbilt University. She received her Ph.D. from the College of William & Mary. Prior to moving to higher education, Stambaugh was a HiCap teacher and coordinator of gifted programs at the local and regional state level. Stambaugh's work is widely recognized nationally and internationally and is the recipient of national awards for leadership, scholarship and service in the field; she is an invited speaker for the United States Embassy Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, U.S. Department of State Speaker's Bureau and has been invited to consult or present in several countries including Australia, China, St. Croix and the United Arab Emirates.