Parent's Corner

Debbie Brunner, of Jefferson City, is currently the Parent Network Chair for the GAM Board. Debbie is the mother of four gifted children and is currently works as the Director of Student Support Services for Linn State Technical College. She taught gifted programming for nine years in the Jefferson City Public School District. She has also taught at College for Kids, A Summer Exploration, Inc. in Fulton, MO. for eight summers. She is the community coordinator for a creative problem-solving organization called, Destination ImagiNation, Inc., where creative students, but not necessarily identified academically gifted students, compete!

Debbie became involved in gifted education in 1989 when her oldest son began Kindergarten in Littleton, Colorado. At that time, the teacher told her that her son needed some “additional testing.” From that point on, Debbie has learned to successfully advocate for academically gifted children. In the last couple of years, Debbie was able to thank that Kindergarten teacher and let her know that her son had been accepted at Harvard.

Debbie has a B.S. degree in Education, along with a Master’s degree in Information Science and Learning Technologies. She also retains a lifetime certification in gifted education. Debbie’s pride and continued encouragement for her own four children has prompted her to volunteer as the Parent Network Chair, in order to support other gifted children in Missouri. You can reach Debbie at brunner6@aol.com.

NAGC has announced a special offer for GAM parent members. For a limited time, GAM parent members may join NAGC for a special price of $10. For only $25, parents can join both GAM and NAGC. This entitles them to 4 issues of NAGC’s Parenting for High Potential, 4 issues of the GAMbit, advocacy and legislative updates, and discounts on state conventions.

Special Parent Membership Form

NAGC is also beginning Regional Academies with the first being scheduled for March 9-10 in Kansas City at the KC Airport Hilton. The topic is Curriculum and Instruction Differentiation Across the Disciplines. Find registration forms on our website under Upcoming Events or visit www.nagc.org

Additional Resources for Summer Opportunities

National Parenting Gifted Children Week