Jaime Finch has spent twenty-plus years chasing down the gifted kids everybody else walks right past. Not the polished straight-A crowd, but the weird, wonderful, endlessly curious ones who don’t fit the mold. She’s an AIG teacher and gifted specialist, and she’s a little obsessed with the part most people skip, which is what you actually do with a gifted kid once you’ve found one. Spoiler, it’s not more worksheets!!

**************************************************************************************************************************

Redeem your 1 free month of Byrdseed by visiting http://byrdseed.tv/fine

Erin Vanek is the founder of The Gifted Perspective, a platform dedicated to helping people better understand giftedness as a form of neurodivergence. With more than 15 years of experience in gifted education, a master’s degree, and credentials as a licensed gifted intervention specialist, Erin brings both professional expertise and lived experience to this work.

As a twice-exceptional (2E) individual (gifted and living with ADHD), and a parent of 2E children, Erin understands firsthand both the challenges and strengths that can come with being gifted. Through The Gifted Perspective, she creates resources and products for parents and educators, provides education and support, and cultivates an online community where gifted and 2E individuals and their families can find connection, validation, and belonging.

Erin is also available for speaking engagements and presentations for schools, organizations, and professional communities looking to better understand and support gifted and 2E individuals. Learn more and explore Erin’s resources at The Gifted Perspective (www.thegiftedperspective.com)

Vickie Carden has dedicated 23 years to the field of education, spending the last 18 years serving as an Academically or Intellectually Gifted (AIG) teacher within Pitt County Schools. Her deep-seated passion for her work and commitment to excellence recently earned her the prestigious honor of being named NCAGT's 2026 Outstanding Teacher of the Gifted.

Driven by the core philosophy that every child possesses unique gifts, Ms. Carden focuses her career on helping students discover their distinct strengths. She is dedicated to fostering creative thinking, encouraging real-world problem-solving, and inspiring students to leverage their talents to positively impact their communities.

Throughout her distinguished tenure, Ms. Carden has held several leadership roles, including:

• Elementary AIG Lead Teacher, providing guidance and structural support across the district.
• Curriculum Developer, actively contributing to the revision of the district’s AIG curriculum and comprehensive AIG Plan.
• Mentor, supporting fellow educators and sharing practical strategies to make classroom differentiation meaningful and effective for all learners.

Beyond curriculum development, she is a strong advocate for authentic learning, frequently creating enrichment opportunities that successfully bridge the gap between students and community partners.

Outside of her professional life, Ms. Carden enjoys spending time with her family. She and her husband, Chuck, have been married for 23 years and are the proud parents of their 18-year-old daughter, Sydney. This fall, Sydney will begin her studies at East Carolina University as a distinguished Brinkley-Lane Scholar.

****************************************************************************************************************************

Learn more about the Academically Gifted Teacher Certificate through Eastern Carolina University here.

Dr. Emily King is a Child Psychologist and former School Psychologist who has worked with neurodivergent children and teens for over 20 years. She received a Ph.D. in School Psychology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where she worked at Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute and the Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities. She began her career as a School Psychologist in Houston, Texas specializing in providing school-based mental health in K-12 public schools. Emily now works in private practice in North Carolina supporting the mental health needs of neurodivergent youth, their families, and their teachers.

You can find more of her on the Learn with Dr. Emily Substack, where you can find her blogs, podcast, and live workshops.

She is also the creator of The Neurodiverse Classroom, a professional development curriculum for educators.

Her new book, THE NEURODIVERGENT LEARNER, will be available for presale in early 2026.

*******************************************************************************************************************************

Learn more about the Academically Gifted Teacher Certificate through Eastern Carolina University here.

Dr. Latonda Mitchell is an Elementary Curriculum Specialist with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools and an educational researcher whose work centers on the lived experiences of gifted Black girls. Her doctoral research explored how these students navigate perfectionism, identity, and the often-unseen pressures that accompany high achievement. Dr. Mitchell is passionate about helping educators, families, and school leaders better understand the social and emotional experiences of gifted learners and creating educational environments where students are valued for who they are, not just what they accomplish.

************************************************************************************************************************

Learn more about the Academically Gifted Teacher Certificate through Eastern Carolina University here.

Lisa Richer transforms "stuck" into success. Using her Clarity Confidence Courage Journey Map™, she guides people through three key pillars: the Internal (shifting from "fixer" to leader), the Relational (prioritizing connection over compliance), and the Systemic (advocating in schools, organizations and sports).

Combining her work as an author with her leadership in the neurodivergent community, Lisa leverages her deep experience to empower neurodiverse individuals to thrive in all environments.

Visit her website here: https://journey2bloom.com/

******************************************************************************************************************************

Learn more about the Academically Gifted Teacher Certificate through Eastern Carolina University here.

With 19+ years of experience, Dr. McCabe has a Master’s and PhD in Psychology from UNC-CH. She has also been intensively trained in DBT, DBT-C, CBT, PCIT, and FST. “Dr. Mel” opened RDU Therapy in 2022 with the hopes of giving families high-quality expert support in a manner that fits their lifestyle. She works with children (6+ yo), adolescents, adults, couples, parents, families, other providers, and high-achievers. Dr. McCabe specializes in: Depression, Anxiety, BPD, ADHD, DMDD, Selfharm, Suicidality, Burnout, Life Transitions, family conflict, and parenting support. She offers telehealth, DBT groups, Burnout group, our Intensive therapy program (Relational Rehab), educational trainings, speaking engagements, and is the “Real Life with RDU Therapy” podcast host. In her free time she likes to spend time with her family & friends, walk our therapy dog (Doc), traveling, running, and hiking. You can follow her on Instagram at @dr_melanie_mccabe.

*****************************************************************************

Learn more about the Academically Gifted Teacher Certificate through Eastern Carolina University here.

Chamonix Mann is a Gifted and Talented specialist with 14 years experience in elementary education, currently serving students and teachers in Texas. She is the creator of Gifted Glow Up Studio, a digital platform dedicated to helping educators and families move beyond compliance-driven instruction and into meaningful, inquiry-based learning experiences for gifted learners.

Chamonix is passionate about redefining what it means to support gifted students- advocating for depth, creativity, and authentic challenge over speed and perfection. Her work centers on creating opportunities for gifted learners to think critically, creatively, and authentically.

Follow her on Instagram @giftedglowupstudio

Jessica LaFollette has been teaching gifted learners for over 25 years and serves on the board of directors for the National Association for Gifted Children. She currently teaches gifted students at Piper Middle School in Kansas City and instructs graduate courses at the University of Missouri in differentiation. Dr. LaFollette is co-author of the LEAP Guidebook and Modules for Differentiating Instruction and recently authored the book, Magic in the Middle: Hands-on Challenges that Create Joy for Gifted Middle School Students. She is a Past President of the Kansas Association for the Gifted, Talented and Creative and past Chair of NAGC’s Parent, Family and Community Network. When she is not teaching, she enjoys puzzles, reading, baking, and traveling with her husband and four children.

Aritia Smalls brings nearly two decades of educational expertise to her role as Advanced Learning and Gifted Education Coordinator. A deep-seated passion for student potential defines her career; she works tirelessly to ensure that advanced resources and academic support are accessible to all students, empowering them to reach their full potential.

Lisa Pagano currently serves as the Director of Advanced Studies for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS). Lisa brings over 20 years of dedicated experience in gifted education. Throughout her career, Lisa has been recognized for her contributions to education innovation, i Lisa holds advanced certifications and degrees in School Leadership, Gifted Education, and Curriculum and Instruction. An accomplished educator and published author, she has shared her insights on gifted education in various professional publications, including Parenting for High Potential. She is thrilled to work on and co-host the podcast, They’ll Be Fine. Lisa has worked as a Per Diem Consultant with Thinking Maps for the past 8 years. She also works with schools and districts through her gifted education consulting business, bright & brilliant, LLC.

Trinette Atri is a National Board Certified educator with 21 years of experience and an AIG Instructional Specialist for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, supporting gifted education across 100+ elementary schools. She serves on the NCAGT Board as a Presidential Appointee and co-hosts the podcast They’ll Be Fine. Trinette is also the longtime Program Director of Spectrum of the Arts, a summer program for students gifted in the arts. She also taught AIG teacher licensure courses at Queens University of Charlotte and holds degrees from Boston College and the University of Bradford in the UK.