North Dakota Association forGifted Children |
This past August of 2021 NDAGC celebrated the 3rd birthday of its non-profit status and formal affiliation with our parent organization, National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC). While our organization may be small, it is without question, active and vibrant. The life that NDAGC has is in no small part due to the commitment of the Board and Officers that come together every month, twice per month, to plan how we will put feet to our mission -- to support the growth and development of gifted and talented children through education, advocacy, community building, and research within North Dakota. I am so grateful to them for being willing to embrace this mission together for the sake of gifted students across our state – from the gifted students in our larger school systems, to the gifted students in the smallest of school settings and from every culture and economic strata. In these first three years, our President Yee Han Chu, Ph.D., kept our organization laser focused on the goal of advocating for their growth through webinars, forums, research, and the development of statewide best practices. |
Now I have been given the opportunity to continue the mission, too. As the next President of NDAGC, I share the same commitment to gifted education as Dr. Chu and each of our officers. Like them, my devotion to gifted children and gifted education is steadfast. It has to be. Historically, gifted education has received very little support when compared to other educational arenas. Still, ever since I made the decision to shift my course from classroom teacher to teacher of the gifted, I have always found the educators in the field to be extraordinarily passionate about advocating for gifted children—it is the kind of contagious passion that continues to fuel my own even on the toughest of days. Gifted education has been the most wonderful place to spend my career, and I remain incredibly grateful to not only be able to continue to lead a gifted program in my city, but to be a part of an organization dedicated to advocacy and education of our students in the state of North Dakota – NDAGC. I look forward to watching our organization continue to grow in the fulfillment of its mission and vision for our gifted students. Appreciatively, Ann Duchscher President/Chair North Dakota Association for Gifted Children | Our MissionThe mission of NDAGC is to promote the needs of the gifted in North Dakota through advocacy, education, and scientific research. Our work is --
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Board of Directors & Officers |
Ann Duchscher NDAGC President & Chair Fargo Public Schools Coordinator for Gifted Services Fargo, ND |
Yee Han Chu, MSSW, Ph.D. NDAGC Past President & Chair University of North Dakota Fellowship Coordinator Grand Forks, ND |
Beth Ustanko, MA NDAGC Secretary Fargo Public Schools Gifted Services Teacher Fargo, ND |
Andrea Edstrom NDAGC Treasurer GT Education Teacher Bismarck Public Schools Bismarck, ND |
Julie Jaeger NDAGC North West Regional Representative Gifted Educator (Retired) Minot Public Schools Minot, ND |
Alicia Schroeder-Schock NDAGC East Regional Representative West Fargo Public Schools GATE & Enrichment Teacher West Fargo, ND |
Mikayla Cramer NDAGC Northeast Regional Representative Edmore Public Schools Elementary Teacher Edmore, ND |
Ligia Carina Feo de Drago NDAGC North East Regional Representative Grand Forks, ND |
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Anna Adrover NDAGC Eastern Regional Representative Gifted Services Teacher Fargo Public Schools Fargo, ND |
Holly Magcalas NDAGC Board Member Gifted Education Teacher Minot Public Schools Minot, ND |
Kristy Coopman NDAGC North West Regional Representative Gifted Services Coordinator Minot Public Schools Minot, ND |
Allison Anderson NDAGC Executive Assistant University of North Dakota Grand Forks, ND |