Professional Development Workshops for Schools (Public, Private, Charter, Homeschool Co-ops)

The National Association for Gifted Children estimates that 6 to 10 percent of students may be gifted. Yet in most schools, funding and resources do not support comprehensive identification practices, meaning many advanced learners sit in classrooms without ever being formally recognized. These bright, high-potential, and twice-exceptional students are often bored, anxious, under-challenged, or misread as “unmotivated” or “difficult,” when in reality they are navigating a complex mix of advanced cognition, emotional intensity, and lagging executive functioning.

Most teacher preparation programs include little to no training in gifted education or executive functioning. As a result, even the most caring educators are left without the tools or framework needed to understand or support these learners in meaningful ways.

This is where my work with schools comes in.

I partner with schools that want to understand gifted, highly capable, and twice-exceptional learners more deeply and support them more effectively in real classrooms using realistic strategies that fit within existing structures.

What My Workshops Focus On:

My professional development sessions are designed to be practical, research-informed, and highly relevant to the realities of school life. Educators leave with tools they can use right away, not just theory.

Below are some of the core topics I offer. Schools can select one focus area or combine several into a series.

1. Understanding Gifted and High-Potential Learners

This session provides a clear, accessible foundation for staff who want to understand who gifted learners are and why they sometimes do not look like the stereotype.

Topics include:

• The difference between giftedness (ability) and high achievement

• Asynchronous development and what it looks like in real students

• Emotional intensity, sensitivity, and “big reactions”

• Why gifted students can present as perfectionistic, anxious, rigid, or withdrawn

• Common myths that prevent gifted students from receiving support

• Unique needs of 2E Students

• Equity in Gifted education

The goal is to help teachers see gifted and high-potential students through a strengths-based lens that also acknowledges their vulnerabilities.

2. Executive Functioning in the Gifted Brain

Many gifted and high-capacity students struggle not with content, but with planning, organization, flexibility, and self-regulation. In this session, we explore how executive functioning interacts with giftedness.

Topics include:

• What executive functioning is and why it matters more than raw IQ over time

• How EF lag can show up in gifted students

  • difficulty starting tasks

  • inconsistent work completion

  • intense reactions to small setbacks

  • messy desks but advanced thinking

• Practical EF supports teachers can embed into classroom routines

• Language and strategies that help students build EF skills without shame or power struggles

Educators leave with specific, low-prep tools to support EF in any classroom, in ways that benefit all students while especially helping gifted and 2E learners.

3. Differentiation That Works in Real Classrooms

Differentiation for advanced learners can feel intimidating or unrealistic when teachers already feel stretched thin. This workshop focuses on simple, high-impact strategies that do not require rewriting the entire curriculum.

Topics include:

• Simple approaches to pre-assessment and compacting

• When and how to offer choice, depth, or acceleration

• Independent projects that are actually manageable for teachers

• Using higher-order questioning and open-ended tasks

• Helping gifted students tolerate challenge and productive struggle

The focus is on accessible, teacher-friendly approaches that fit into existing structures.

4. Supporting Twice-Exceptional (2E) Students

Twice-exceptional students are those who are gifted and also have another learning, attention, or developmental difference, such as ADHD, dyslexia, autism, or anxiety.

This workshop addresses:

• How strengths can mask struggles, and how struggles can mask strengths

• Common classroom presentations of 2E students

• How to respond to “inconsistent” performance

• Collaborative, strengths-based approaches with families

• Practical accommodations and supports that help without lowering expectations

Teachers leave with a clearer picture of how to support complex learners who often fall through the cracks.

5. Perfectionism, Emotional Intensity, and Student Wellbeing

Gifted and high-capacity students often tie their identity to performance. They may refuse to try if they cannot be perfect, melt down over small mistakes, or shut down when work feels too easy or too hard.

This session explores:

• The connection between giftedness, anxiety, and perfectionism

• How students experience “all or nothing” thinking

• Emotion coaching strategies that teachers can use in the classroom

• How to normalize mistakes and productive struggle

• Ways to build resilience, healthy self-concept, and self-advocacy

The goal is to equip educators with language and tools that support both the mind and the heart of gifted learners.

How My Workshops Are Delivered

I offer both virtual and in-person formats to accommodate different school needs and budgets.

Virtual Workshops - starting at $450

• Live on Zoom

• Interactive chat and Q&A

• Option to record for internal staff use (if agreed upon in advance)

In-Person Workshops - Inquire for pricing

Ideal for PD days, faculty retreats, or focused initiatives.

• Half-day sessions, approximately 3 hours

• Full-day sessions, approximately 6 hours with breaks

• Available for individual schools or networks

Handouts, reflection prompts, and practical strategy sheets are provided so that teachers have something concrete to bring back to their classrooms.

What Educators Take Away

My goal is always that teachers finish the session feeling more equipped, not more burdened.

Educators leave with:

• A clearer understanding of gifted, high-capacity, and twice-exceptional learners

• A framework for seeing intensity, sensitivity, and EF struggles through a developmental lens rather than as “attitude” or “defiance”

• Classroom-ready strategies for differentiation, EF support, and emotional regulation

• Teacher-friendly language for communicating with students and families

• A strengths-based approach that helps gifted learners feel seen and supported

Because I am both an educator and the parent of a profoundly gifted child who has navigated school from the other side, my workshops combine research with a very practical, human perspective.

Professional Development Consultation – Purchasing Options

We offer flexible options to help schools and organizations access high-quality professional development on giftedness, twice-exceptionality (2e), and executive functioning.

Option 1: Pre-Purchase Professional Development Credit

By paying $450, your school or organization can reserve a professional development credit that may be applied toward any virtual or in-person training. We will schedule the session on an agreed-upon date that works for your team. This is ideal for schools wanting to secure funding or lock in support in advance.

Option 2: Customized Professional Development Plan

If you prefer a tailored approach, simply email hello@brightkidsco.com with the subject line “Professional Development Inquiry.”
We will work with you to design a customized consultation plan that fits your school’s needs, goals, budget, and schedule.