AAGT’s 2025 Summer Seminar with Mark Hess – “Creative Expressions of Brilliance”

On May 29, AAGT hosted a dynamic Summer Seminar titled Creative Expressions of Brilliance: Coloring Outside the Lines—a powerful exploration of how nonverbal gifted students communicate their talents in ways that often transcend traditional academic measures.

Keynote speaker Mark Hess, a nationally recognized gifted education specialist, guided us through a vibrant discussion on recognizing and supporting gifted learners whose brilliance may not always be expressed through words. His presentation celebrated students who are “coloring outside the lines” and reminded us that giftedness doesn’t always look the same—it can be visual, spatial, kinesthetic, musical, and entirely nonverbal.

With 60 participants joining in person and 40 more attending online, the energy was high and the takeaways were rich. Educators left feeling inspired, equipped, and ready to bring new strategies back to their classrooms.

Feedback from attendees included:

• “Excellent, incredible.”

• “I was online and I really appreciated how Kari made us feel a part of everything that was going on even though we weren’t present in person. The Set game was fun.”

• “It was a great venue and the parking was excellent.”

• “Fabulous presentation! So many things I can use in my classroom.”

• “I appreciated Mark’s knowledge and experience and the stories he shared about his former students.”

If you missed it—or just want to revisit the experience—we’ve packaged the full recording and materials into a DIY version available for purchase. It includes 6 professional development hours and is packed with insightful strategies to help you unlock the unique potential of your nonverbal learners.

👉 [Purchase the seminar replay here] 

We are so grateful to everyone who joined us and to Mark Hess for his wisdom and warmth. Keep coloring outside the lines, and stay tuned for more upcoming learning opportunities from AAGT!