February 10-11, 2026
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Past Attendees say it Best:
2-Day Full Access RegistrationAAGT Members
$375Early Bird*
Non Member Pricing
*Price Increases $50 after 12/15
Your Conference Registration Includes:
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AAGT Swag Bag filled with gifts and resources
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Daily breakfast, lunch, and afternoon refreshments to keep you fueled and focused
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Face-to-face time with exhibitors who support gifted education
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Access to 40+ breakout sessions per day designed to inspire, inform, and empower
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Fun prize opportunities throughout the event—you never know where you’ll win next!
Come ready to be seen, heard, and served as we rewrite the story together.
1-Day Conference PassAAGT Members
$245Early Bird*
Non-Members
*Price Increases $30 after 12/15
One-Day Conference Registration Includes:
(Choose to attend Tuesday or Wednesday)
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AAGT Swag Bag filled with gifts and resources
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Breakfast, lunch, and afternoon refreshments on your selected day
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Access to 20+ breakout sessions designed to elevate your understanding and impact
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Time to connect with exhibitors supporting gifted learners
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Chances to win great prizes throughout the day
Even if you’re joining us for just one day, you’ll leave feeling seen, heard, and inspired to serve.
NonProfit Rate
*Price Increases $357 after 12/15
- Eight foot table top (additional tables may be added for $150 each)
- Registration and meals for 1 attendee (additional attendees may be added for an additional fee)
- Receive a registration list of opted-in attendees.
- Participation in the Vendor Passport to encourage attendees to visit your booth & win prizes
- Profile listing in our digital program and/or event app
AAGT Partner Rate
*Price Increases to $446.25 after 12/15
- Eight foot table top (additional tables may be added for $150 each)
- Registration and meals for 1 attendee (additional attendees may be added for an additional fee)
- Receive a registration list of opted-in attendees.
- Participation in the Vendor Passport to encourage attendees to visit your booth & win prizes
- Profile listing in our digital program and/or event app
Standard Rate
*Price Increases to $595 after 12/15
- Eight foot table top (additional tables may be added for $150 each)
- Registration and meals for 1 attendee (additional attendees may be added for an additional fee)
- Receive a registration list of opted-in attendees.
- Participation in the Vendor Passport to encourage attendees to visit your booth & win prizes
- Profile listing in our digital program and/or event app
Thank You to Our 2026 Sponsors
We are deeply grateful to our 2026 sponsors and supplier partners. Your generous support made it possible for AAGT to deliver high-quality programming while keeping registration accessible for educators, families, and advocates across Arizona. It truly takes a community of dedicated donors to help us continue this important work.
Tuesday Coffee Break
Wednesday Afternoon Refresher
Tote Bag Sponsor
Name Badge & Lanyard Sponsor
Meet our Keynote Speakers
Andi McNair Tuesday Keynote
Andi is the owner and gifted education consultant for A Meaningful Mess, LLC, With 16 years of experience as a classroom teacher, including working with gifted and talented students in a small rural school and almost 10 years as a gifted specialist at ESC Region 12, Andi has dedicated her career to transforming education. Her mission is to empower educators with practical tools and strategies to design meaningful experiences for today’s gifted learners.
As a sought-after speaker and consultant, Andi has presented at numerous conferences, education service centers, and collaborated with school districts to create innovative learning opportunities for students. In 2016, she was recognized as one of the Top People in Education to Watch by the Academy of Education Arts and Sciences.
She is the author of Genius Hour: Passion Projects that Ignite Innovation and Student Inquiry, A Meaningful Mess: A Teacher’s Guide to Student-Driven Classrooms, Authentic Learning, Student Empowerment, and Keeping It All Together Without Losing Your Mind, Ready-to-Use Resources for Genius Hour in the Classroom: Taking Passion Projects to the Next Level, and Designing for Depth in the Classroom: A Framework for Purposeful Differentiation.
A passionate advocate for gifted learners, Andi thrives in helping educators find practical solutions to meet their unique needs. She believes that every learner deserves experiences that are not only educational but transformative, and she is committed to making these experiences both achievable and impactful for educators.
A Meaningful Mess
A Meaningful Mess is an honest, inspiring exploration of my journey to support gifted learners in ways that are both innovative and practical. In this keynote, I share the lessons learned from navigating the “mess” of my very real classroom, where unique needs demanded creativity, flexibility, and courage. With humor, candor, and actionable strategies, I will share how educators can embrace complexity without being overwhelmed, creating learning experiences that are meaningful and manageable for both learners and educators. Attendees will leave encouraged, empowered, and ready to reimagine what it means to meet gifted learners where they are.
Coming Soon
Emily Kircher-Morris Wednesday Keynote
Emily Kircher-Morris, M.A., M.Ed., LPC, inspired by her own experiences as a twice-exceptional (2e) learner, is dedicated to supporting 2e children—including her own—in a way she wasn’t during her academic years. She has taught in gifted classrooms, has been a school counselor, and is now in private practice as a licensed professional counselor, where she specializes in helping gifted, twice-exceptional, and neurodivergent kids.
Emily is the author of several books related to the development of twice-exceptional learners. “Teaching Twice-Exceptional Learners in Today’s Classroom” (Free Spirit Publishing, 2021) focuses on supporting 2e learners in the educational setting, and “Raising Twice-Exceptional Children: A Handbook for Parents of Neurodivergent Gifted Kids” (Routledge, 2022) is a guide for parents navigating the world of twice-exceptionality. She is also a co-author on the second edition of “A Parent’s Guide to Gifted Children” (Gifted Unlimited, LLC, 2023). Her most recent book, “Neurodiversity-Affirming Schools: Transforming Practices So All Students Feel Accepted and Supported” was released in January 2025.
Emily hosts The Neurodiversity Podcast, which explores parenting, counseling techniques, and best practices for enriching the lives of neurodivergent people. She is the founder of the St. Louis-based nonprofit Gifted Support Network. She speaks at statewide, national, and international conferences and frequently provides virtual and in-person professional development to educators worldwide. Many of her presentations and workshops can also be found at the Neurodiversity University online learning platform. Emily lives near St. Louis, Missouri.
Keynote Session
A Little Weird is Good
For this fun and unique presentation, Emily embraces everything that is good about being “a little weird.” She discusses the importance of living authentically, the impact of masking/camouflaging for neurodivergent people, and the importance of risk taking. Emily wraps up this talk by playing an original song, “A Little Weird is Good” on her ukulele.
Embrace neurodiversity and lean into the weird! Neurodivergent people are a bit different, but these differences are what make the world a vibrant and thriving place. Rather than conforming, kids can live their authentic lives – through vulnerability, self-advocacy, risk-taking… and not being afraid of being a little weird.
Breakout Sessions
Pobody’s Nerfect: Strategies to Support Perfectionistic Tendencies
One child panics when a single mistake is made. Another child breaks down when asked to work in groups. A third child has low self-esteem and refuses to turn in work. What do they all have in common? They are all perfectionists. While many professionals who work with children are able to recognize perfectionism when they see it, they may be unsure how to help a child overcome this barrier. This presentation will give specific strategies to use in the classroom or counseling setting to work both individually and in groups with students to overcome perfectionism.
Sidekick Wanted: High-Ability Kids and the Friendships They Want/Need
Social relationships for high-ability children and teens can sometimes be difficult to manage. Emotional intensity and advanced cognitive development can make it hard for some students to develop the deep and meaningful peer relationships they desire, leaving them feeling frustrated and lonely. What are the causes of this disconnect? How can educators recognize and support students as they navigate these stages? Does bullying impact high-potential learners more than other children? You’ll leave this session with ideas and strategies to support the social connection of gifted students in your classroom.
Our Breakout Session lineup is now available!
Click to toggle between Breakout Session Focus Area
Schedule subject to change
The Spiral Adaptation Lens: Understanding the Nature and Needs of Gifted Students
Educators Pre K – 3rd, Educators 4th – 6th, Educators 7th – 8th, Educators 9th – 12th, School Counselors
Barry Gelston, Spiral We, LLC
Karen Arnstein, Spiral We, LLC
Beyond the Straight Line: The Spiral Model of Development and Strength-Based Strategies for Twice-Exceptional Learners
Educators Pre K – 3rd, Educators 4th – 6th, Educators 7th – 8th, Educators 9th – 12th, School Counselors
Barry Gelston, Spiral We, LLC
Karen Arnstein, Spiral We, LLC
Designing Strength-Based Online Learning for 2e Students
Educators 7th – 8th, Educators 9th – 12th, Leadership & Administrators, School Counselors
Dylan McKenzie, Bridges Academy Online
Project-Based Talent Development: A Framework for Twice-Exceptional, Gifted, and Profoundly Gifted Students
Educators 7th – 8th, Educators 9th – 12th, Leadership & Administrators, School Counselors
Dylan McKenzie, Bridges Academy Online
Empowering Twice-Exceptional Learners: Strategies for Social, Emotional, and Academic Support in the Classroom
Educators Pre K – 3rd, Educators 4th – 6th, Educators 7th – 8th
Adam Laningham, The Gifted Collective & Bright Child Books
Mental Health Implications of Twice-Exceptional Students with Autism
Educators Pre K – 3rd, Educators 4th – 6th, Educators 7th – 8th, Educators 9th – 12th, Leadership & Administrators, School Counselors
Heather Churney, Concordia University, Irvine
Barks, Cutscenes, and Collectible Lore: Creative Teaching Strategies from Video Games
Educators 4th – 6th, Educators 7th – 8th, Educators 9th – 12th
Sarah Worthington, Imagination Scope
Seen, Served, and Strengthened: Socratic Seminars for Gifted Students
Educators Pre K – 3rd, Educators 4th – 6th, Educators 7th – 8th, Educators 9th – 12th, Leadership & Administrators
Nicole Belden, Madison Elementary School District
Rewriting Collaboration for Gifted Middle School Learners
Educators 4th – 6th, Educators 7th – 8th
Kelsey Garner, Tempe Elementary School District
From Gifted to global: helping learners be seen and heard through action-oriented inquiry
Educators 7th – 8th, Educators 9th – 12th
Sam Eddis PhD, Eddis Tutorial Services, LLC
Caitlin Mulowney, Herberger Young Scholars Academy
Give Them the Mic: Talk Is Not Cheap When Gifted Potential Is at Stake
Educators Pre K – 3rd, Educators 4th – 6th, Educators 7th – 8th, Educators 9th – 12th, Leadership & Administrators
ElizaBeth Warner, Madison School District
Karen Brown, GiftED Consultants
But I’m Gifted, Why Is Writing So Difficult?
Educators 4th – 6th, Educators 7th – 8th
Adam Laningham, The Gifted Collective & Bright Child Books
From Acceleration to Personalization: AI for Gifted Learners
Educators 7th – 8th, Educators 9th – 12th, Leadership & Administrators, School Counselors
Jessi Dall, Sophos Speech and Academics
Three-Act Tasks: Motivate and Challenge Gifted Learners Through Real-World Math Situations
Educators Pre K – 3rd, Educators 4th – 6th, Educators 7th – 8th
Kate Garis, Laveen Elementary School District
Faye Uttech, Laveen Elementary School District
From Tasks to Tales: Sparking Curiosity in Math Class
Educators Pre K – 3rd, Educators 4th – 6th, Educators 7th – 8th, Educators 9th – 12th
Jennifer Liebhaber, Scottsdale Unified School District
Increasing Differentiation and Building Equity in the Gifted Classroom with Purposeful Discussion
Educators Pre K – 3rd, Educators 4th – 6th, Educators 7th – 8th, Educators 9th – 12th
Dr. Rebekah West Keur, ASU Herberger Young Scholars Academy
Reading Reimagined: Guiding Gifted Readers Through Inquiry and Insight
Educators 4th – 6th, Educators 7th – 8th, Educators 9th – 12th
Ali Murray, Deer Valley Unified School District
The Overdue Conversation: Educator Wellness in Gifted Education
Educators Pre K – 3rd, Educators 4th – 6th, Educators 7th – 8th, School Counselors
Dr. Jessica Manzone, Northern Arizona University
Productive Struggle for Gifted Students: A Pathway to Resilience
Educators Pre K – 3rd, Educators 4th – 6th, Educators 7th – 8th, Educators 9th – 12th, Leadership & Administrators, School Counselors
Nicole Belden, Madison Simis Elementary
Using the Conscious Discipline Approach in the Gifted Classroom
Educators Pre K – 3rd, Educators 4th – 6th, Educators 7th – 8th, Educators 9th – 12th, Leadership & Administrators, School Counselors
Jason McIntosh, Ph.D., ASU Prep
When I Am Most Myself: The Role of Passion in Gifted Adolescent Identity Development
Educators 7th – 8th, Educators 9th – 12th
DJ Graham, Ed.D., Gary K. Herberger Young Scholars
Self Learning: A Path to Being Seen, Heard, & Served
Educators Pre K – 3rd, Educators 4th – 6th, Educators 7th – 8th, Educators 9th – 12th, School Counselors
Dr. Megan Helmen, Developmental Discoveries Neuropsychology
Beyond the Gifted Label: Fostering Student Resilience and Growth
Educators Pre K – 3rd, Educators 4th – 6th, Educators 7th – 8th, Educators 9th – 12th, Leadership & Administrators, School Counselors
Christina Jordan, The Gifted Collective/ Riverside Insights
Adam Laningham, The Gifted Collective/ Bright Child Books
EVERY DAY PEOPLE: Creating Music Playlists That Connect Music with Content, Conversations and Community Culture
Educators 4th – 6th
Alisa Johnson, Paradise Valley Unified School District
Empowering Gifted Minds through Interest-Driven, Standards-Aligned Learning
Educators 4th – 6th, Educators 7th – 8th, Educators 9th – 12th
Nathan Ayers, Amphitheater Middle School
Beyond Boredom – Enhancing Passion Projects Through Intentional Wandering
Educators Pre K – 3rd, Educators 4th – 6th, Educators 7th – 8th, Educators 9th – 12th
Nathan Ayers, Amphitheater Middle School
Seen, Heard, and Inspired: Infusing Creativity in the Gifted Classroom
Educators Pre K – 3rd, Educators 4th – 6th
Dr. Jessica Manzone, Northern Arizona University
Infusing Joy into Rigor
Educators Pre K – 3rd, Educators 4th – 6th, Educators 7th – 8th, Educators 9th – 12th
Jason McIntosh, Ph.D., ASU Prep
Think Fast! Using Brain Jumpstarts to Boost Critical & Creative Thinking
Educators 4th – 6th, Educators 7th – 8th, Leadership & Administrators
Ben Bache, PBL Project
Beyond the Worksheet: Active Experiential Learning for Gifted Minds
Educators 9th – 12th
Susan Renner, Tolleson Union High School District
Tyler Hill, Tolleson Union High School District
Engineering a Deeper Understanding: Integrating Depth and Complexity with STEM
Educators 4th – 6th, Educators 7th – 8th
Cristen Franklin, Canyon Springs STEM Academy; DVUSD
Jaime Hansen, Canyon Springs STEM Academy; DVUSD
Arts Integration: Fostering Creativity and Engagement
Educators Pre K – 3rd, Educators 4th – 6th, Educators 7th – 8th, Educators 9th – 12th, Leadership & Administrators, School Counselors
Elisabeth (Betsy) Hughes, Santa Cruz Valley USD
The Micro-Engagement Toolkit: Daily Activities That Spark Critical Thinking and Community
Educators Pre K – 3rd, Educators 4th – 6th, Educators 7th – 8th
Jennifer Liebhaber, Scottsdale Unified School District
Journey to High School Gifted Services
Educators 9th – 12th, Leadership & Administrators, School Counselors
Vanessa Hill, Amphitheater Public Schools
Tassi Call, Amphitheater Public Schools
Vision and Vision & Voice – Advancing Gifted Education Together
Leadership & Administrators
Catherine Oliver, Arizona Department of Education
Grow Your Own Gifted Gurus: Building In-House Expertise for Lasting Equity
Educators Pre K – 3rd, Educators 4th – 6th, Educators 7th – 8th, Educators 9th – 12th, Leadership & Administrators, School Counselors
ElizaBeth Warner, Madison School District
Karen Brown, GiftED Consultants
Future Gifted Teachers Assemble! K12-University Partnership for Educator Preparation
Leadership & Administrators
Elizabeth Mendoza, Ed.D., Gary K. Herberger Young Scholars Academy
DJ Graham, Ed.D., Gary K. Herberger Young Scholars Academy
Early Identification Matters: Nurturing Talent Development in a Gifted Preschool Program
Educators Pre K – 3rd
Dr. Aimee Sulit, Deer Valley Unified School District
Don’t Let the Pigeon Design the Gifted Program!
Leadership & Administrators
Dr. Rowe Van Meter, Washington School District/ AAGT Board of Directors
Jessica Zimmerman, Tempe School District/ AAGT Board of Directors
Transforming Ability Data into Differentiation: Unlocking Instructional Impact
Educators Pre K – 3rd, Educators 4th – 6th, Educators 7th – 8th, Educators 9th – 12th, Leadership & Administrators
Jordan Palmer, Riverside Insights
Lindsay Kay, Riverside Insights
Nothing About Us Without Us: Building Authentic Relationships in Indigenous Gifted Education
Educators Pre K – 3rd, Educators 4th – 6th, Educators 7th – 8th, Educators 9th – 12th
Dr. Shana Lusk, Western Colorado University
Empowering Families, Empowering Learners: Using the AAA Framework to Support Gifted Multilingual Students
Educators Pre K – 3rd, Educators 4th – 6th, Educators 7th – 8th, Educators 9th – 12th, Leadership & Administrators
Dr. Shana Lusk, Western Colorado University
Susan Dulong Langley, University of Connecticut
Beyond the Straight A’s: Seeing, Hearing, Identifying and Understanding Gifted Girls
Educators Pre K – 3rd, Educators 4th – 6th, Educators 7th – 8th, Educators 9th – 12th, Leadership & Administrators, School Counselors
Karen Brown, GiftED Consultants
ElizaBeth Warner, Madison School District
English Is Leaving Boys Behind: The Undiscussed Gender Gap in Education
Educators 4th – 6th, Educators 7th – 8th, Educators 9th – 12th
Caitlin Mullowney, Gary K. Herberger Young Scholars Academy, Arizona State University
Matthew Mullowney, Gary K. Herberger Young Scholars Academy, Arizona State University
Gifted. Seen. Heard. Served: Expanding Opportunity Through Inclusive Identification
Educators Pre K – 3rd, Educators 4th – 6th
Dr. Kimberly Lansdowne, Arizona State University
Dr. Dina Brulles, Arizona State University
Constructing Spaces of Identity, Agency, and Scholarship through a Critically Integrated Gifted Pedagogy
Educators Pre K – 3rd, Educators 4th – 6th, Educators 7th – 8th
Kevan Kiser-Chuc, Ph.D., Tucson Unified School District, UA
Alzira Dos Santos Duncan, Ed.S., Tucson Unified School District, UA
Leveraging Student Agency & Voice: Gifted Student Advisory
Educators 7th – 8th, Educators 9th – 12th, Leadership & Administrators, School Counselors
Dr. Aimee Sulit, Deer Valley Unified School District
Muckrakers of the Mind: Championing the Unseen & Directing Gifted Minds for a Better World
Educators 7th – 8th, Educators 9th – 12th, Leadership & Administrators, School Counselors
Dr. Rebekah West Keur, ASU Herberger Young Scholars Academy / AAGT Board of Directors
Empowering Change by Discovering Unrecognized Talent
Educators Pre K – 3rd, Educators 4th – 6th
Kelly Kearney, University of Connecticut
AZ Project EAGLE trainers: Zuzana Finn, Jennifer Gartell Liebhaber, Sharon Michael-Lightfoot, Sylvia Olmos, Kari White
From Potential to Practice: Equitable Curriculum and Systems for Gifted Learners
Educators Pre K – 3rd, Educators 4th – 6th, Educators 7th – 8th, Educators 9th – 12th
Zel Fowler, Littleton Elementary School District
Liz Gonazales, Maryvale Gifted & Talented Academy