NAGC24: Community, Connection, and Celebration

By Catherine Little, Ph.D., NAGC President-Elect

NAGC gathered November 21-24 in Seattle, Washington, to wrap up our 70th year with a dynamic and celebratory convention – our first ever in Seattle. More than 2200 people came together to engage in professional learning and community, including over 1000 first-time attendees! The convention included more than 200 sessions, most of which were organized by the 16 networks with specific attention to the questions and topics of high interest and significance to network members and the membership at large. In addition, many sessions addressed topics highlighted by our affiliate partners in Washington as especially relevant to educators in that state.

The convention came together through the efforts of many individuals who brought tireless energy and enthusiasm to their work:

• The NAGC24 Host Committee was an invaluable partner to the NAGC team in organizing the entire event, including the energetic performances and beautiful artwork from local students. The Host Committee included members from three Washington affiliates for gifted education and gifted learners: WAETAG, the Washington Association of Educators of the Talented and Gifted; the Washington Coalition for Gifted Education; and the Northwest Gifted Child Association.
• A legion of volunteers in bright teal t-shirts, including local participants and other members and attendees from across the country, were constantly on hand to welcome attendees, answer questions, and complete a wide range of other tasks to ensure that the convention ran smoothly.
• Network leaders worked hard to construct a solid and engaging program and to facilitate special events and sessions. They and the SIG leaders provided a warm welcome to participants at the “Get to Know Your Networks and SIGs” event on Friday afternoon, and many networks held in-person network business meetings for the first time in several years.
• Exhibitors made the exhibit hall inviting and fun, sharing resources and conversations throughout the event. Many also served as sponsors, and they and other sponsors, together with NAGC’s generous donors, helped to make many of the features of the convention possible.
• Several hundred individuals participated as speakers, generously sharing their expertise to build a substantive, thought-provoking, and useful professional learning experience. Their sessions addressed topics from introductory learning about gifted education to advanced discussions of complicated and persistent issues in the field.
• The Convention Committee worked closely with the NAGC team all year to facilitate building a strong program, with an eye to continuous growth and innovation. Dozens of reviewers added their insights to program development, reviewing more than 800 proposals to make recommendations to the committee for the array of sessions to be offered.
• The NAGC staff team worked nonstop prior to and throughout the convention to ensure a high-quality and positive experience for participants. The small but mighty NAGC staff once again pulled off an inspiring and invigorating event for all who attended.

I invited members of the Convention Committee to share their reflections on the convention. Reby Parsley, WAETAG President and Convention Committee member, wrote, “As WAETAG president, I was thrilled to partner with NAGC for this year’s convention. It was an honor to showcase Washington’s progress in advancing equity in gifted education and demonstrate how our state is supporting all gifted learners. The opportunity to engage with national leaders and learn innovative practices directly from experts in the field was truly inspiring—not only for me but for countless educators who benefited from having NAGC right here in our home state.”

Another committee member, Matt Makel, commented that “seeing the incredible efforts individuals, schools, and states are making to meet the needs of their students is both inspiring and energizing. I love being reminded that I am a part of a vibrant community who gets things done.”

Vibrant community, commitment to equity, and inspiration from colleagues were themes throughout the event. At our opening session, we welcomed the large group of first-time attendees and also highlighted the history of our community, as we sought to discover who among those present had been coming to NAGC conventions the longest—finding members who had been attending since at least the 1970s! Shelagh Gallagher, President of the NAGC Board of Directors, reflected on our history as a community in her opening remarks, looking back and looking ahead at NAGC’s role in fostering equitable opportunities for talent development. She described key initiatives in progress and in preparation, including significant planned efforts to advocate for universal educator preparation in gifted education.

A further celebration of our history came in a signature session called “Our Eras Tour: NAGC at 70,” in which a panel of leaders reflected on milestones across NAGC’s history and implications for the path to come.

The Lesson Roundtables were a new and popular feature of this year’s convention. At these two sessions, featuring more than 40 speakers, practitioners shared specific examples of the work they do in their classrooms with immediate take-away resources for participants. Dave Mendell, President of the Pennsylvania Association for Gifted Education and member of the Convention Committee, commented, “I really enjoyed both presenting at and attending the teacher roundtable sessions.  It was a great way to share and pick up some great ideas that I can take back to my classroom!” WAETAG President Reby Parsley observed, “Attendees were highly engaged, sharing their enthusiasm for the practical, evidence-based strategies presented. Walking through the halls afterward, the positive feedback was overwhelming—educators loved leaving with tools they could implement on Monday.”

The keynote speakers who opened and closed the convention invited us into their stories and shared insightful reflections on the world that kids are experiencing today and how as educators and caregivers we can support their talent development and their growth as individuals and members of their communities. John Spencer, discussing “Vintage Innovation,” illustrated ways of enhancing students’ development of empathy and human connection even as they engage with ever more powerful technology. Kelly Yang explained how time to be bored and let her imagination work helped to make her into the successful writer she is today—and she encouraged all of us to model time away from our ubiquitous phones to foster that kind of opportunity.

From the special Sasquatch guest at the opening to the silent disco and giant Jenga game at Saturday’s party, the convention was a space for joy, laughter, and community. From the wide array of preconvention offerings to the network spotlight Super Sunday sessions, it was also a place for new learning, deep conversation, and attention to the challenges and opportunities of our times. Our gathering each year helps us grapple with the magnitude of our responsibilities to the children, educators, and caregivers we all serve—our responsibilities, and our opportunities. Kelly Yang’s words about the work of educators and caregivers really struck me as we concluded the convention: “You’re not just saving lives,” she said. “You are protecting humanity.”

Whatever you took from the convention, whether it was a specific strategy, a new question or understanding, or renewed energy for the work, I hope it provided space for reflection and inspiration. The Convention Committee is already hard at work planning for NAGC25 in Pittsburgh—I hope you will join us! Watch your NAGC communications for more details—the call for proposals opens December 13!