Volunteer with NAGC

Overview

At NAGC, volunteers bring together their expertise, perspectives, and passion to help strengthen the field of gifted education.

Whether serving in a short-term role, such as volunteering on a planning group, or stepping into a long-term leadership position, such as committee chair, Network Chair, or Special Interest Group leader, volunteers play a critical role in keeping the association moving forward. Their contributions help shape programs and events, review resources and proposals, develop recommendations, and advance initiatives aligned with NAGC’s strategic priorities.

NAGC relies on dedicated members like you to help drive meaningful, lasting impact across the gifted education community.

See Open Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteer Opportunities

Micro Volunteer Opportunities

Less than 5 hours of time, with opportunities including onsite annual convention volunteering and writing for Teaching for High Potential or Parenting for High Potential.

Short-Term Volunteer Opportunities

Less than 15 hours of time, with opportunities including planning group participation for the Teachers Summit and Opportunity & Access Symposium, along with reviewing awards, annual convention proposals, and Teaching for High Potential articles.

Long-Term Volunteer Opportunities

Multi-year commitment requiring approximately 25–50 hours per year, with leadership opportunities including serving as a committee member or chair, Network Chair or Chair-Elect, Special Interest Group chair, and more

All Volunteer Opportunities

Explore the full list below of all volunteer opportunities with NAGC:

Micro (5 hours or less)

Annual Convention Onsite Volunteers

We’re thrilled to invite you to join us in Milwaukee and would love to have you volunteer alongside us to bring this inspiring event to life.

Each year, NAGC relies on the support of dedicated committee members, volunteers, speakers, exhibitors, and sponsors to make our convention a success. We couldn’t do it without you!

If you’ve ever wanted a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to run a national convention, this is your chance. From helping authors with book signings to welcoming attendees and assisting with special events like the Celebration of Excellence and the General Session—you can be part of it all.

Click the link below to explore the many ways you can support our annual convention. There’s truly something for everyone! And if you don’t see a role that sparks your interest, don’t worry—our Member Engagement Manager, Jessica Gutierrez, would be happy to connect and help you find the perfect fit.

Ready to Make an Impact? Start Here

Open August 3
Closes on Oct 4
Virtual Volunteer orientation available: October 7, 2026
Convention Dates: November 5-8, 2026

What Volunteers Receive

Gift from NAGC for volunteering
Certificate of recognition for your hours of volunteer work

Administrative Support

Registration: Be one of the first smiles attendees see! Welcome guests, hand out badges, and keep the check-in process moving smoothly.
Greeter/Exhibit Hall: Be a welcoming face to attendees as they wander around the convention space by providing friendly directions to the exhibit hall, meeting rooms, and special events.
Bookstore Support: Help manage our bustling convention bookstore! Assist attendees in finding educational resources, keep popular titles beautifully displayed, and support the NAGC staff.

Event Specific Support:

Get to Know Your Networks: Help attendees dive into our professional networks by guiding them to network tables and highlighting community activities.
Lesson Roundtable: Help set up and manage the lesson roundtable areas. Provide assistance to participants, distribute materials, and ensure the sessions run smoothly by offering support where needed.
Book Signing: Be part of the literary excitement! Assist with organizing and managing the book signing area. Ensure lines move smoothly, distribute materials, and help attendees meet the author in an orderly fashion.
Celebration of Excellence: Contribute to a night of recognition! Help with seating, light decor setup, answer questions, and help ensure the event runs flawlessly, making it a memorable evening for all.
NAGC Party Setup: Get the party started! Ensure everything is in place, from decor to seating arrangements, and help create a lively and welcoming atmosphere for all attendees to enjoy.
Parent Day Support
Help prepare the space for Parent Day! serve as a friendly guide throughout the specialized programming for Parents.

Writer - Teaching for High Potential

NAGC’s quarterly publication, Teaching for High Potential, accept manuscripts on a rolling basis throughout the year, and welcome contributions from members and others with expertise on teaching and parenting gifted and high-potential students. Interested authors are encouraged to review the writers’ guidelines linked below and contact the publications’ editors with additional questions.

View the Teaching for High Potential writers’ guidelines here

Writer - Parenting for High Potential

NAGC’s quarterly publication, Parenting for High Potential, accept manuscripts on a rolling basis throughout the year, and welcome contributions from members and others with expertise on teaching and parenting gifted and high-potential students. Interested authors are encouraged to review the writers’ guidelines linked below and contact the publications’ editors with additional questions.

View the Parenting for High Potential writers’ guidelines here

Short-Term (15 hours or less)

Teachers Summit Planning Group Member

The NAGC Teachers Summit provides practitioners with tools and strategies to serve the unique needs of your gifted and high-potential students. Learn from both practicing educators and experts in the field as you create your own learning experience through flexible, dynamic online PD at this event custom-created just for teachers. Attend live and interact with presenters, then follow up with on demand learning through 15 additional hours of recorded content provided post conference.

Time of Year: September - February
Time Commitment: 6 - 8 Hours

Recruitment yearly in June - July

Opportunity & Access Symposium Planning Group Member

The Opportunity and Access Symposium gathers researchers, practitioners, and prominent thought leaders advocating for racial equity in gifted education. The event is held virtually in the fall, and is ideal for school administrators, teachers, district and state directors, coordinators, and supervisors who wish to engage in meaningful professional learning and in-depth conversations to achieve measurable outcomes for gifted and talented programs.

Time of Year: December - May
Time Commitment: 6 - 8 Hours

Recruitment yearly in October - November

Association & Network Award Reviewers

Each year we are increasing the number of nominations that we receive for our awards, so we need your help. Volunteers will review applications and report to the Awards Committee and serve under their direction.

Time of Year: March - June
Time Commitment: 25-50 Hours

March/April for Association Awards
June/Early July for Network Awards

Recruitment yearly in January - February for Association Awards and April - May for Network Awards

Speaking Volunteer Opportunities

NAGC regularly solicits researchers and educators to share their findings with other NAGC members and event participants via a Call for Proposals process for the following events: NAGC Teachers Summit, NAGC Opportunity and Access Symposium, and NAGC Annual Convention.

Session lengths, times, and presentation types vary based on the event, but speakers are expected to present engaging, practical strategies that can be used by practicing gifted educators, district leaders/administrators, and families of gifted and high-ability students. original work with credit provided to any outside sources. NAGC speakers are not paid, but may receive speaker discounts on events.

Call for Proposal Dates:
Opportunity & Access: January - February
Teachers Summit: October - November
Annual Convention: December - January

Annual Convention Proposal Reviewers

NAGC seeks active members (particularly practitioners, researchers, administrators, & advocates) to serve as proposal reviewers for our Annual Convention each year. Reviewers may receive anywhere from 15-40 submissions to review over the course of 3 weeks.

Time of Year: January - March
Time Commitment: 8 - 10 Hours

Recruitment yearly in December - January

Long-Term (Multi-year)

Committee Member

NAGC values the work and views our members bring to a project and maintain a supportive learning environment to foster open communication of diverse perspectives. Our committees are the working force of our organization and we are always looking for more voices to join.

Term: 3-Year Term starting in September (unless otherwise noted)
Time Commitment: 15-50 hours annually based on committee

Recruitment yearly in May

Committee Chair

Committee Chairs provide direction, leadership and support to the assigned committee. They serve a two-year commitment alongside the Board Presidents term (max of four-years).

Committee Chairs are selected by the Board President as per NAGC Policy Section 8 Committees.

Network Chair & Chair-Elect

Qualifications
The following qualifications must be met by successful candidates and are evaluated by the NAGC Elections Committee in approving a slate of officers.
Successful candidates must:

Be an NAGC member in good standing.

Be an active participant of the specified Network.

Demonstrate experience as a strong facilitator, communicator, and consensus builder.
Possess documented experience, service, or scholarship in gifted education.

Additional Details
Tenure of Office: Candidates elected as chair-elect serve for two years as chair-elect and two years as chair. Candidates elected as chair serve for two years. A term of office begins on September 1^st of the year elected.

Nominations are accepted yearly in January - Early March

Special Interest Group (SIG) Chair

Special Interest Group (SIG) Chairs are appointed from within the SIG. There are no official bylaws or policies surrounding the election of SIG chair/co-chairs as of now (2026). If interested in getting involved with a Special Interest Group, go to their page on Engage and reach out directly to the current chair or co-chair listed on the SIG page for more information. Or reach out to nagc@nagc.org for more information.

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