NAGC - Research and Evaluation Network Elections

Candidate Biographies (provided by the candidates)
: NAGC Research and Evaluation Network Elections— September 2012

Each network member received an email with a voting LOGIN ID and PASSWORD on September 20, 2012. When you are ready to vote, enter your LOGIN ID and PASSWORD at the bottom of this page. You will be presented with an electronic ballot. You may only vote once, and you may not re-enter the electronic ballot after you have voted. Please vote by 5 p.m. EDT on September 30, 2012. If you did not receive a LOGIN ID and PASSWORD and you are a member of the network, please email betsy.mccoach@uconn.edu to receive one.

: Each candidate was asked to submit a bio for the ballot. Their bios are printed below for your consideration.

Bio and Statement of Candidacy: Hope Wilson completed her doctorate in Gifted Education at the University of Connecticut. She has previously served NAGC as the R&E Network Awards Co-chair, coordinating the dissertation award and the research gala, the Arts Network Newsletter Editor, and on the Development Committee. She has also served the Research and Evaluation Network on the membership, finance, and awards committees and editing the membership benefit, Did You Know? newsletters. She is the current newsletter editor for the AERA: Research on Giftedness, Talent, and Creativity SIG. She was awarded Graduate Student of the Year by NAGC. Hope is a co-author of Letting Go Of Perfect: Overcoming Perfectionism in Kids (2009, Prufrock Press). She has been published in Journal for the Education of the Gifted, Gifted Child Today, and the Journal of Advanced Academics. Her cartoons are a regular feature in Teaching for High Potential. She is currently an assistant professor at Stephen F. Austin State University, soon to be an assistant professor at the University of North Florida, and has previously been the assistant editor for the Journal of Advanced Academics. She has also taught as an adjunct professor in gifted education at the University of Louisiana Lafayette. She regularly presents at the annual NAGC conference, AERA conference, and for state NAGC affiliate conferences. Her research has included gifted identification, acceleration, academic self-concept, and arts integration for gifted students, using HLM and SEM, as well as early childhood and rural education.

Bio: Lori C. Bland, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor in Educational Psychology at George Mason University, VA. She is responsible for a graduate certificate in Data-Driven Decision-Making. Previously, Bland was the Director of Professional Development and Practice in Gifted Education at the Center for Gifted Education at The College of William & Mary, also teaching courses in gifted education. Prior to W& M, Bland was a director for test development at Pearson, the Supervisor of Testing, for Prince William County Schools, VA, and a Research and Program Evaluation Specialist in Fairfax County Public Schools, VA. Bland was an elementary school teacher. Her Ph.D. is from the University of Virginia in Educational Psychology, concentration in gifted education, where she was an RA at the National Research Center on the Gifted and Talented.

Statement of Candidacy: I am interested in the position of secretary for the Research and Evaluation Network of NAGC because I would like to be an active participant in the Network. I was recently elected Chair Elect of the Professional Development Network for NAGC. I believe the benefit of being actively involved in both organizations is being able to link research to professional learning opportunities and practice, as well as, to communicate PD Network member needs for information back to researchers. As secretary, one of my goals would be to facilitate the described reciprocal links, in addition to supporting the goals of the R & E Network. I currently teach graduate level courses in Data-Driven Decision-Making, Program Evaluation, and Educational Assessment learning methods applicable for examining achievement of gifted learners and evaluation of gifted programs. As secretary of the R&E network, I can offer a small bit of expertise in these areas.

Bio and Statement of Candidacy: Nielsen Pereira is an Assistant Professor of Gifted Education at Western Kentucky University and received his doctorate from Purdue University. His research interests include underrepresented populations in gifted education, program evaluation, and university-based programming for gifted students. He taught English as a second language in public schools and language institutes in Brazil for 12 years. He was coordinator of student programs in the Gifted Education Resource Institute at Purdue University. He has presented in national and international conferences, including AERA, NAGC, the World Council for Gifted and Talented Children, and Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) and has published in peer-reviewed journals in the United States and in Brazil. He has been a member of NAGC and the Research & Evaluation Network since 2007.

Bio: Kris Wiley is a doctoral student in gifted education at the University of Virginia. Before beginning coursework there, he taught for eight years in a full-time, accelerative program for gifted students in Missouri. He has also instructed multiple times in summer programs for the gifted. He has presented at NAGC twice, and he has collaborated on two book chapters currently under review on pullout programming and nonverbal assessments.

Statement of Candidacy: I am choosing to run for treasurer after two years of membership because the interests of the network represent a confluence of my own involvement with the field of gifted education. As I approach my dissertation and the prospect of becoming faculty in the field, I believe there is great leverage to be had in improving the quality of the research on which we base our decisions. Not only can we improve service to youth, but advocacy for our endeavor is more easily formulated. While every network is doing its important part, my own skills and interests are in line with R&E, and it is there I would like to make a contribution. As for the skill set potentially required, I have a heavy coursework background in quantitative methods, an introductory background in qualitative methods, and I have a detail orientation which suits the management of funds well.

Bio: Karen Rambo-Hernandez is an assistant professor at Colorado State University in the School of Education and the School of Teacher Education and Principal Preparation. She received her Ph.D. from the University of Connecticut in Educational Psychology in Measurement, Evaluation, and Assessment. In her research, she is interested in using assessments to inform decisions so that all students- gifted students in particular- are provided ample opportunities to grow academically. In practice, this line of research is both quantitative and applied: the assessment of student growth, multilevel modeling of student data, growth mixture modeling of student growth, alternative methods for measuring school effectiveness, and the use of educational instruments to assess student understanding or teacher perceptions. Specifically, her substantive research interests include academic acceleration, mathematics/STEM education- particularly in middle school, gifted education, and assessment.

Statement of Candidacy: Karen Rambo-Hernandez has served the Research and Evaluation Network as the Communication's Chair, the Newsletter Editor for the SIREN, and on the Strategic Initiatives Committee. She was also recently awarded second place in the Research and Evaluation 2012 Dissertation Award. She has participated in graduate student research galas, has reviewed proposals for the Research and Evaluation and STEM networks, serves as a reviewer for Gifted Child Quarterly, and would like to contribute to the Research and Evaluation Network by serving as the assistant program chair. She hopes to be able to continue to serve the Research and Evaluation Network in this new capacity!

Bio: Janette Boazman, Ph.D, is an Assistant Professor of Education at the University of Dallas. She specializes in gifted education and holds a M.S. in Educational Psychology, and a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction. Her research in gifted education focuses on psychological constructs that contribute to personal well-being and success in academic settings. Methodology in her research includes SEM, factor analysis, and latent class analysis.

Statement of Candidacy: I am very interested in serving as the Chair of the Communications Committee for the Research & Evaluation (R & E) network of the NAGC. I believe the efforts of the Communications Committee are important to the vitality and of the R & E network. As a leader in the R & E Network, I will continue the established work of the committee, work to introduce and nurture new ideas, and persist in the growth of the inclusive spirit of the network. My overall desire in my service to the R & E network is to share information, celebrate the work of others, encourage and support new members and emergent researchers, and foster a spirit of collaboration. I want to continue to expand the positive influence the Research and Evaluation Network has within the gifted and talented community. Thank you for your consideration.

Bio Dr. LaVonda Senn is currently teaching students in a gifted program at a K-5 elementary school in Dothan, Alabama. She recently received her doctorate in curriculum and instruction with a specialization in teacher education from the University of West Florida. All of her research has been in or relating to gifted and talented students. Teaching for a total of eleven years, research and hands-on- instruction have served as her venue to achieve this worthwhile goal. As a the current president of the local education association and a fervent member of the NAGC, CEC, and AAGC, Dr. Senn is active in organizations that can make a difference on a state and national level. Working to create a better future for our children, Dr. Senn has presented workshops for the AAGC, Troy University, and The University of West Florida. She is an adjunct professor for UWF.

Statement of Candidacy: I would be honored to serve as the Awards Co-Chair for the NAGC Research and Evaluation Network. I believe that the NAGC has a strong connection to the practical applications teachers pursue in their academic endeavors to accommodate gifted and talented students. I am a teacher of gifted and talented students in southeastern Alabama. I am especially interested in serving on the committee since I work so closely with gifted and talented students and have an opportunity to provide in the field research in the area of gifted education. Working with this group of students has allowed me to become the Student Government Association sponsor and the National Honor Society sponsor at our local school. I also work with the Alabama Association for Gifted Children closely to maintain professional acuity in areas such as identification and twice exceptionalities.

Bryan Hildreth McCuller

Bio and Statement of Candidacy: I am Dr. Bryan Hildreth McCuller and I am running for the position of Awards Co-Chair for the NAGC R&E Network. I have 19 years in the field of education ranging from New Mexico public schools (K-12) to adult education at New Mexico State University. My commitment to the field of gifted education is demonstrated by over 10 years experience in teaching and case managing gifted students and current research on gifted training for pre-service and in-service educators in New Mexico public schools. Lastly, I am current President of the New Mexico Association for the Gifted (NMAG), an NAGC state affiliate. I am a dedicated professional who would be an effective leader as Awards Co-Chair as well as an essential member of the executive board for R&E. Thank you for considering me for this position.

Bio: As a recent graduate and relatively new member to NAGC, I have taken every opportunity to be involved in all the NAGC has to offer graduate students and now would like to give back. I have presented at my first three conferences, participated in mentor/mentee programs, and received one of NAGC’s elementary curriculum development awards along with my former colleagues at UVA. My expertise in the field of fidelity of intervention and implementation and prior work at the National Research Center on the Gifted and Talented at UVA provide me a sound foundation for the advancement of gifted research. Involvement with gifted research in math and literacy also contribute to my knowledge in differing content areas and ability to determine and encourage presentation and evaluate relevant research. As a Post-Doctoral fellow at Harvard University, I continue to develop my ability to develop, conduct, and assess research.

Statement of Candidacy: It would be my honor to serve as Awards Co-Chair. The Research Gala and Dissertation Awards are wonderful venues for encourage young researchers to present their research in a safe environment that provides valuable feedback for not only their future but also gifted education. I feel that dissemination of findings is most crucial for obtaining and continuing support and funding of gifted research at all levels. Furthermore, I understand the necessity of validating the intensive work to which researchers are dedicating their time and life-long efforts. Today’s winners of these early awards will be tomorrow’s Lifetime Achievement awards.