2009 Gifted and Talented Education Conference at C.W. Post Oct. 23-24

Brookville, N.Y. – The Advocacy for Gifted and Talented Education in New York State will hold its annual conference at the C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University on Oct. 23 and 24, 2009. The conference, titled, “A World of Promise: Gifted Students as Global Citizens,” will bring together educators, policymakers, parents and advocates for the gifted from across New York state for a stimulating, thought-provoking two-day conference on issues, ideas and trends in gifted and talented education.

The conference is presented jointly by AGATE and the C.W. Post Campus, which is located at 720 Northern Boulevard (Route 25A), Brookville, N.Y.

Presenters will participate in general sessions, roundtable panel discussions and workshops on topics related to a variety of issues in gifted and talented education as it applies to the global community. Panelists will include representatives from the Nassau County Museum of Art, The Heckscher Museum, the Hofstra University Museum of Art and New York City Public Schools.

This year's conference keynote speakers include Sheila Appel, director of corporate and citizen affairs at IBM; Michael Furdyk, co-founder and director of technology for TakingItGlobal.org, and Roger Tilles, member of the New York State Board of Regents. The conference will also include remarks by New York State Assemblyman Fred Thiele of Long Island.

“This year we are really looking beyond the borders of New York State,” said Audrey Dowling, AGATE president. “We’ve always paid attention to world statistics, but at this year’s conference we will see how gifted youth can grow up to become successful on a global scale. It is a thrilling topic.”

Workshops will address topics such as “Global Rock Stars: Building a Community of Learners,” “Hurried and Ignored: How Pressure to Perform and NCLB Mandates are Failing our Gifted and Talented Population,” and “If the World is Flat, Why Not School? Fostering Intercultural Understanding and Integrated Learning Through the International Baccalaureate Programme.”

Parents will have the opportunity to meet other parents of gifted and talented children and share their experiences and opinions. There will also be a raffle and an awards luncheon for gifted students and teachers of the gifted.

AGATE is a nonprofit organization of concerned parents and educators designed to promote the education and welfare of gifted and talented children. AGATE also conducts research that will be of use to educators of gifted and talented children and sponsors statewide conferences, meetings and workshops.

For more information, contact Dr. Joseph Piro at (516) 299-3823 or e-mail joseph.piro@liu.edu. Additional details regarding the AGATE Conference can be found at http://www.agateny.com/.

Posted: August 18, 2009