Dr. Eleonoor van Gerven

Dr. Eleonoor van Gerven is director of Slim! Educatief, a private teacher education institute in The Netherlands. She specialized in gifted education and the systemic change- and solution-focussed approach. She developed a competency matrix for specialists in gifted education. She developed the post-graduate courses Specialist in Gifted Education and the Specialist in Educating Twice Exceptional Learners, which are both accredited by the Dutch Society for Higher Education.

She wrote 17 books on gifted education and almost 100 articles on this topic. She also developed the Digital Toolkit for Education of the Gifted, an RtI based instrument for seeing, understanding an responding to the educational needs of the gifted in primary schools. This toolkit is being used by 30% of the Dutch primary schools.

In 2014 She won the Dutch Mensa Award for her life long contribution to gifted education. In 2018 she was made an honorary member of the Dutch Professional Association of Specialists in Gifted education.

Dr. Robin Schader

Dr. Robin Schader is a trustee of Bridges Academy, a school for twice exceptional students and serves on the executive board of the 2E Center for research and Professional Development. Formerly, she served as the Parent Resource Advisor for the National Association for Gifted Children.

Dr Robin Schader was co-author of 'To be gifted and learning disabled'.

Mrs. Wendy Behrens M. Ed

Wendy A. Behrens is the Gifted and Talented Education Specialist for the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE), where she advises educators, administrators, parents, and policymakers. She has provided leadership for MDE’s Javits grants: Project North Star: Training Rural Teachers, School Leaders, and Families and Communities to Support Underserved Gifted Learners and Universal Plus: A Two-Step Process for Equitably Identifying Computer Talent.

Prior to her service to the state, Behrens worked as a district gifted services coordinator and a consultant for the Science Museum of Minnesota. She presents frequently on the identification of underserved populations, comprehensive service design, and policies that support highly able learners. Behrens is past-president of the Council of State Directors of Programs for the Gifted, and received the President’s award from the National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC) in 2013. She is an active participant and leader in NAGC, the World Council on Gifted Children, and the Council for Exceptional Children-The Association for the Gifted. Behrens also serves on the editorial board for Gifted Child Today, and on advisory councils for several educational organizations.

Dr. Christine Deitz

Dr. Christine Deitz is the Associate Director for the Jodie Mahony Center for Gifted Education at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. She is a nationally recognized educator in gifted, creative, and talented education. During her 26 years of public school service, she was a College Board faculty consultant in social studies. Christine holds two National Board Teacher certifications and is also the coordinator of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards Candidate Support Site at UA Little Rock. A recipient of multiple national educator and curriculum awards, Dr. Deitz was recognized as Doctoral Student of the Year and received the A. Harry Passow Classroom Teacher Award from the National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC). She is the author of numerous articles on gifted education and is the immediate-past president of the state’s advocacy association, Arkansans for Gifted and Talented Education. She currently serves on NAGC’s Board of Directors as State Representative.

Mrs. A. Weterings-Helmons M.EP

Mrs. Annemieke Weterings-Helmons M.EP is a part-time associate professor at Fontys University in the department of teacher education and educational needs. She is specialized in math education and dyscalculia, and gifted education. From 2007-2009 she had the shared responsibility for the development and implementation of the first Dutch Master Educational Needs in Gifted Education at Fontys University. At Fontys University, Mrs. Weterings-Helmons is currently responsible for their teacher education courses on gifted education.

She is co-developper and lector at Slim! Educatief's teacher education course Specialist in Educating Twice Exceptional Learners.

Mrs. Weterings-Helmons has published on the topic of gifted students with dyscalculia. She has presented at several conferences on the topic of gifted education.

Dr. Ana Miró Mejias

Dr. Ana Miró has a Doctorate in Education-Curriculum and Teaching in Special Education, a Master’s degree in Emotional Disturbances/Specialist in Reeducation and in Educational Leadership, a BA in Special and Elementary Education and, certifications in Nonviolent Crisis Intervention and, in Twice Exceptionality (2e). She has more than 40 years of experience in the field of Special Education, of which 30 are at the University of Puerto Rico (PR), Río Piedras Campus where she teaches courses in Special Education, supervises practicum, and carries out research. Dr. Miro is the academic advisor and coordinator of the Special Education program. She has been the director of the Field Experiences, Practicum, and Induction Office. She has also been a teacher in the public and private system in Puerto Rico and the United States. She has served as an educational expert in lawsuits in Special Education cases. She has extensive experience as a lecturer and trainer throughout the island, as well as in the United States. She has published articles related to Special Education, gifted and 2e students as well as interdisciplinary teamwork. She is a member of several professional groups on special education, gifted or twice exceptionality including National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC), Council of Exceptional Children (CEC) and the Specialized division of The Association for the Gifted (TAG). Since 2002 she has been working in the field of giftedness and 2e in several tasks such as trainer, consultant, practitioner, and researcher, among others. Dr. Miró received the People to watch recognition from the 2e Media Bridges Center in 2021. Dr. Miró is a pioneer in PR the field of 2e. She coordinates PROJECT DE AFEECTo: Twice Exceptionality- Supporting Families, Schools, Students and Communities through Interdisciplinary Work, in which services are offered to 2e students and their families and. Dr. Miró highlights her passion and enthusiasm for education and asserting the dignity of the human being.

Dr. A. Bakx

Anouke Bakx, PhD, is professor of Giftedness at Radboud University and associate professor at Fontys University of Applied Sciences, where she is also academic director of the academic educational programme for teachers. Her area of expertise is teachers’ professional development in the field of gifted education. She is the initiator of the educational labs on gifted education and co-founder of the Scientific Centre of Expertise RATiO (Radboud Talent in Development).