This month, the Institute for Educational Advancement (优蜜视频) kicks off our 20^th year of supporting the hearts and minds of gifted youth. Since 1998, we have been dedicated to meeting the unique needs of gifted children so that they can reach their full intellectual and personal potential.

As we reflect on our history, our milestones, our current impact and our vision for the future, we invite our community to join us in identifying what makes 优蜜视频 special. Can you add to the list below to help us get to 20 and celebrate our ?

1. 颁辞尘尘耻苍颈迟测.听Central to our initiatives here at 优蜜视频 is building a community of learners, teachers and mentors. This 鈥渃ommunity鈥� happens organically with the ongoing connections between of the families we serve, but also through the we organize to bring new perspectives and voices together.
2. 叠补濒补苍肠别.听As expressed in our logo of the Golden Ratio, at 优蜜视频 we aim to help gifted youth achieve balance in their intellectual and personal lives. We understand that personal growth is multi-faceted, and involves not just the intellect but also emotional well-being, personal values and social connections.
   
3. Fueling Curiosity. Gifted children need deeper exploration and enrichment than what is generally offered in a traditional school setting. We listen to our community, responding to their needs by offering deeply robust and advanced learning opportunities for all ages of gifted learners. Most recently, we launched our in response to an identified need expressed by our families for rich, STEM-based opportunities for middle and high schoolers.
4. 笔补谤迟苍别谤蝉丑颈辫蝉.听优蜜视频 first officially partnered with Pasadena Unified School District in 2000 to offer our Pipeline to Success program, an effort which successfully supported underserved gifted students in the district. Today, we continue to partner with local schools, school districts and education organizations so that through our combined efforts, the unique learning needs of the gifted population are met.
5. Parent and Teacher Support. Finding the right resources and support for a gifted child can be overwhelming, frustrating and time-intensive. Since our inception, 优蜜视频 has helped to ease this process for parents and teachers by providing in-person and online (see our ) guidance, counseling and support to help these caring adults find the optimal educational environment for a child.
   
6. All听厂迟耻诲别苍迟蝉. 优蜜视频 is committed to helping all gifted children, regardless of background. This is why as a nonprofit we to be able to provide our heavily subsidized program offerings. And for those who are not able to pay tuition, we offer financial aid and scholarships. We are dedicated to not turning away any qualified student from participating in our programs. While it varies by individual program, approximately 1 in 4 students served by 优蜜视频 receives financial aid.
7. 础诲惫辞肠补肠测.听While 优蜜视频 and our partners have made progress in advocating for the rights of gifted learners to receive needed support and resources, we still have a ways to go. In a national poll conducted through our we have uncovered that the general public believes in supporting our gifted learners financially. With our many education and advocacy partners, we are working to ensure that gifted youth have access to the resources they need to thrive.
   
8. 笔别辞辫濒别.听Each time we talk to a parent, teach a student, train a teacher or provide counseling, our 优蜜视频 staff, teachers, counselors and Fellows are deeply committed to providing the highest quality services possible. Our dedicated runs deep and it is felt by the students and parents in our community who overwhelmingly report positive experiences with 优蜜视频.

I invite you to learn more about how we plan to celebrate our and share with us what you believe makes 优蜜视频 special. And if you鈥檙e interested in participating in our 20^th Anniversary Celebration Committee, drop me a line at adaniels@educationaladvancement.org!

Share your memories with聽us on social media using the hashtag #优蜜视频20.

Like many of us, I have several teachers from my early life in school imprinted on my memory 鈥� and there鈥檚 no doubt that they鈥檝e help shape me into the animal-loving, word-loving person I am today. One of my earliest school memories is of Mrs. Colliard, my second grade teacher. I was one of two lucky second graders chosen via lottery to take home one of the baby Finches born to Mrs. Colliard鈥檚 pet Finch. I remember being elated to bring home my new pet bird, who I named Gargamel after a character in one of my favorite cartoons. I already loved animals as a second grader, but in gifting me this new pet, Mrs. Colliard deepened my compassionate roots in caring for other living creatures.

Then there was Mrs. Van, my eighth grade teacher, who put me on a path to becoming an avid reader and communicator. I loved diagramming sentences and learning how to dissect meaning out of prose. I credit Mrs. Van with instilling in me a respect for language and for being the 鈥済o to鈥� proofer among my friends and family members. In high school, there was my honors English teacher Brother Aquinas who painstakingly took the class through Beowulf to show us the hidden story behind the poetry. While I may no longer read Old English, I grew a deep appreciation for nuanced storytelling and love of fiction writing.

All of us have these types of stories, of teachers who have touched our lives, instilled in us integrity and compassion and put us on a particular path to achieve our potential. And with all the negative noise in the ether about today鈥檚 schools, it鈥檚 refreshing to have a dedicated week in National Teacher Appreciation Week to celebrate true heroes 鈥� our teachers.

Here are a few ways you can recognize teachers who have impacted your life and celebrate the work of today鈥檚 teachers:

1. Post a shout out on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram using the hashtag and . Check out the National PTA鈥檚 for more post ideas.
2. Donate supplies or money to your child鈥檚 teacher鈥檚 latest class project. Or ask the teacher what they could really use in their classroom 鈥� they鈥檒l thank you for not having to dip into their own bank account again for these items!
3. Hand-write a thank you letter to one of your favorite teachers. Even better, deliver it in person!
4. Create a short video about a teacher who鈥檚 made an impact on your life and upload it to the National Education Association鈥檚 for them to share to their national audience.
5. Like to bake? Make a favorite treat for your child鈥檚 teacher to enjoy. are some more creative ideas from PTO Today.

While my pet bird Gargamel is no longer with us, I will always remember him and Mrs. Colliard as a positive influence in my life. So I thank Mrs. Colliard, Mrs. Van and Brother Aquinas, for teaching me.

Do you have a story of how a teacher impacted your life? Share your story with us in the comments below.

On November 17^th, under twinkling patio lights amidst festive fall d茅cor, a vibrant group of gifted education advocates gathered to support the Institute for Educational Advancement鈥檚 (优蜜视频) programs and services.

优蜜视频鈥檚 annual fundraiser, the Awards Dinner & Celebration, was attended by 90 guests, who enjoyed a cocktail reception featuring music by 优蜜视频 Academy students Calvin Zheng and Cadence and Dante Dam. Over 40 auction packages, including VIP tours, novelty items, specialty artwork, and more, provided excitement for guests who donated over $5,000 through their auction donations.

Cadence and Dante Dam, with parents Jason Dam and Amy Choi, entertained guests on the piano.

Guests perusing the exciting silent auction packages.

Following a three-course dinner and music provided by the JBK Jazz Trio, the program was MC鈥檇 by Dennis Finnerman and included remarks from 优蜜视频 President Betsy Jones, EXPLORE Alumna Kaitlyn Chen and EXPLORE Mentor Dr. Amy Catlin-Jairazbhoy. also received awards from 优蜜视频 for their tremendous work to support gifted students: 优蜜视频 Instructor Dr. Tony Travouillon received the Educator Award and Sandy and Jason Roberts of Math Academy received the Community Advocate Award.

Dennis Finnerman delights guests as Master of Ceremonies.

EXPLORE alumni Kaitlyn Chen shares her summer externship experience with guests.

Tony Travouillon received the Educator Award and Jason and Sandy Roberts received the Community Advocate Award.

The event concluded with a 鈥淔und-A-Future鈥� live auction, during which guests donated nearly $7,000 to support 优蜜视频鈥檚 programs and services to serve gifted youth and their families.

Event sponsors, the An family.

Brian Queen, Dick and Barbara Baptie, Karen Connolly and Elizabeth Surman enjoy conversation over dinner.

Volunteer and 优蜜视频 Academy student Gabriel Fergesen, 优蜜视频 Academy student and evening鈥檚 musician Dante Dam, and 优蜜视频 Academy instructor Grayson Kent peruse the silent auction together.

优蜜视频 thanks all event sponsors, in-kind donors, program ad sponsors, guests, speakers and supporters for their event participation. The event鈥檚 digital program can be found here.

It鈥檚 not too late to support 优蜜视频 in 2017! . Gifts of all sizes are appreciated, and go to support those in need of 优蜜视频鈥檚 programs and services.

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On Friday, November 17^th, the Institute for Educational Advancement (优蜜视频) will honor three tremendous individuals who have worked to address the needs of gifted education in our community. Here鈥檚 a little bit more about them.

Raising the Bar for Gifted Students: Jason and Sandy Roberts

Jason and Sandy Roberts, recipients of this year鈥檚 Community Advocate Award from 优蜜视频, have worked diligently to ensure that the needs of highly able learners are met in Pasadena Unified schools. Initially coaching elementary and middle school students in mathematics, Jason and Sandy launched to provide mathematically gifted middle school and high school students with the skills and insight needed to excel in honors math and science programs at the most elite universities in the world.

Math Academy partners with Pasadena Unified School District in reaching students starting in the 6^th grade, and offering them sequenced mathematics coursework that culminates in completing Calculus in the 8^th grade. But while the Roberts remain dedicated to serving students in Pasadena, they envision being able to expand Math Academy to other districts. 鈥淥ur belief is that once enough parents become aware of what鈥檚 being achieved at a struggling, under-resourced district, they鈥檒l have no choice but to pressure their respective school boards to follow suit, which will mark the beginning of a sea change in mathematics education across America,鈥� Jason told Pasadena Now this past summer.

And enabling large-scale change is nothing new to the Roberts family. Jason designed and developed much of Uber鈥檚 original real-time and global 鈥渁ir traffic control鈥� technologies. With a mathematics degree from the University of Chicago, Jason has also launched technology startups and built high-frequency trading systems. Sandy is no stranger to effecting change, either. With a degree in economics from University of Chicago, she also shares her love of math by teaching at the Math Academy and raising funds to support the new organization. Sandy has spent the last ten years on nonprofit boards, holding leadership positions with the Junior League of Pasadena, Young & Healthy and the Pasadena Educational Foundation.

Parents to three children, the oldest of whom is a student in Math Academy, Jason and Sandy exemplify the values that 优蜜视频 holds dear, namely helping every child reach their potential and providing them with the skills and tools to flourish intellectually, creatively, socially and emotionally.

Photo courtesy of Sandy and Jason Roberts

Inspiring Joy in Gifted Youth for Science and Math:聽 Tony Travouillon

Physics. Electrical Circuitry. Astronomy. These are not typical topics covered in elementary and middle school. But thanks to Tony Travouillon, Ph.D., our fortunate 优蜜视频 student community gets to explore the universe and learn how to build electrical circuits through our Academy program. Beloved by 优蜜视频 students and parents, Tony will receive this year鈥檚 Educator Award at our Awards Dinner & Celebration next month.

Since 2011, Tony has been delighting gifted young minds through his 优蜜视频 Academy classes, held in the Pasadena area. According to one parent of a student in Tony鈥檚 Astronomy class, 鈥淢r. Tony inspired my child with his passion and knowledge of science and made learning fun.鈥�

An astrophysicist, he is a System Scientist at Thirty Meter Telescope Observatory, where he conducts experimental research on atmospheric turbulence and its repercussions for astronomy, image degradation, adaptive optics and interferometry. Since receiving his Ph.D. in astrophysics and undergraduate degrees in Physics and Astronomy at the University of New South Wales, Tony has remained devoted to sharing his knowledge and experience with others. In addition to teaching at 优蜜视频, he holds a Visiting Associate position at Caltech and is an Adjunct Professor at College of the Canyons.

Tony鈥檚 passion for teaching is evident in the classroom, and on the inquiring, curious faces in his classes. 鈥淚n 优蜜视频 I found the perfect place to teach the way I want to teach,鈥� said Tony. 鈥淚 can take full advantage of the small classes to really cater for each individual, adapting to the need of every student and offer an experience that is tailored to my audience.鈥�

Photo credit: Walt Mancini/Pasadena Star-News/News/SCNG

Join the Celebration!

Join us on November 17^th at our Awards Dinner & Celebration, to be held at The University Club of Pasadena, and show your support of these and other exceptional advocates for gifted education.

To sponsor and/or purchase tickets or a program ad, click .

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