PASADENA, CA – 02/20/2024 – The (������Ƶ), a national nonprofit dedicated to the intellectual, creative, and personal growth of our nation’s gifted and advanced learners, has announced the upcoming retirement of its president and co-founder, Elizabeth Jones. Jones will remain in her current position until a new president has been hired and will then transition to a senior advisor role to support leadership and the Board of Directors.

Since the nonprofit’s founding in 1998, ������Ƶ has become a pillar in the gifted education community as a place focused on the whole gifted child. Now recognized as one of the nation’s leading thought leadership organizations supporting the needs of gifted youth, ������Ƶ offers enrichment classes and learning opportunities, teacher trainings, consulting services, support groups, summer camps and scholarships for gifted learners. Over 12,000 students have benefited from the organization’s work.

“As we enter a new quarter century at ������Ƶ, the organization is strong and has tremendous promise for the future,” said Elizabeth Jones, president and co-founder, Institute for Educational Advancement. “Building this organization that is filled with heart and a commitment to excellence is what makes us special. I am proud of our accomplishments, am honored to have been a part of the lives of so many gifted students and am grateful for the support of our ever-growing community.” 

Giftedness exists in every demographic of society and is often overlooked and underfunded in many education systems. Jones created ������Ƶ to fill that gap and be a resource for families and educators alike. Under her guidance, ������Ƶ advocated for gifted education locally and nationally and commissioned the first-ever national survey assessing the American public’s views on gifted education. This research continues to influence national policy and is used by organizations across the U.S. in advocating for gifted youth. ������Ƶ operates 

With the support of ������Ƶ’s Board of Directors, Advisory board and staff, Morris & Berger, an executive search firm with a specialty practice that reaches across the nonprofit sector, will seek a new president to continue the nonprofit’s mission of meeting the unique needs of gifted children, their families and educators and overseeing the organization’s business needs and fiscally sound operating budget. 

“Since Elizabeth founded ������Ƶ, we have stayed true to our mission of serving gifted youth, exponentially growing our flagship programs: our Academy enrichment classes, our Award-winning Yunasa Summer Camp, and our unique Caroline D. Bradley merit-based high school scholarship,” said Byron Lichtenstein, ������Ƶ Board Chair. “������Ƶ has served gifted children with passion and dedication. I know, because I am one of those young people. We on the board, our community, and the field of gifted education are indebted to Elizabeth for her engagement and the organization’s success.” 

Qualified candidates are invited to online and apply here: .

For more information about ������Ƶ’s programs and services, visit .

About the Institute for Educational Advancement

The Institute for Educational Advancement (������Ƶ) is dedicated to the intellectual, creative, and personal growth of our nation’s gifted and high-potential youth. Central to the mission of ������Ƶ is a commitment to the development of the whole child through engaging educational experiences that promote optimal challenge, mentorship, exploration of ideas, and recognition of personal potential. ������Ƶ seeks to connect gifted individuals through dynamic and engaging year-round programming. Additionally, ������Ƶ supports a diverse community that creates a sense of belonging and affirmation. For more information, visit .

Contact

Kat Kirsch

Institute for Educational Advancement

(626) 403-8900 or kkirsch@educationaladvancement.org

Thank you so much to all of our blog’s readers. This year we had a record number of visitors and comments on our blog! Here were the Institute for Educational Advancement’s top blog posts in 2019:

: Bonnie Raskin, Scholarship Director, gives our community a glimpse of what it is like to at the helm of the Caroline D. Bradley (CDB) Scholarship program.

  This post features 10 California schools who are also highlighted in ������Ƶ’s new Gifted Schools Guide highlighting schools for gifted and advanced students throughout the United States.

 This past September, ������Ƶ announced the 2024 class of award recipients of the Caroline D. Bradley Scholarship, a four-year high school scholarship for gifted learners to attend an optimally matched high school program to help them work toward meeting their unique intellectual and personal potential.

: In this post ������Ƶ spotlighted a list of fantastic Summer programs that serve gifted youth.

 A post full of amazing podcast recommendations about gifted learners. These are great resources for parents and educators supporting bright young minds.

 There is no shortage of games and puzzles that are intellectually stimulating; Pylos, Quoridor, and the classic Rubik’s Cube are all examples of mentally challenging and fun games. In this post you can find a variety of educational toys and games to consider giving to a gifted child any time of the year!

: Gifted children tend to have a strong desire and need for intellectual stimulation, and that need doesn’t go away when schools are closed. In this post are three ways parents can help foster positive social and academic growth during a holiday break.

This blog post walks through every step of the evaluation process for the Caroline D. Bradley Scholarship.

Development Manager Mavis Bortey-fio shared her most inspiring moments spent with ������Ƶ students in honor of this year’s #GivingTuesday campaign.

This post featured great reads for parents and educators focused on best practices and strategies for raising and educating a gifted child. These books are also listed on ������Ƶ’s which serves as a free online tool created and curated by ������Ƶ for our community.

Like this post? to receive more stories, information, and resources about gifted youth straight to your inbox.

This is where a role model in the form of a mentor can be beneficial to a gifted child. Mentors allow children trying to understand their unique gifts and talents an avenue to share interests, passions, thoughts and doubts in a constructive, supportive space. ��According to Sandra Berger in her article “”:

One of the most valuable experiences a gifted student can have is exposure to a mentor who is willing to share personal values, a particular interest, time, talents, and skills. When the experience is properly structured and the mentor is a good match for the student, the relationship can provide both mentor and student with encouragement, inspiration, new insights, and other personal rewards.

For gifted children, the potential benefits of a committed mentor are numerous and can contribute to both short and long-term success. Berger notes that parents often notice mentors have a “maturing effect” in helping students narrow down their many talents and interests into focused educational and career goals.

Some questions to ask when considering mentoring for your child:

1. What are their goals and interests?
   Whether it’s learning a new skill, emotional support or academic assistance, mentoring covers a wide-range of areas. Talk with your child about what they are looking to get out of a mentoring relationship and what will make them feel most supported.
2. Does your child understand the role of a mentor?
   Ensure your child understands the mentor is not a friend or parent. Explain the limitations and expectations of the relationship, both for them and for their mentor.
3. Is your child committed to spending time with the mentor?
   Some children think they are ready for a mentor, but are then disappointed with the time it takes out of an otherwise free period they could be exploring other interests. Set clear and realistic expectations for both the mentor and the child.

If you have determined a mentor is right for your child, the Davidson Institute for Talent Development has published on finding a mentor.

Additionally, ��offers high-potential secondary students externship opportunities where they can receive mentorship from distinguished professionals and gain hands-on experience in a field of their interest.

Each externship is custom-designed so students grow intellectually and personally, while making pertinent and lasting connections with their mentors and peers.

Visit our site to today!

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������Ƶ recently hosted a Gifted Child Parent Support Group Meeting that featured a homeschooling parent panel where local parents shared their experiences and perspectives – both positive and negative – on homeschooling their gifted student. As part of the discussion, panelists and attendees shared gifted homeschooling resources and recommendations (below) which have stood the test of time and experience with their highly able learner. Many of these resources are local to the Los Angeles and Pasadena, California area, but many are offered nationwide as well.

For All Gifted Learners:

Schools for Gifted Learners:

(project-based learning; not specifically gifted)

Colleges & Universities:

Evening and Weekend Lectures at Local Colleges and Universities (see individual school websites for calendar list of events)

P.E. Options for Homeschoolers:

Local Parks and Recreation Departments (see your local city’s department website for offerings)

Curriculum, Charter Schools & Online Resources for Homeschoolers:

(������Ƶ is a vendor)

Homeschool L.A.

Local Public Library (homeschoolers can get a special library card for educators)

(������Ƶ is a vendor)

Meetup Groups and Additional Social Opportunities:

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Are there any resources you have found helpful in homeschooling your gifted child? Please share in the comment section below.

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