Gifted Twice Exceptional 2025 Summer Institute
Audience: Advocates, Educators, Other District/School Staff, Parents, Students, Community Partners, General Public | Topic: Gifted Education, Special Education | Hosted by: Gifted Education, Office of Special Education
Requirement for School / District Staff: N/A
Face-to-Face format
2025 2e (Twice Exceptional) Summer Institute Information
2e Summer Institute offers an invaluable opportunity for anyone interested in better understanding and supporting 2e learners.
Leave with empathy for 2e learners, tangible strategies for classroom implementation, and an understanding of how to apply assistive technology, AI, and game-based learning to support these students.
We invite:
- Families of 2e learners
- University professors
- Early Childhood Education (ECE) teachers
- Counselors
- Special education teachers
- Psychologists
- Gifted teachers/coordinators
- Classroom teachers
- Career and Technical Education (CTE) teachers
- Student teachers
- Pre-service teachers
- Administrators and principals
- And more...
Institute Goals:
- Educate a diverse audience about the needs of 2e learners, including their unique challenges and strengths.
- Provide professional development by offering 12 clock hours that fulfill the special education Educator Professional Development Requirements.
- Leverage assistive technology and AI to enhance the learning experiences of 2e students.
- Create awareness of social-emotional development, the neuroscience behind emotions, and strategies to support students' emotional and cognitive growth.
- Introduce innovative strategies such as game-based learning to help identify strengths and implement equitable gifted identification practices.
- Equip participants with actionable, real-world strategies that can be immediately applied in classrooms, schools, and homes.
Featured Workshops!
Social-Emotional “Boot Camp" by Dr. Matthew Zakreski (Dr. Matt)
Contact Matt at (Dr. Matt Zareski Home Page)
Dr. Matthew Zakreski is a high energy, creative clinical psychologist, consultant, professor, author, researcher, and professional speaker. He has spoken over a thousand times all over the world about supporting neurodivergent kids. Dr. Matt is the co-founder of The Neurodiversity Collective, LLC, co-host of the podcast “Nerding out on Neurodiversity,” and the author of the Neurodiversity Playbook: How Neurodivergent People Can Crack the Code of Living in a Neurotypical World.
Workshop Description:
This workshop takes three different aspects of social-emotional development, explains them, and then gives tangible, practical advice on how to implement interventions that address these concerns. Participants leave with information about the neuroscience of emotions, how the limbic system impacts behavior, how to gamify social-emotional development, and cognitive flexibility including how to push back against cognitive rigidity in the classroom and the community.
The 2e/Neurodivergent Experience: Learning Differences Simulation by Callie Turk Co-Founder & Board Member
Contact Callie at (Reel)
Callie is the mom of three teens, one of whom is 2e. Callie draws on her 15-plus year career working with ed tech companies and school districts at the cutting edge of educator professional learning. Callie received her MBA from Stanford University and BS from Miami University (Ohio). She is also a doctoral student with the Bridges Graduate School of Cognitive Diversity in Education.
Workshop Description:
In this interactive workshop, simulation stations give participants a taste of what it is like to be a student with learning differences such as dyslexia, dysgraphia, auditory processing challenges, sensory processing challenges, autism, and ADHD. Participants leave with a new and/or deeper understanding of the lived experiences of students with learning differences, as well as some fresh ideas to try in their classrooms.
AI for Good: Empowering Twice-Exceptional Learners by Karen Quanbeck and Pam Lewis
Contact Karen at (AI in Colorado Education | The Colorado Education Initiative)
Contact Pam at (Computer Science | CDE)
Karen Quanbeck brings over 30 years of experience in education, currently serving as the Vice President of Implementation at the Colorado Education Initiative. She has held diverse roles, including teacher, principal, chief of schools, and superintendent. At CEI, Q is leading efforts to advance AI in education, helping schools navigate the opportunities and challenges of emerging technologies.
Pam Lewis is a seasoned Computer Science Education Specialist at the Colorado Department of Education with a remarkable 19-year career in education. With a passion for instructional technology and innovation, Pam has taught in the classroom and led at the district level. Most recently, her statewide leadership efforts include digital literacy and computer science initiatives with a dedication to ensuring access for all students.
Workshop Description:
Twice-exceptional (2e) students thrive when learning is both personalized and empowering. Educators have limited time, widely varying student needs, and competing demands. Starting with a foundation of how to use AI safely and responsibly, this session will explore how AI can be a supportive tool for both educators and students, providing insight into AI literacy, as well as practical strategies, use cases, and resources. Learn how AI can more deeply engage and support your most complex learners.
Find and Support 2e Learners with Board Games by Heather Groff and Michelle Lewis
Heather Groff and Michelle Lewis each bring over 20 years of experience in supporting gifted and twice-exceptional students at both the school and district levels. With a deep understanding of the academic and social-emotional needs of these unique learners, they have worked extensively to develop and implement effective strategies that foster success across diverse backgrounds.
Workshop Description:
In this interactive workshop, discover one Colorado district’s journey as they increase 2e identification by leveraging board games. Games are powerful tools for recognizing and honing (hidden) strengths, implementing equitable gifted identification, and fostering affective development. Walk away with research-backed strategies, real-world applications, and ready-to-use resources to integrate game-based learning into classrooms and homes.
Participant Outcomes:
- Experiential simulations to help attendees understand the lived experiences of students with learning differences (e.g., dyslexia, dysgraphia, autism, and ADHD).
- Practical advice and tools for promoting social-emotional development in students.
- Research-backed methods for using games to foster strengths and enhance the identification of gifted students.
Event Date and Time
- Wednesday, June 11, 2025 (All day)
Location
Penrose House1661 Mesa Avenue
Colorado Springs, Colorado 80906
Contact Information
Connolly Sherwood[email protected]
7202158842
Register now for Gifted Twice Exceptional 2025 Summer Institute
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