February 2024

IN THIS ISSUE

●Director's Corner

-Denise Michele Hicks

●Feature Article

-Colin Seale

●SENG Youth Virtual Program

●2024 SENG Annual Conference Updates:

-Call for Proposals Reminder

-Exhibitor & Sponsorship Opportunities

-Early Bird Registration is Open!

●SENG APA Courses On Demand

●Upcoming SENG Community Group

●Upcoming SENGinar

Director's Corner

Unleashing Unrecognized Potential II:

Celebrating Another Year of Fostering Diversity, Equity, and Belonging in Our SENG Community.

By Denise Michele Hicks

As I look back on the past year, I am filled with a profound sense of hope and achievement. February 19, 2024, marks the one-year anniversary of our bold endeavor to continue making a positive impact by nurturing an environment within our SENG Community where curiosity thrives, tough questions are welcomed, and diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging are celebrated without judgment.

I wanted to take this moment to commemorate this milestone with all of you who have been a part of our SENG journey. Throughout the year, I have been deeply moved by the power of conversation and the impact it has had on our community. Your insights, shared from across the globe, have reinforced one of our most important purposes of empowering our SENG youth to recognize their influence on the world around them, even when they may not yet realize it.

Your comments and questions have often led me to reflect on the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. His timeless words and unwavering commitment to peace and equity serve as deep reminders of the transformative power of talk. Like Dr. King, I too have a dream to cast a wider net of support and opportunity and nurture the brilliance that resides within each of us as members.



In my dream, I envision SENG reaching curious minds in classrooms and home schools, particularly where under-represented and under-served gifted students are provided with the tools and resources they need to thrive.  

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Featured Article

Not Just Playing the Game: A New Vision for Black Gifted Children to Flourish in Learning and in Life

By Colin Seale

I am not a fan of the humble brag. Whenever people post on social media about being “so humbled” to receive an accolade I always want to respond, “Wow, look how humble you are, posting your accomplishment for clicks and comments…maybe I should give you an award for your outstanding humility!” 

But being asked to contribute a piece for SENG’s library pertaining to the social and emotional needs of Black gifted students is sincerely humbling for me. As the grown-up version of a gifted child who overcame the all-too-common challenges of being Black and gifted at the same time, the opportunity to bring light to my negative experiences so other children don’t have to deal with them is a privilege. And as the father of two Black children who were identified as gifted (I make it a point to name them as “identified as gifted” as a reminder of how many Black gifted children remain unidentified), this is even more of an honor. My mother never had access to resources to help her understand my social-emotional struggles as a gifted learner, especially my issues with selective achievement (discussed in the preface I wrote to Dr. Kristina Collins and Dr. Javetta Robertson’s book: Underachievement in Gifted Education: Perspectives, Practices and Possibilities).  

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SENGYouth Recap

This year we launched SENG's new SENGYouth Virtual Programs - starting this month with our first event featuring our partner, Qualia School. Our first SENGYouth class explored Einstein's Theory of General Relativity. Thank you to Robert Johnson from Qualia School for joining us! Stay tuned for more opportunities later this year! 

2024 SENG Annual Conference Updates

Join SENG for our 2024 Annual Conference July 11-13 in Berkeley, CA!

EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION IS OPEN!

CLICK HERE to visit

our conference website!

Featured Keynote Speakers:

Paula Prober and

Dr. Frank C. Worrell

Keynote Spotlight

The Complex, Compassionate, Creative, Crushing World of the Gifted Adult - The Musical!



Step into the extraordinary world of giftedness, where the spotlight shines on the struggles and triumphs of gifted adults, from the pressures of expectations and empathy to the conundrums of deciding what color to paint the bedroom! Join us as we journey through the lush and vibrant Rainforest Mind, a dazzling metaphor that captures the essence of giftedness.

Paula combines her theatrical and creative proclivities to design an entertaining and heartfelt experience that presents the stories of gifted adults she has known and demonstrates ways they have grown to discover greater self-understanding and self-confidence, along their paths to authenticity, actualization, and the creation of a better world. You will be treated to a playlist of the greatest hits of your gifted life or, rather, the Top Ten Reasons You Need to Understand Your Rainforest Mind, in song. It is possible you will laugh, cry, and even sing along. It will be a little funny, a little emotional, and a little quirky, just what your tender rainforest-minded heart needs.

Shaping Brilliance: The Art of Growing Giftedness

Imagine giftedness not as a static treasure we're born with, but as a piece of art waiting to be created. This is the heart of the Talent Development Perspective—a vibrant approach that sees every individual as a unique block of potential, ready to be sculpted into something extraordinary. It's about nurturing the seed of talent with the right mix of challenge, support, and timing, transforming it into a masterpiece over time.

Join Dr. Worrell on an inspiring journey that redefines what it means to be gifted. He'll weave the story of his own path from a childhood filled with potential in the bustling streets of Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, to his influential role as a Distinguished Professor and former president of the American Psychological Association. By exploring the core principles of the talent development megamodel, Dr. Worrell will shed light on the crucial ingredients of ability, innovative teaching, persistent effort, and the serendipity of chance that contribute to the journey from curious child to renowned expert. This narrative is not just about acknowledging talent—it's a call to actively and artfully shape it.

Sponsor & Exhibitor Opportunities

We have an array of Sponsor and Exhibitor Opportunities available at the

2024 SENG Annual Conference!

CLICK HERE to view the 2024 Exhibitor &

Sponsor Prospectus.

Questions? Contact Brian.Shea@sengifted.org

SENG APA Courses On Demand!

SENG's popular APA Continuing Education Courses offered in 2023 are now available On Demand on the SENG website! Complete the courses at your own pace and on your own schedule...and earn 6 APA Continuing Education Units (CEUs) for each course! Learn more about the three courses below or on the SENG website.

Upcoming SENG Community Group

SENG Community Group: Educators of the Gifted

Mondays, March 4th - April 8th

5:00 PM PST | 8:00 PM EST

Facilitated by SENG Directors Shaunne McKinley and Gayle Bentley

Required Book: When Gifted Kids Don’t Have All the Answers

The SENG Community Group for Educators of the Gifted, formerly known as SMPG, provides a platform for educators of gifted and talented students to convene virtually and discuss the unique challenges they face in their classrooms. This group offers a supportive environment where participants can exchange resources and seek guidance. Led by two experienced facilitators, the meetings ensure that discussions are both secure and confidential, fostering a space for constructive dialogue.

Upcoming SENGinar

Navigating the mental health landscape for gifted children presents a unique set of challenges for parents. This webinar addresses the common hurdles faced when seeking a therapist who understands the struggles of exceptional kids. This webinar will also explore practical considerations for therapy and outline the essential questions parents should ask when evaluating potential therapists, empowering them to make informed decisions regarding their child's mental health care.