Marana Gifted Education Teachers Attend the Annual Regional Gifted Parent-Teacher Institute

On Saturday, September 6, 2025, Marana Gifted Education teachers and classroom teachers were excited to join parents and gifted educators from across Southern Arizona at the Regional Gifted Parent-Teacher Institute, an annual event hosted by the Southern Arizona Gifted Network. Teachers from Coyote Trail Elementary, Dove Mountain CSTEM K-8, Estes Elementary, Gladden Farms Elementary, Ironwood Elementary, Roadrunner Elementary, and Twin Peaks K-8 explored how to support gifted children by creating space for deep thinking in a distracted world. Sessions emphasized the differential diagnosis for teachers and understanding and responding to dysregulated students to elevate learning.

With the support of Dr. Emily Mofield, the co-director of the Gifted Education and Advanced Academics Programs at Lipscomb University, these teachers, along with several Marana parents in attendance, learned strategies for creating intentional spaces, both at home and in learning environments, that encourage reflection, curiosity, and deeper thinking beyond the screen. This professional development opportunity not only enriched attendees' understanding, but also equipped them to better support gifted families as gifted learners think, imagine, and engage with the world around them.

Marana’s own School Climate and Connectedness Coordinator, Shari Attebery, also shared two breakout sessions during this year’s Institute. Teachers and parents who attended gained valuable insight into how we can help students build resilience, take intellectual risks, and sustain their passion for learning through the use of strategies for strengthening academic tenacity, supporting self-regulation, and helping students recognize how emotions shape their growth.