5 Powerful Advocacy Takeaways from TAG Conference

This year’s TN Association for the Gifted Conference was a powerful reminder that advocacy in gifted education is non-negotiable. As gifted educators, especially those in small or rural districts, our voices matter more than ever. Here are five takeaways that lit a fire in me, and I hope they will for you too.

1. Connection Is the Cure for Isolation

Meeting other gifted educators face-to-face reminded me how essential community is. When you're the only gifted teacher in your district (or one of a few), connecting with others who get it transforms the work. Collaboration isn’t just a luxury—it’s a strategy for advocacy, sustainability, and sanity.

2. Multicultural Curriculum Is Not Optional

Dr. Michelle Frazier Trotman Scott, incoming NAGC President, challenged us to move beyond surface-level representation. Building on Donna Ford’s framework, she emphasized a quadrant-based approach to multicultural education that respects identity and fosters deeper connection. We owe it to all students, regardless of their background, to provide curriculum that reflects and affirms them. You can find more information about Dr. Ford's work here: https://www.drdonnayford.com/sample-ford-harris-matrices

3. Nonverbal Intelligence Must Be Recognized

Mark Hess reminded us that tools like the WISC measure more than just exposure. They identify fluid reasoning, and nonverbal brilliance often missed in traditional verbal-heavy assessments. In Tennessee, where verbal IQ still dominates identification, we must advocate for broader definitions of giftedness, especially for underserved students. And, please note, rural schools and schools identified has low SES fall within that category.

4. Gifted Education Isn’t Guaranteed—We Must Protect It

There’s currently no dedicated state-level support for gifted education in TN. Compliance monitoring focuses on deficits, not strengths. And on the national level, Javits funding—the only federal support for gifted learners—is under threat. You can act today:
📨 Use NAGC’s tool to write your legislators. It takes one minute to raise your voice for gifted students across the country.
You can also join state organizations like Tennessee Association for the Gifted, NAGC, and other state organizations to help with advocacy efforts.

5. Advocate for Yourself, Too

Gifted teaching is not a stipend add-on. It’s a role that deserves dedicated time, planning space, and resources. If you’re juggling multiple campuses, lunch duty, and IEPs, you're not alone. Advocate for your schedule, your support systems, and your well-being. Burnout helps no one, especially not your gifted learners.

From Conference to Classroom

Whether you're in a classroom, Zoom room, or boardroom, your advocacy matters. Let’s move from isolation to action and make gifted education more equitable, visible, and sustainable. We’ve got this, together.

TL:DR

• Gifted education in Tennessee is under-monitored and underfunded

• Many gifted students—especially those with nonverbal strengths or from underrepresented backgrounds—are being missed

• We must advocate not just for our students, but for ourselves as professionals

You're not alone. You are part of a community of educators who are tired of feeling like a one-person army.

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Let’s keep showing up for our gifted learners, and each other.

Written by Michelle Robinson, founder of Gifted Ed Solutions. Helping gifted teachers get off “Gifted Island” and teach with joy again.

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