MAGE ACTIVITY ‘05/’06

This was a banner year for MAGE! From last April's Annual Meeting at the Beyond Proficiency Summit to this years' at the Reach for the Stars Conference, MAGE members has been instrumental in a multitude of activities.

• The development, production and follow-up of the ground-breaking, two-day, Beyond Proficiency Leadership Policy Summit attend by educational leaders from over 100 districts, collaboratives and charter schools
  
  
• Rallying members to contact legislators in support of gifted education at state and federal levels through letters, phone calls and speaking at the state  Joint Committee Listening Tours in the Fall of 2005
  
  
• MAGE worked closely with Representative Geri Creedon to help procure $500K in grant money in 2006 state budget, the highest MA has allocated.  16 of 66 proposed projects across the state were funded to increase educator’s knowledge of research-based curricula that raises achievement of gifted students, K-8, in math, science and technology/engineering.
  
  
• MAGE assisted Susan Wheltle at  the MA Department of Education in development of proposal of a three-year, million-dollar, federal Javits Grant to continue the work of the Summit, and now serves on the advisory board to that grant, the MA  Partnership for Gifted Education.  The grant includes conducting several regional Summits for district administrators, working with UMASS to produce coursework for pre-service, professional development, and G&T specialists and working with six districts (Boston, Framingham, Lowell Charter, Marlboro, Medford and Quaboag Regional) to pilot effective practices for the gifted, with results made available to all.
  
  
• MAGEinfo has sent a steady stream of emails with announcements,  opportunities and news of interest, one newsletter has been mailed and another is to come, and we introduced MAGEchat this year. The MAGE website continues to evolve and is a constant work-in-progress.
  
  
• October New England Conference for G&T in Vermont -  MAGE participates in the planning yearly, several  MAGE members attended; and three Board members, President Susan Dulong Langley, Chair Judy Platt and Chair Emeritus Diana Reeves, presented workshops
   
• Diana Reeves also created and presented two five-week courses (one held in fall, the next in the spring) on the social-emotional needs of gifted children.  The course, open to all, was co-taught by Sarah Kelley, Counselor at the SAGE school in Foxboro where the program was hosted.  Plans for courses in other locations are being considered.
  
  
• November National Association for Gifted Children Conference in Kansas City-  MAGE was represented by Chair, Judy Platt. Diana Reeves, Chair Emeritus & current NAGC Board member presented a workshop and attended all NAGC Board sessions.
  
  
• In a letter dated March 22^nd., MA DOE Commissioner responded positively to request by MAGE Chair, Judy Platt, to officially adopt the 1993 federal definition of gifted and talented students (used at the Beyond Proficiency Summit), with potential for adapting for state needs at later date.  The Commissioner also agreed with the timely and critical second request to initiate work to include pre-service coursework on gifted education for all those studying to become teachers in MA.
  
  
• March NAGC Annual Affiliates Conference in Washington D.C. - President Susan Dulong Langley and Board member Marion Shaker attended training sessions for two days, shared information with leaders of other state affiliates, and spent a day on Capitol Hill visiting our state legislators.
  
  
• In early April, MAGE Board members, Susan Dulong Langley, Judy Platt and Diana Reeves participated in the first advisory meeting of the MA Partnership for Gifted Education run by the DOE for our Javits Grant  
  
  
• April 29^th- Reach for the Stars: Advancing Individual Potential Conference/Annual Meeting was held in Framingham.  The event was well-attended and well-received by parents and teachers from all over the state.  Superintendents Shelley Berman (Hudson) and Roy Belson (Medford) and  SAGE school counselor, Sarah Kelley were presented with Public Service Awards, and Lorenzo Conte received the Nicholas Green Distinguished Student Award.  There was a panel discussion of FAQ’s and 4 choices of workshops to complete the day.
  
  
• NAGC/affiliate discount opportunity for all MAGE parents to join or renew NAGC membership for just $10 instead of $25 was arranged by MAGE & NAGC Board member, Diana Reeves and piloted for the first time nationally at the MAGE April meeting.  Following the great response, plans are being made to extend this offer to all MAGE members.