On November 16th, UMass-Amherst hosted a Western MA Leadership Conference.  Modeled after the 2005 Beyond Proficiency Summit (HYPERLINK "www.medford.k12.ma.us/gifted"www.medford.k12.ma.us/gifted), it was a chance to bring together educators from Western, MA interested in the education of gifted and talented students.

Diana Reeves, MAGE Chair and Susan Dulong Langley, MAGE President attended in their roles as consultants to the UMass-Amherst summer graduate course Introduction to the Education of Advanced, Talented and Creative Learners.  As such, they served as content resources for 2 of the 6 working groups.  MAGE Clerk Dr. Laurence Osborne attended as an observer, while two additional board members attended as participants:  MAGE Secretary Andrea Roda as a student in the graduate course and MAGE Western MA Representative Maryanne Malinowski as a member of the Monson Public Schools leadership team.   Additionally, past MAGE board member Beverly Quilty attended as another consultant and content resource for a working group and Gillian Overholser, principal of the Beyond Leadership Summit, was in attendance as well!

Dr. Joyce VanTassel-Baska, Director of the Center for Gifted Education at William and Mary in VA, the keynote addressed Promising Policies and Practices, giving a sold foundation for the work the leadership teams are to undertake. Later in the day she provided a detailed follow-up session in response to key issues and questions resulting from the working groups.

Retiring Commissioner David Driscoll talked about the future of gifted education in MA, reiterating his positive expectations delineated earlier this fall in a State House meeting with MAGE and Representative Creedon. He brought four staff members to Amherst: Susan Wheltle, who has worked for several years on behalf of gifted students,  Deborah Walker, who has been working with Susan for the last year, and two new-comers to gifted education at the DOE, Caryl Brayton Toole, and Deborah Smith-Pressley.   The Commissioner said he believes the stars are lining up and is confident that we will see an increase in gifted education in the coming budget. He is also hopeful about bringing back dual enrollment (opportunity for high school students to take courses at state colleges). While he is proud of MA's work on standards and assessment - especially in terms of alignment of the two - he believes that we are ready to move beyond that, with a focus on educating the whole child, which aligns with Governor- Elect Deval Patrick's plans.

In what became a frequent occurrence, the commissioner mentioned MAGE. Specifically, he referred to MAGE’s “tenacious” advocacy. It was a fitting way to acknowledge the ongoing work begun by MAGE founders Betsy Buchbinder and Clista Dow, as well as other pioneering members and continued through today by all of you!

Two MA superintendents spoke, as well. Both Dr. Ed Costa of East Longmeadow (past member of G&T Advisory Council) and Dr. Roy Belson of Medford (key participant in planning and running 2005 Summit) mentioned the importance of the work MAGE has done in continuing to keep the fire burning, despite the changing fortune of education of the gifted and talented throughout the decades.

In addition to the great news and work of the day, the two new staff members assigned to G&T for the DOE were introduced. Caryl Brayton Toole is in Accountability and Targeted Assistance while Deborah Smith-Pressley  is a Title I Program Specialist who is also in Accountability Improvement Planning & Assistance. They will work with the G&T Advisory Council and MAGE. Representative Geri Creedon, key legislator promoting G&T funding and MAGE President Susan Dulong Langley will serve on the Council.   MAGE has suggested a working task group be formed to work with the DOE and Legislature to keep the momentum going.   If you would like to be involved in this task group, please contact Susan at sdlangley@comcast.net