Board Officers
Sabrina James
Chair
Lin Lim
Treasurer
Emily Villamar-Robbins
Vice Chair
Myiesha Taylor, M.D.
Vice Chair
Sadia Rodriguez
Vice Chair
Kim Farbisz
Vice Chair
Angie Hanan
Vice Chair
Jorge Rodriguez
Vice Chair
GT Parent Advisory Council
Parent leaders of statewide GT Parent Groups are invited to join our Parent Advisory Council. Please email us at giftededucationfamilynetwork@gmail.com if you are interested in participating, or with updates to your listing below. The Parent Advisory Council shares the needs of gifted families in their community and helps shape the direction and activities of our network. There is no fee associated; we are committed to ensuring support and access to connections for GT parents from all income levels.
- Cherin Escher, Carrollton-Farmers Branch
- Sadia Rodriguez
- Bettina Flunker, Gifted Eagle Mountain Saginaw Students (GEMSS)
- Iran Mendoza
- Heather Kaiser-Hahn, Texas Parents of the Profoundly Gifted (TPPG)
- Anna Aberle
- Laura Stead, Gifted Education Alliance of Richardson (GEAR)
- Denita Jones
- Tracy Fisher, Coppell Gifted
- Anita Lindsay, Dallas
- Melissa Coffee, Eanes ISD GT Parent Support Group
- Angie Hanan, Fort Bend Association of Parents for Academic Excellence (PACE)
- Nadine Skinner, GT Parent Advisory Committee Fort Bend ISD
- Oranjel J. Lewis
- Sabrina James, Round Rock Talented and Gifted Parent Advisory Council (TAGPAC)
- Melanie Dykstra, Lovejoy Gifted Association
- Glorry Yeung, Denton Association for the Gifted
- J. Davila, Northside Gifted/Talented Enrichment Advisory Council
- Jennifer Kinder, Park Cities Talented and Gifted (PC-TAG)
- Celi Trepanier
- Kimberly Phoenix, Grapevine-Colleyville Supporting and Advocating for Gifted Education (GCSAGE)
- Marsha Ailey, EA Young Academy FLARES
- Letha Williams, McKinney Gifted & Talented Alliance
- Cristopher Womack, Northwest Association of Gifted & Talented (NAGT)
- Justin Vawter, M.Ed.
- Susan Rasmussen, Advanced Learning Parent Support, Humble ISD GT Families
- Arwen Jackson, Pearland Gifted and Talented Academy Booster Club
- Melanie Lewis, Gifted and Talented Support Group for Families at Texas Connections Academy at Houston (GT @ TCAH)
- List updated July 24, 2021
GT Professional Advisors
Dr. Todd Kettler
Associate Professor of Educational Psychology
Baylor University School of Education
Chair, Texas Commissioner of Education’s Advisory Council for Gifted Education
Dr. Kristina Collins
Assistant Professor, Talent Development
Texas State University
President of SENG (Supporting the Emotional Needs of the Gifted); Member, NAGC Board of Directors (National Association for Gifted Children)
Dr. Fred Bonner
Professor and Endowed Chair in Educational Leadership and Counseling
Executive Director, Minority Achievement, Creativity and High Ability (MACH-III) Center
Prairie View A&M University
Dr. Anne Rinn
Professor of Educational Psychology
Director, Office for Giftedness, Talent Development, and Creativity
University of North Texas College of Education
Legislative and State Advocacy Committee
- Sabrina James, parent, Round Rock ISD
- Emily Villamar-Robbins, parent, Richardson ISD
- Angie Hanan, parent and current school board member, Fort Bend ISD
- Kimberley Davis, parent and past school board member, Grapevine-Colleyville ISD
- Jorge Rodriguez, parent and current school board member, Grapevine-Colleyville ISD
- Tracy Fisher, parent and current school board member, Coppell ISD
- Dr. Todd Kettler, Baylor University
- Dr. Meredith Austin, GT Coordinator, Humble ISD
- Dr. Jaret Hodges, University of North Texas
- Justin Vawter, M.Ed.
Regional Liaisons
The Gifted Education Family Network supports and provides connections for families and GT parent groups in all twenty Texas ESC (Education Service Center) Regions. Our Regional Liaisons help ensure that GT parents in all regions of Texas have access to connections, information, and advocacy support.
All board members, volunteers, committee members, advisory council members, professional advisors, and liaisons serve on an unpaid, volunteer basis. GEFN is grateful for the time, dedication, and invaluable contributions of every individual involved with our organization.
