Leaders

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.