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  • Gifted Adults: Exploring Our Own Needs as Gifted and Multi-exceptional Adults

    • October 07, 2025
    • November 11, 2025
    • 6 sessions
    • via Zoom
    Register



    Gifted Roads ~ Support & Resources for Gifted and Multi-Exceptional People



     

    Exploring Our Own Needs as Gifted and Multi-exceptional Adults


    6 Sessions
    Tuesdays, October 7 - November 11, 2025
    6:30 - 7:45pm CT 


    Adulting is hard, even when you've been at it for a while. Gifted and 2e adults often don't have a welcoming space where we can share the ups and downs of being a smart, quirky person in a world that doesn't always understand our intensity or get our jokes. Framed by weekly topics, this discussion series is all about celebrating yourself and the other gifted adults in your life.

     

    Date:  Tuesdays, October 7 - November 11, 2025

    Time:  6:30 to 7:45 pm Central Time 

    Discussion Guides:  Carol Malueg and Joan Larson

    Cost:  $150 per household (partners welcome)
    Contact support@giftedroads.com for scholarship availability or if you’d like to provide a scholarship for another attendee.

    Location:  Virtual, using Zoom — a Zoom link will be sent to all participants before the first meeting

    Questions?  Email carol@malueg.com



    Carol Malueg, M.A., GCT, 2e,  is a learning coach and consultant, specializing in gifted and twice-exceptional education and support. Carol serves on the Board of Directors for the Minnesota Council for the Gifted and Talented (MCGT) and the Gifted Homeschoolers Forum (GHF).  She was honored with the MCGT Friend of the Gifted Award in 2020.  Carol has trained hundreds of Supporting Emotional Needs of the Gifted (SENG) Model Parent Group Facilitators worldwide and was awarded the SENG Presidential Award for Distinguished Service in 2021. She has worked on three Javits Grant research projects focused on improving identification of and services for gifted at-risk students.  Her company, Gifted Roads, addresses the gifted and multi-exceptional experience across the lifespan.https://giftedroads.com



    Joan Larson is a gifted education specialist with Minnetonka Public Schools in Minnesota.  She was an elementary classroom teacher for ten years, and has been a gifted education specialist for thirty years.   Joan earned her Master’s Degree in Gifted, Creative, and Talented education from the University of St. Thomas.  She has worked full-time work with gifted and talented students and their families in a variety of capacities, including program and curriculum development, coaching fellow teachers, and helping families navigate school with their gifted children.  She has trained hundreds of SENG Model Parent Group Facilitators and led SMPGs with participants from all over the world.


    What parents have said about Caregiver Conversations: 
    “This was not the typical powerpoint presentation with following Q&A. The entire process was guided conversations about what participants are facing with each of the points covered in the sessions' agenda and more. We got to know each other in this authentic environment and became more friends than participants. Thank you!” ~ Nichole S.

     

    “This was fabulous; informative, open-minded, supportive and fun.” ~ Nichole S.

     

    “So great to not feel alone!” ~ Jill S.

     

    “I had never before thought about myself as being gifted. This realization has helped me understand my child better.” ~ S.B.

     

    “The leads and participants in the class were so welcoming and open. I truly appreciate what everyone brought to the conversations.” ~ S.B.

     
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  • Gray Matter Gala: A Game Night Convergence for Neuro Divergents

    • October 08, 2025
    • 7:00 PM - 9:30 PM
    • BlackStack Brewing, 755 Prior Ave N, St. Paul, MN 55104
    Register

    Gifted Adult Community Group

    Gray Matter Gala: A Game Night Convergence for Neuro Divergents


    October 8, 2025

    7:00-9:30pm CDT



    Bringing gifted adults together to engage and connect through a fun, but also affordable (board) game night.


    1. Although BlackStack doesn’t serve food, guests are welcome to bring their own or enjoy meals from a food truck that’s often on-site.

    2. Parking is limited in the outdoor lot, but additional underground parking is available and shared with Can Can Wonderland, along with some nearby off-street parking for convenience.

    3. Attendees can locate us by looking for a table sign with MCGT and lead will be wearing a bright reflective vest. 


    WHEN: Wednesday, October 8, 2025, 7:00-9:30pm CDT

    WHERE: BlackStack Brewing, 755 Prior Ave N, St. Paul, MN 55104

    COST: FREE and open to everyone. Registration is required - a confirmation email with all event details will be sent the day before. 


    Questions? Email info@mcgt.net


    The Minnesota Council for the Gifted and Talented (MCGT) is a state-wide non-profit support and advocacy organization of parents, educators, and other professionals who live or work with gifted children and are interested in their education and well-being.


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  • Listening to Misophonia: An Introduction

    • October 24, 2025
    • 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
    • via Zoom
    Register

    MCGT Professional Series Speaker Event
    Co-Sponsored by Cottonwood Center and the Minnesota Department of Education


    Listening to Misophonia: An Introduction

    Presenter: Heidi Lack, Ph.D., ATR-B

    Friday, October 24, 2025
    10:00am - 12:00pm


    Few, if any, clinicians are trained to recognize, understand, or treat clients with misophonia, since the term only came into being in 2001. Yet, based on the most recent, national and international prevalence research, every clinician has likely, if unknowingly, faced misophonic clients in their practice. Misophones report intense emotional, cognitive, and behavioral reactivity and distress, and feel hijacked by ‘triggers’ or ‘activators’ of a sensory nature, most often sounds, which the majority of others do not even notice. Examples include the sounds and movements of people eating, breathing, typing or the repetitive intrusiveness of environmental or mechanical noises. 


    With decades of experience working and living with misophonic people, and being misophonic herself, Dr. Lack applies her training as a psychologist in Behavioral Medicine from Harvard Medical School, Dept. of Psychiatry (Cambridge Health Alliance), to clinical examples and updates on the latest research to provide this brief introduction to misophonia. Topics covered will include identification/screening, definition, diagnostic criteria, necessary differentiation from co-existing conditions, demographics, theoretical underpinnings, some neurophysiology, and cursory introduction to her Dynamic Interconnected Network (DIN) working model of misophonia, for use in determining client-specific priorities and interventions for misophonia management. 


    Objectives of this session:

    1. Learn current definition and diagnostic criteria for misophonia
    2. Differentiate at least two co-existing conditions
    3. Recognize idiosyncratic complexity of misophonia
    4. Identify two adjacent fields for collaboration in assessing and treating misophonia

    Heidi Lack, Ph.D., ATR-BC, supports the gifted, 2e, and neurodiverse communities as a licensed clinical psychologist and board-certified registered art therapist, with advanced certification in Behavioral Medicine through Harvard Medical School, Department of Psychiatry. She is in clinical and consultation private practice out of Lexington, MA supportive of individuals, parents, and organizations.  She runs workshops, is a public speaker, and advocates for those coping with the complexities of giftedness, attention and sensory processing challenges. Dr. Lack is currently writing a book on misophonia. Dr. Lack uses neurologically and empirically informed, strengths-based interventions with her clientele across the lifespan. As a parent of two multi-exceptional young adults, Dr. Lack has personal and professional experience with the challenges inherent to navigating neurodivergent adults and family life. She is a SENG certified community group facilitator (SCG), co-created The Gifted Parenting Journey© on-line workshops with Gail Post, PhD, and supports professionals in the field by facilitating the GHF (Gifted Homeschool Education) weekly professional discussion group. Dr. Lack also advocates for the social and emotional needs of the gifted in her role on the board of directors of MAGE (Massachusetts Association for Gifted Education). Dr. Lack is a multi-media artist, (paint, collage, quilting, photography, labyrinth installations) reflective of her meditative, existential, and transpersonal practices. She is delighted and honored to participate in this MCGT CE program on misophonia.


    Date of Presentation: 
    Friday, October 24, 2025

    10:00am - 12:00pm Central Time

    Continuing Education Credits:

    This Presentation has been approved for 2 hours of Continuing Education through the MN Board of Psychology (Log #202503.355) or 2 hours of Continuing Education from the Minnesota Department of Education. CEU documentation will be sent directly to participants.  


    Format:

    This will be a two-hour virtual speaker event, available both live and asynchronous to participants. Continuing education certificates will be available after completion of the learning experience.


    Fee:  

    $60 Individual rate

    $40 for MCGT Professional Members and MCGT Sponsors

    Not a MCGT Professional member? Join online now!

    $20 for Undergraduate or Graduate Students


    Questions? Email info@mcgt.net


           


     

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  • Vendor Table Registration for MCGT EXPO

    • October 25, 2025
    • 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
    • 10225 Yellow Circle Drive, Minnetonka, MN 55343
    Register


        Vendor Table Registration

    Gifted & Talented EXPO

    October 25, 2025
    1:00-4:00pm CDT



    Join MCGT for an opportunity to showcase your business/organization/school to families with gifted & talented students with a vendor table at MCGT's Expo. 


    We are planning an event to include schools, professionals, and businesses that provide services for gifted learners and their families. In addition we will have speakers and other sessions on topics related to giftedness.


    We will be publicizing this event widely and are hoping for over 70 families to attend during the 3 hour period. Running concurrently with the event, Arete Academy will be offering school age youth programming.


    Registration to attend the EXPO will open to the public on September 15, 2025.


    WHEN: Oct 25, 2024, 1:00pm - 4:00pm


    WHERE: MCGT's EXPO will be held at Arete Academy, 10225 Yellow Circle Drive, Minnetonka, MN 55343.


    COST: 
    Sponsor & School Registration open now!
    MCGT Sponsors - FREE table

    School Gifted & Talented Programs - FREE table


    All other Vendor Registrations open on August 28th:

    MCGT Professional Members - $30/table
    All Others - $50/table

    QR Code option - $25 - Can't be there to have a table? We'll share your website QR code with all attendees 


    Photo Release

    By attending the MCGT Expo, attendees agree to allow their names, likenesses and images either in audio, photographic or video format, recorded onsite during the conference to be used by MCGT for educational, promotional, and archival purposes.


    Questions? Email info@mcgt.net


    The Minnesota Council for the Gifted and Talented (MCGT) is a state-wide non-profit support and advocacy organization of parents, educators, and other professionals who live or work with gifted & talented children and are interested in their education and well-being.

    Show details

  • MCGT Gifted & Talented Expo

    • October 25, 2025
    • 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
    • Arete Academy, 10225 Yellow Circle Drive, Minnetonka, MN, 55343
    Register


    Gifted & Talented     Expo

    October 25, 2025
    1:00pm - 4:00pm
    Host and co-sponsor: Arete Academy



    Join MCGT for our annual Gifted & Talented Expo! We'll have speakers, family sessions, opportunities to connect, and a vendor hall with schools, professionals, and businesses that provide services for gifted learners and their families. 


    Running concurrently with MCGT's Expo, Arete Academy will be offering school age youth programming (additional fee to Arete Academy required). Pre-registration is required for youth programming, and parents need to be on-site unless otherwise approved.


    Cardboard Creations
     1:00 - 4:00pm

    For Ages 8-14

    Cost: $45

    Click here to register directly with Arete Academy
    Pre-registration required




    Dungeons and Dragons

    1:00 - 4:00pm

    For Ages 11-18

    Cost: $60

    Click here to register directly with Arete Academy

    Pre-registration required




    WHEN: Saturday, October 25, 2025, 1:00 - 4:00pm


    WHERE: Arete Academy, 10225 Yellow Circle Drive, Minnetonka, MN 55343


    COST per family: 
    MCGT Members - $25

    Non-Members - $50 (not a member? Join online now!)

    Arete Academy Families - $25 (registration code required)


    2025 EXPO Flyer

    2025 EXPO Postcard

    Click Here for the Full Schedule of Events & Speaker Descriptions

    Speakers

    Social Emotional Support of Gifted Children with Teresa Boatman, PhD
    Gifted 101 with Mary Wandrei, PhD

    Twice Exceptional Learning Strategies with Arete Academy Staff

    Full Time Gifted Schools Parent Panel

      Family Sessions (children can attend with parents)

      Restorative Practices with Razia Shariff
      Mindfulness with Tina Van Erp

      Drop in Connection Times with MCGT
      2E Community
      CHOICES Chapter
      Gifted Adult Community 


      Schools*: 

      Arete Academy (Twice-Exceptional Students) - Minnetonka

      Brightmont Academy - Plymouth and Mendota Heights
      Cyprus Classical Academy - Burnsville

      Metropolitan Open School - St. Louis Park


      Resources*:

      Cottonwood Center 
      Cubing Enrichment Opportunities, Inc - Rubik's Youth Enrichment

      Friedrichs Education

      MCGT CHOICES Chapter
      MCGT Gifted Adult Community Group

      MCGT Resource Table

      MN Institute for Talented Youth (MITY)
      Paper Pie (Previously Usborne Books and More)

      The River Coach
      The Thinking Spot - science bookstore

      *Check back for updates! If you are a professional, business, or school and would like to have a vendor table at the MCGT Expo, please register here.


      Concessions (cash, venmo)
      Nut free snacks including granola bars, chips, meat sticks, popcorn, apples, sparkling water, and pop will be available for purchase from Arete Academy Students.


      Adult Volunteers

      We are looking for adult volunteers for a variety of positions at the Expo, if you are able to help, please fill out the adult volunteer form.


      Photo & Video Release

      By attending the MCGT Expo, attendees agree to allow their names, likenesses and images either in audio, photographic or video format, recorded onsite during the conference to be used by MCGT for educational, promotional, advocacy, and archival purposes.


      Financial assistance is available from the Betty Johnson Scholarship Fund: Families with gifted & talented children should not be restricted in their participation in MCGT activities because of limited funds. Therefore, the MCGT Board will accept requests for financial assistance which would enable families to attend events sponsored by MCGT, such as the annual conference or speaker events. MCGT also accepts requests for financial assistance for MCGT membership fees. 

      Submit a request from the Betty Johnson Scholarship Fund


      Questions? Email info@mcgt.net


      The Minnesota Council for the Gifted and Talented (MCGT) is a state-wide non-profit support and advocacy organization of parents, educators, and other professionals who live or work with gifted & talented children and are interested in their education and well-being.
      Show details

    • Beyond Bright: Social & Emotional Learning for Gifted and Twice-Exceptional Learners

      • October 29, 2025
      • February 24, 2026
      • 3 sessions
      • via Zoom
      Register

      Beyond Bright: 
      Social &       Emotional Learning for Gifted and Twice-Exceptional Learners

      A Virtual Professional Learning Series

      Registration is required.



      Session Dates & Speakers:

      • Wednesday, October 29, 12:00–2:00 PM CT
        Dr. C. Matthew Fugate, Bridges Graduate School of Cognitive Diversity in Education

      • Tuesday, December 9, 12:00–2:00 PM CT
        Dr. Debra Troxclair, Lamar University

      • Tuesday, February 24, 12:00–2:00 PM CT
        Guest Speaker: To be announced


      Gifted students often excel academically while quietly navigating complex emotional and social challenges. This three-part virtual series explores how Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) can support gifted and twice-exceptional learners—including those with ADHD, high creativity, anxiety, and identities from traditionally underrepresented groups. Through expert-led sessions, participants will gain practical strategies to foster resilience, belonging, and inclusive learning environments that honor both intellect and emotional depth.

      Who Should Attend:
      Educators, counselors, administrators, gifted education specialists, and coordinators.

      Cost: $100 for the 3-session series
      $10 invoicing fee applies to all invoices, invoice 30 days after first workshop

      Additional Details:

      • Virtual format - Zoom link will be emailed prior to each session
      • Earn 6 CEUs from the Minnesota Department of Education
      • All sessions will be recorded and available following the event


      This series is proudly presented in collaboration with the Minnesota Department of Education and the Minnesota Council for Gifted and Talented.


      Contact - Registration Questions: Jennifer Farner, MCGT, info@mcgt.net

      Contact - Program Questions: Wendy Behrens, 651.582.8786, wendy.behrens@state.mn.us 

      Request for special accommodations must be submitted in writing and received a minimum of 14 business days prior to each session. Please note, we are unable to provide copies of the presentation prior to the presentation.

      If you are paying by check or purchase order, please make your check payable to MCGT (Minnesota Council for the Gifted & Talented) and mail to:

      Minnesota Council for the Gifted & Talented

      PO Box 143

      Hopkins, MN 55343


       


      Show details

    • Understanding and Supporting the Social Emotional Needs of your Gifted Child

      • December 10, 2025
      • 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
      • via Zoom
      Register

      MCGT 2025 Speaker Event:


      Understanding and Supporting the Social Emotional Needs of your Gifted Child


      Wednesday, December 10, 2025
      7:00-8:30pm CST       via Zoom



      Presenter:  Teresa Argo Boatman, Ph.D.


      Through connections with the neuroscience of what happens in the brain, Dr. Boatman explores the social and emotional journey of gifted children and how parents can support development of self understanding and responses throughout the journey. 


      Dr. Teresa Argo Boatman, Ph.D., is a Licensed Psychologist in Plymouth, MN. She specializes in assessments, educational choices, and emotional health for gifted and talented children and their families. Dr. Boatman is the past president of the Minnesota Council for the Gifted and Talented. 


      When: Wednesday, December 10, 2025, 7:00-8:30pm, Online via Zoom

      Zoom link will be emailed to registrants the day before the event.


      Who: All those interested in supporting gifted students – parents, educators, other caregivers and professionals welcome!


      Cost:

      $10 for MCGT members
      Video Recording is available to registered MCGT members for four months after the event. 

      $25 for non-members

      Access to recording after the event is not available to non-members.
      Join MCGT now to get the member rate.  MCGT Membership Benefits


      Financial assistance is available from the Betty Johnson Scholarship Fund: Families with gifted and talented children should not be restricted in their participation in MCGT activities because of limited funds. Therefore, the MCGT Board will accept requests for financial assistance which would enable families to attend events sponsored by MCGT, such as the annual conference or speaker events. MCGT also accepts requests for financial assistance for MCGT membership fees. 

      Submit a request from the Betty Johnson Scholarship Fund


      Questions? Email info@mcgt.net


      The Minnesota Council for the Gifted and Talented (MCGT) is a state-wide non-profit support and advocacy organization of parents, educators, and other professionals who live or work with gifted children and are interested in their education and well-being.

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