MCGT 2026 Speaker Event:
Resiliency, Technology, Giftedness and the Self Driven Child
Tuesday, October 20, 2026
7:00-8:30pm CST via Zoom
Presenter: Ned Johnson
Please join us for a presentation and Q&A featuring Ned Johnson, co-author of the national bestseller The Self-Driven Child.
The relentless stream of advice, the constant comparisons, and the pressure to raise children who excel in every area: it’s no wonder that so many parents—and the kids they raise—feel overwhelmed. For gifted children especially, their focus on academic and extracurricular outcomes can hinder self-drive and lead to anxiety and burnout.
As an expert who has spent decades helping children and families develop resilience and confidence, he will speak to us about how to impart in kids a healthy sense of control over their own lives and nurture intrinsic motivation and well-being.
In addition, the national conversation about kids and technology has particular significance for gifted children. Offering recent research and real-life examples, Ned will advise families on how to promote the healthy use of technology (and mitigate the negative impacts of constant digital exposure) while still maintaining family harmony and connection.
Ned’s work is founded on brain science and years of teaching and coaching experience. In his presentation, he will share practical strategies for the parenting questions we all have:
- How can I be a steady, non-anxious presence in my child’s life?
- What language can I use to encourage independence, self-resilience, intrinsic motivation and joy?
- How can we work together to navigate the inevitable hurdles of school, technology, and growing up in a high-pressure world?
We look forward to seeing you there! You will leave feeling inspired, encouraged and yes—even less anxious!
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ABOUT NED JOHNSON
Together with Dr. William Stixrud, Ned Johnson is the co-author of three books: The Self-Driven Child, What Do You Say? and their workbook The Seven Principles of Raising a Self-Driven Child (Penguin Press, March 2025.) The Self-Driven Child was a national bestseller, sold one million copies and is published in 19 languages.
Ned is also the president and founder of PrepMatters, a nationally renowned education company that helps students succeed in high school and get into college. He describes himself as a professional “tutor-geek” who since 1993 has spent more than 50,000 one-on-one hours helping students.
Ned loves how kids think and is forever curious about what motivates them, what worries them, and what matters to them. His mission is to help students learn about their own learning, thinking, and effective ways to motivate themselves, handle stress, and perform at their best. He encourages students to find a healthy balance between what life asks of them and what they want out of their own lives.
He is a proud board member of CollegeTracks, which helps first-generation-to college students from low-income and immigrant households bridge systemic opportunity gaps to get to and through post-secondary education and on to a career pathway, and of the Safe Community Coalition, which provides programs and resources to reduce stress, foster mental wellness, and empower youth to thrive and make responsible choices about their health and safety.
His work has been featured in media outlets such as NPR, CNN, MSNBC, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Times of London, The Wall Street Journal, U.S. News and World Report, Time Magazine, Scientific American, Business Week, Barron's, New York Magazine, and Vogue.
When: Tuesday, October 20, 2026, 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, $25 for non-members.
Video Recording is available to MCGT members for four months after the event. Access to recording after the event is not available to non-members.
Not a MCGT Member? Join MCGT now to have access to the video. MCGT Membership Benefits
Financial assistance is available from the Betty Johnson Scholarship Fund: Minnesota 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 501(c)(3) 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.
