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GAM History of Advocacy Timeline
2022
The Delma Johnson: Jennifer Hawkins
Parent/Norine Kerber: Melanie Orr
Friend/Dede Freeman Smith: Brenda Shields
Bob Roach Scholarship: Phoebe Poehler
Vicky Bennett Distinguished Student: Adalia Ligon
2021
Educator/Delma Johnson: Justin Villet
Parent/Norine Kerber: none
Friend/Dede Freeman Smith: Dr. Dustin Nadler
Bob Roach Scholarship: Sarah Hudson
Vicky Bennett Distinguished Student: Matthew Melton
2020
Educator/Delma Johnson: Nicole Gordon
Parent/Norine Kerber: Aisha Hasan
Friend/Dede Freeman Smith: Alexandra Forgerson
Bob Roach Scholarship: Lauren Schroer
Vicky Bennett Distinguished Student: Grace Lepin
2019
Educator/Delma Johnson: Debbie Clary
Parent/Norine Kerber: Dawn Tedrick
Friend/Dede Freeman Smith: none
Bob Roach Scholarship: Deborah Dorman
Vicky Bennett Distinguished Student: Aden Cox
2017
Beginning in 2017-2018, districts will incur a reduction in funding if they experience a decrease in gifted program enrollment by more than 20% based on the previous year’s enrollment. Students in AP and IB classes will no longer be counted as gifted in DESE core data. Changes in gifted certification requirements become effective August 1, 2017. That State Conference is held at Drury University in Springfield, Missouri. Dr. Richard Cash is the keynote speaker. Dr. Lenae Lazzelle serves her second year as president of GAM.
2016
GAM celebrates 35 years! The State Conference is held at the University of Missouri in Columbia. Dr. Richard Courtright is the keynote speaker. Dr. Lenae Lazzelle is elected as president. Senate Bill 638 modifies provisions related to gifted education.
2015
The State Conference is held at the University of Missouri in Columbia. Dr. Bertie Kingore is the conference keynote speaker. The Advisory Council for Gifted and Talented Children creates ten recommendations for action to DESE. Dr. Robin Lady serves her second year as president.
2014
The State Conference is held at Drury University in Springfield, Missouri. Missouri sees the highest number of students served in programs according to data collected by DESE – 40,984 students! Lea Trimble retires from editing the GAMbit and is given a Lifetime Membership! Dr. Robin Lady is elected as president.
2013
GAM moves their State Conference to a university. The State Conference is held at Drury University in Springfield, Missouri. State Statute 161.249 establishes the Advisory Council on the Education of Gifted and Talented Children. The Council’s first report is issued on March 4, 2015. Patty Cookson serves her second year as president.
2012
The State Conference is held at the Holiday Inn Expo Center in Columbia, Missouri. Senate Bill 599 requires districts to report on their annual report card whether the school district has a state approved gifted education program and the percentage and number of students currently being served in the program. Patty Cookson is elected as president.
2011
The State Conference is held at the Holiday Inn Expo Center in Columbia, Missouri. In 2011 we see the highest number of teachers working in gifted programs (920). This includes AP and IB classes. Becky Smith serves her second year as president.
2010
The State Conference is moved to a new location – the Holiday Inn Executive Center in Columbia. GAM is actively involved in writing a segment of the new Missouri RTI Guidance Document that explains how gifted education relates to Response to Intervention. Becky Smith is elected as president.
2009
The National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC) conference was held in St. Louis, Missouri in conjunction with the Gifted Association of Missouri. Students in 9th and 12th grade from Boonville High School create a grid portrait of Howard Gardner – the keynote speaker for the conference. Ellen Wright serves her second year as president
2008
The State Conference is held at Tan-Tar-A. The Higher Education Act is signed into law at the federal level. This act requires pre-service teachers to have training in teaching gifted students. This year, for the first time, GAM awards the Nicholas Green Distinguished Student Award. Ellen Wright is elected as president.
2007
The State Conference is held at Tan-Tar-A. Sue Winter serves her second year as president. She gives testimony before the Senate Appropriations Committee as GAM works with Kyna Iman to restore the line item for gifted funding. On July 11, Kyna Iman, David Welch and Sue Winter meet with Commissioner Kent King in Jefferson City regarding funding for gifted programs.
2006
The State Conference is held at Tan-Tar-A. Gifted funding is folded into the foundation formula and no longer calculated as a percentage of reimbursement. A temporary penalty is included to deter districts from decreasing gifted program enrollment. Students and teachers in Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate classes are included in DESE gifted data. Sue Winter is elected as president.
2005
The State Conference is held at Tan-Tar-A with speakers including Dr. Julia Link Roberts, Jan Cloninger, Nathan Levy, and Sue Winter. The Program Evaluation Task Force is formed. Sally Holt serves her second year as president.
2004
The State Conference is held at Tan-Tar-A with speakers including Nathan Levy, Dr. Jann Leppien, and Dr. Linda Smith. Sally Holt is elected as president. State aid is capped at $24,870,104 which is 65% of reimbursement.
2003
The State Conference is held at Tan-Tar-A with speakers including Jeanne Purcell and Deborah Burns. Susan Berti serves her second year as president.
2002
Legislative Advocacy is increased. The State Conference is held at Tan-Tar-A with speakers including Nancy Johnson and Carol Ann Tomlinson. Susan Berti is elected president.
2001
The Norine Kerber Memorial Scholarship is established. This year has the highest number of Missouri districts offering a state approved gifted program– 333 districts. The State Conference is held at Tan-Tar-A with speakers including Dr. Sally Reis, Carolyn Callahan, and Nathan Levy. Nancy Gerardy serves her second year as president.
2000
GAM hires an Executive Secretary. The 20th Annual State Conference is held at Tan-Tar-A with speakers including Dr. Barbara Kerr, Dr. Richard Olenchak and Jon Pearson. Nancy Gerardy is elected as president. It is decided the president will serve a two year term.
1999
GAM website is established. There is an extensive review of the GAM bylaws. GAM sponsors a guest artist at the Missouri Fine Arts Academy. GAM organizes its first formal speakers’ bureau. Parent category added to membership. The State Conference is held at Tan-Tar-A with speakers including Dr. Sandra Kaplan and Carolyn Coil. The Delma Johnson Memorial Scholarship is established. A Teacher Education Committee is created. A research component to the GAM library Committee is initiated. Donna Pfautsch is re-elected as president. Kyna Iman becomes GAM’s legislative consultant.
1998
GAM adds scholarships to train new teachers. State Conference is held at TanTar-A with speakers including Mark Sharenbroich and Dr. James Alvino. Donna Pfautsch is elected as president. Randy Scherr becomes GAM’s legislative consultant.
1997
State Conference is held at Tan-Tar-A with speakers including Dr. Barbara Clark, Judy Galbraith, Sharon Lind, Mary Kay Shandley and Dr. Felice Kaufmann. Fine Arts Academy students provide entertainment for the conference. GAM begins planning to create a webpage. Nancy Pate is re-elected as president.
1996
The State Conference is held at Tan-Tar-A with speakers including Dr. Jim Delisle, Dr. David Lazear, and Dr. Barbara Clark. GAM has 1300 members! Students compete in “Voyage of the Mind” boat contest sponsored by GAM. The Fine Arts Academy is established. Nancy Pate is elected as president.
1995
A mandatory certification endorsement becomes effective September 1, 1995. Middle School and Creativity Task Forces appointed. GAM sponsors writing contest for students. The State Conference is held at Tan-Tar-A with speakers including Dr. Thomas Hoerr, Dr. Nicholas Colangelo, Dr. Sally Walker and Dr. Robert Hayduk. Peggy Higginbottom is re-elected as president.
1994
The State Conference is held at Tan-Tar-A with speakers including Susan Winebrenner, Dr. Carol Tomlinson, Larry Shles, Carolyn Lesser, and Nancy Johnson. GAMbit sponsors writing contest for students. GAM also has Logo contest. Peggy Higginbottom is elected as president.
1993
The State Conference is held at Tan-Tar-A with speakers including George Obermeier and Nancy Johnson. There is a “family special” the first day of the conference. Graduate credit is offered for conference attendees. Books to publish and Math task force started. Mary Kay Farrow is re-elected as president.
1992
Dede Smith Memorial Scholarship Fund is established. The State Conference is held at Tan-Tar-A with speakers including Dr. Susan Baum, Dr. Barbara Lewis, and Dr. Susanne Richert. GAM welcomes David Welch as Missouri’s new State Director of Gifted. Mary Kay Farrow is re-elected as president.
1991
GAM successfully lobbies to leave funding for gifted education in Foundation Formula. (This means that specific money is earmarked for gifted.) A video lending library is established. DESE guidelines for gifted programs modified as recommended by GAM. Secondary Programs Task Force hosts workshop. NAGC Convention to be held in KC with assistance from GAM members on local planning committee. Mary Kay Farrow is elected as president.
1990
State Board of Education adopts certification standards for teachers of the gifted. Gifted Education Week proclaimed by Governor John Ashcroft in a ceremony at the capitol attended by more than 1,000 gifted students, teachers and parents. The State Conference is held at Tan-Tar-A with speakers including Dr. Sylvia Rimm, Steven Caney, Dr. K. Medford Moreland and Joy Wayman. GAM publishes Supporting the Gifted Reader. Parent Network and Corporate Liaison committees are authorized. Sara Lampe is elected as president.
1989
GAM publishes Country Connections, created by the task force on Rural, Non-Public and Alternative programs. GAM members are appointed to a state committee reviewing certification standards for teachers of the gifted. Task forces on Secondary Education and DESE Guidelines Review are created. The State Conference is held at Tan-Tar-A with keynote speaker Dr. James Delisle. Dr. Carolyn Cooper is re-elected as president.
1988
The first Gifted Education Week in Missouri is proclaimed by Secretary of State Roy Blunt. Legislation will provide 75% state funding for gifted programs instead of 50% (lobbied for by GAM). The State Conference is held at Tan-TarA with speakers including Dr. Robert Sternberg, Roseanne Bentley and Dr. Joyce Van Tassel-Baska. Dr. Carolyn Cooper is elected as president.
1987
GAM publishes The Counselor and Gifted/Talented Students, and The Librarian and Gifted/Talented Students, and The Handbook for New Teachers of the Gifted. State Conference is held at Tan-Tar-A with speakers including Dr. George Betts, Patricia Bruce Mitchell, and Dr. Felice Kaufmann. GAM establishes an Early Childhood Education task force. Dr. Ella Jones reelected as president.
1986
Video resource is produced – “Don’t Throw Away a Miracle” and “I Think I Have One”. Student affiliate chapter of GAM is organized with Brian Clark as president. Scholarship fund for gifted students to attend summer programs is established. State Conference is held at Tan-Tar-A with speakers including Dr. Barbara Kerr, Dr. Robert Sawyer, and Dr. Walter Barbe. Dr. Ella Jones is elected as president.
1985
Parent resources are published – Meeting the Needs of Gifted at Home and School and Young Children with Advanced Abilities. The first Missouri Scholars Academy is held at MU. The State Conference is held at Tan-Tar-A with speakers including Dr. Roger Taylor, Dr. James Kern, and Nancy Johnson. Susan Cole is elected as president.
1984
GAM sponsors first Missouri Future Problem Solving Bowl in Jefferson City. Governor Chris Bond signs funding bill authorizing funds for the Missouri Scholars Academy. The first New Teachers of Gifted workshop is held. A Task Force is created for Graduate Education/Certification. NAGC Annual Convention is held in St. Louis. Dede Smith is re-elected as president.
1983
District directors, committees and task forces are organized. First spring conferences are held in districts around the state. The Ferman Memorial Fund for the Gifted is established. GAM State Conference is held in Jefferson City with speakers including Nancy Johnson, Dr. James Webb and Dr. June Maker. Dede Smith is re-elected as President.
1982
Dede Smith is elected first President of GAM. Task Forces appointed to research a summer academy for gifted students and the feasibility of GAM sponsoring the Future Problem Solving competition in Missouri. State Conference keynote is Dr. Irving Sato.
1981
GAM is formed! Steering Committee includes Dede Smith, Delma Johnson, Dalene Bradford, Shirley King, Russ Johnson, Jolene Schultz and Bob Roach as advisor. The GAMbit is distributed statewide! GAM’s bank account opens with $31! The first annual meeting and state conference is held in Jefferson City. Conference keynote is Dr. Anne Crabbe. Dr. Dee Wyckoff is elected President.
1974
House Bill 474 establishes funding for Gifted at 50% reimbursement.
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