Welcome to the Gifted Association of Missouri’s 2026 Annual Conference! Join us October 16–17, 2026, at Lindbergh High School in St. Louis, Missouri, for this year’s conference, Adventures in Gifted Education. Designed with both gifted specialists and general education teachers in mind, this year’s conference invites you to explore practical, engaging ways to support advanced learners in every classroom.
Our adventure begins with opening keynote speaker Karen Rambo-Hernandez, who will explore the wide variability of student needs and challenge the idea that “one size fits all” in today’s classrooms. Grounded in research and real-world application, her message will resonate with anyone working to meet students where they are—especially those ready for more challenge.
We’ll close our journey with Bryan Pearlman, a nationally recognized educator and speaker known for his dynamic, inspiring approach to teaching and learning. Bryan will leave you energized with creative ideas and a renewed sense of purpose as you continue your work with students.
Throughout the conference, you’ll have opportunities to engage in sessions that offer immediately applicable strategies, fresh perspectives, and meaningful collaboration—no matter your role or experience with gifted education.
Don’t miss your chance to connect, learn, and be inspired—register early and take advantage of the discounted early bird rate of $300, available through August 3rd. After that, registration increases to $375 starting August 4th. We can’t wait to see you in St. Louis for this exciting adventure!
Parking Free parking is available at Lindbergh High School in the GREEN lot.
Hotel Information Comfort Suites St. Louis - Sunset Hills - Choice Hotels or La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham St Louis Route 66 Click on the Hotel & Meal tab for morning information!
Meals A coffee/pastry bar will be provided both Friday and Saturday. The awards luncheon on Friday will take place at Royale Orleans (2801 Telegraph Rd. 63125). A boxed lunch will be provide for attendees stay on Saturday for the GAM general meeting to occur at 1:30 pm.
“Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star (Astronomy) I know exactly what you are. A glowing ball of hot, hot gas, With so much light and so much mass!”
Nursery rhymes aren't just whimsical poems and stories for young children, they can also provide opportunities for sparking curiosity, creativity, and problem-solving skills in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education as well as social science understandings. Grown ups can lead children through STEM activities and challenges inspired by these beloved rhymes and more. Parents and educators can transform learning environments into a vibrant laboratory of exploration and discovery, where young learners can embark on engaging learning adventures while developing foundational STEM competencies.
Writing is one of the most surprising struggles for gifted learners. Despite their strengths, many resist writing, shut down under pressure, or produce far less than they're capable of. This session examines why — perfectionism, sensitivity, asynchronous development — and offers practical strategies to reduce anxiety, build motivation, and design assignments that work with gifted learners, not against them.
Founder, Bright Child Books and The Gifted Collective, Bright Child Books/The Gifted Collective
Adam C. Laningham brings more than two decades of experience in public education and a deep passion for supporting gifted and twice-exceptional learners. Recognized as Arizona Gifted Teacher of the Year, Adam has taught across multiple grade levels, developed and led innovative gifted... Read More →
Gifted learners are more than high achievers — they're complex, sensitive, and often misunderstood. This session explores asynchronous development, twice-exceptional learners, and the barriers gifted students face in the classroom. Walk away with practical strategies to support executive functioning, emotional regulation, and social development, plus tools to strengthen partnerships with families.
Founder, Bright Child Books and The Gifted Collective, Bright Child Books/The Gifted Collective
Adam C. Laningham brings more than two decades of experience in public education and a deep passion for supporting gifted and twice-exceptional learners. Recognized as Arizona Gifted Teacher of the Year, Adam has taught across multiple grade levels, developed and led innovative gifted... Read More →
How can we help gifted students move beyond completing advanced work to developing true self-awareness as learners? In this session, participants will explore practical strategies for making Gifted Learning Outcomes visible and meaningful through reflection, metacognition, and embedded social-emotional learning. Attendees will leave with student-friendly tools, reflection structures, and classroom routines that support both advanced thinking and healthy academic identity development.
Calling all high school resource teachers! This session is not a traditional "sit and get" in which we will click through our prepared slides. Instead, it is designed to be an open discussion and opportunity for high school gifted resource teachers to connect. We will focus on identifying challenges we face in facilitating these programs as well as collaborate to share ideas, practices, and potential solutions. The goal of this session is to strengthen the support our high school students receive through effective collaboration and connection. Please come with questions, ideas from your own program, and an open mind!
In the summer of 2026, gifted educators from across the state worked on the "MO-GLOs Assessment Toolbox." # educators at four sites spent # hours working on tools for Missouri's gifted educators to assess gifted learners' progress on the Missouri Gifted Learner Outcomes (MO-GLOs). The goal of the MO-GLOs Assessment Toolbox is to provide resources to assess and document student growth on the MO-GLOs. The toolbox provides sample tools that gifted education specialists can modify and adapt for their gifted program. This session will provide a sneak peak of the Toolbox.
