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Purpose and Goals:
The Parent Advocates of Gifted Education organization (PAGE) was established in the spring of 1994.
The purpose of the organization is to support the McLean County Unit 5 gifted education program at all
levels by assisting with communication and enrichment opportunities, and to provide encouragement
and support for parents through networking, special presentations, and events.
The goals of PAGE are to:
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provide activities or programs related to gifted education for students, students’ parents, teachers, and
other interested adults.
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enhance communication regarding the services provided to gifted students in the district and the
available resources.
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disseminate information on DEAP and PAGE, the parent organization to families
of newly identified students.
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organize and provide continued information to DEAP families to assist
understanding of the program and parent organization and disseminate
updated information regarding planned activities for students and families.
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provide support to teachers and other district staff in order to enhance the delivery of
program services.
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develop contacts with legislators in cooperation with other parent organizations and
the Illinois Association for Gifted Children (IAGC).
Membership:
PAGE is a volunteer organization open to any adult residing in McLean County Unit 5 who is interested
in gifted education. Participation is open to teachers as well. As a participant, you will receive a
newsletter quarterly and an invitation to participate in all PAGE activities. As a volunteer organization,
we rely on input and efforts of our members in meeting the goals we have set for ourselves. If you are
interested in volunteering, please indicate on your participant form, or contact
Donna Lutkehaus at 452-8865.
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Leadership:
Any member can participate or chair any of the established committees. Advisory Board members
include:
Director of Gifted Education: The
director of gifted education presides over any business
meetings of the membership, organizes Advisory Board meetings, helps establish goals for the year
and program ideas, acts as liaison between the School Board and the parent organization, oversees the
programs provided by the parent organization, acts as official contact for the membership and the
PAGE organization, and represents PAGE at official functions in which PAGE has an interest. The
Director works with the Secretary to submit an annual report for publication in the PAGE
newsletter. The Director is responsible for appointing members to fill vacancies, which arise.
Program Chairperson: The program chairperson organizes and coordinates the program part of the
PAGE meetings. This includes contacting and scheduling speakers, reserving room and equipment for
meetings, checking set-up and clean-up of materials used during the meeting (layout of room is handled
by district personnel), and submitting appropriate receipts for program expenses.
Secretary:
The secretary maintains all records (both current and archival), takes minutes of Advisory
Board meetings and business meetings of the membership, writes thank-you notes for speakers and
other special volunteers, gathers membership forms and submits to the volunteer responsible for
organizing the directory, and submits minutes and notes of PAGE meetings to the volunteer responsible
for the newsletter. The secretary works with the Director to develop an Annual Report which is
published in the PAGE newsletter.
Membership Liaison for Support: The Membership Liaison for Support plans and organizes support
groups which address topics that are of concern to the membership. This liaison works with the
Program Chairperson to obtain speakers and plan time for members to gather and discuss issues and
needs. This liaison also submits any information about support events or interesting information which
may be helpful to the membership.
Legislative Liaison: The Legislative Liaison keeps current on legislative issues. This liaison informs the
Advisory Board of any issues that may effect funding or the provision of gifted services. Any letter
writing campaigns or other legislative activities specified by the Advisory Board also will be directed by
the Legislative Liaison. Another responsibility will be to provide articles relating legislative news for
publication in the PAGE newsletter.
Advisory Board members will attend board meetings and business meetings of the membership. Together, they set the year’s goals, plan the calendar of meetings and events, and address any issues
that arise during the school year.
Other important volunteers include:
Newsletter Editor: The Newsletter Editor formats and edits 4 - 5 issues of the
newsletter throughout the year and any flyers needed for publicizing PAGE meetings and events.
Editor of the Directory: The Editor of the Directory compiles names, addresses, and phone numbers of
the PAGE members and organizes this information into a directory which is copied and distributed to all
PAGE members in the fall of each school year. The editor also compiles an addendum in
January/February to include the names, addresses, and phone numbers of new PAGE members.
Game Night Coordinator:
The Game Night Coordinator recruits volunteers, acts as an initial contact
between businesses and PAGE volunteers, copies information for parent packets, organizes materials,
organizes announcements for the evening, and re-collects, sorts, and returns materials to participating
businesses. The Game Night Coordinator also submits articles to the PAGE newsletter and the
Pantagraph about game night prior to and following the event.
School Liaisons: There is at least one school liaison for each school within the district. The school
liaisons are responsible for:
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contacting the school’s DEAP Lead teacher on a regular basis, providing support, and assisting with program needs of the teacher and students.
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helping to recruit and coordinate the efforts of other parents for school related
activities/projects when requested by the DEAP Lead Teacher.
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attending PAGE meetings to network with parents and Board Members.
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serving as the communication link between the school and the DEAP Organization, publicizing events, gathering surveys, sharing news or other information, answering parents’ questions if possible, or referring issues to the
Director of Gifted
Education.
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The Six Great Gripes of Gifted Kids
1. No one explains what being gifted is all about -- it’s kept a big secret.
2. The stuff we do in school is too easy, and it’s boring.
3. Kids often tease us about being smart.
4. Friends who really understand us are few and far between.
5. Parents, teachers, and even friends expect us to be perfect, to “do our best” all the time.
6. We feel too different and wish people would accept us for what we are.
You can probably add a few of your own:
1. ____________________________________________
2. ____________________________________________
3. ____________________________________________
From: The Gifted Kids Survival Guide by Judy Galbraith
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10 Tips for Talking to Teachers
Are you having a problem with a class or an assignment? Can you see room for improvement in how a
subject is being taught? Do you have a better idea for a special project or term paper? Don’t just tell
your friends. Talk to the teacher!
Many students have told us that they don’t know how to go about doing this. The following suggestions are meant to make it easier for everyone – students and teachers.
1.
Make an appointment to meet and talk. This shows the teacher you you’re serious and that you
have some understanding of his or her busy schedule. Be flexible – and don’t be late!
2. If you know other students who feel the way you do, consider going to the teacher together. There’s
strength in numbers. If a teacher hears the same thing from four or five people, he or she is more likely
to do something about it.
3. Think through what you want to say BEFORE you go into your meeting with the teacher. Write down
your questions or concerns. Make a list of the items you want to cover. You may even want to copy
your list for the teacher so both of you can look at it during your meeting.
4. Choose your words carefully. For example, instead of saying, “I hate doing reports: they’re a waste
of time,” try, “Is there some other way I could satisfy this requirement? Could I do a video instead?”
Strike the work “boring” from your vocabulary. Boring is a buzzword for teachers.
5. Don’t expect the teacher to do all the work or come up with all the answers. Be prepared to make
suggestions, offer solutions, and even recommend resource. The teacher will appreciate that you took
the initiative.
6. Be diplomatic, tactful, and respectful. Teachers have feelings, too. And they’re more likely to be
responsive if you remember that the purpose of your meeting is conversation, not confrontation.
7. Focus on what you need, not on what you think the teacher is doing wrong. The more the teacher
learns about you, the more he or she will be able to help. The more defensive the teacher feels, the
less he or she will want to help.
8. Don’t forget to listen. This may seem obvious, but many students need practice in this important
skill. The purpose of your meeting isn’t just to hear yourself talk.
9. Bring your sense of humor. Not necessarily the joke-telling sense of humor, but the one that lets you
laugh at yourself and your own misunderstandings and mistakes.
10. Finally: If your meeting isn’t the success you hoped it would be, get help from another adult – a guidance counselor, the gifted program coordinator, or another
teacher you know and trust – who is likely to support you and advocate for you. Then try again.
Taken from: “10 Tips for Talking to Teachers” by Judy Galbraith with Pamela Espeland: Free Spirit
Publishing Inc., copyright 1988. Excerpt from FREE SPIRIT: News & Views on Growing Up Gifted Vol.
2, No. 1.
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