Boulder Valley Gifted and Talented Board Members
President, Doug Alexander, [email protected] – Doug is a sixth-grade language arts teacher in BVSD, who also has a decade’s worth of elementary teaching experience. He holds a Gifted Education Master’s degree from the University of Northern Colorado, and a Colorado TAG Specialist PK-12 endorsement. He has served as a BVSD TAG teacher leader and provides ongoing support for the district’s Advanced Academic Services department. Doug’s expertise as a classroom teacher is in differentiation and creating authentic student-centered learning experiences
Past Co-President, Kristin Kusmierek – Kristin has worked with students, faculty, administrators, and others in higher education for over 25 years. As the parent of a teenage daughter, she has also spent over a decade adapting her expertise to Pre-K-12 school environments, uncovering the parallels, differences, and challenges in those settings. She has a master’s degree from Stanford University in higher education administration and policy analysis and another from the University of Michigan in student development, support, and academic affairs. She deeply enjoys helping students explore their interests, inclinations, and opportunities at points of transitions—and exploring the wonders of learning and being.
Past Co-President, Jocelyn Gebhardt – Jocelyn has filled many roles in BVGT, from Hospitality chair to, most recently, co-President. She has worked at the Tattered Cover Book Store in Denver for 30 years. Children’s books are her passion, but she has been known to read books for adults. Her two tall sons have graduated from college and are thriving. Jocelyn received her B.S. in Psychology from St. Lawrence University in Canton, NY. She has worked with developmentally disabled adults in Montana, Maine and Massachusetts. Jocelyn is a founding board member of BVGT and is still learning a lot.
Secretary, Carol Hughes, [email protected] – Carol is a former middle school Language Arts teacher and holds a Master’s degree in Education of Linguistically Diverse Learners from the University of Northern Colorado. She is passionate about helping families and gifted children connect with the resources they need in order to advocate for themselves. Carol’s two children attend elementary school and middle school in BVSD.
Treasurer, Jen Lucchesi, [email protected] – Jen is a middle level Spanish teacher in BVSD. Though she has a degree in business and experience in accounting, she has found her passion teaching students for more than 15 years. She has Bachelor’s degrees in Spanish Language and Literature and Secondary Education as well as a Master’s degree in Educational Theory and Practice. Jen has served on BVSD’s TAG District Accountability Committee and as a teacher leader for TAG. As a teacher and a new mom, she feels it is important that TAG students and families have access to resources to help them maneuver the education system.
Founder and Special Consultant, Terry Bradley – Terry was the founding president of BVGT for its first seven years. She is currently the TAG Educational Advisor at Fairview High School, specializing in the social and emotional aspects of giftedness. She has a B.A. and Teaching Certificate from CU Boulder, and a Master’s Degree in Gifted Education from the University of Northern Colorado. Terry is the former Chair of the State Advisory Committee for Gifted and Talented and is past President of the Colorado Association of Gifted and Talented (CAGT). Her two children attended BVSD schools and graduated from the University of Colorado at Boulder.
Programming Chair, Michelle Ituratte, [email protected] – Michelle holds degrees in design and art education with over 10 years experience in the classroom at International Baccalaureate, TAG Magnet, Title One, and International schools. Her role as a mom to two gifted students is her busiest and most challenging to date. Originally from Maryland, Michelle moved to Colorado in 2001 to combine her teaching career with her love for the outdoors. Her passion for the unique social and emotional needs of gifted learners drew her to BVGT. Michelle has also served as a parent liaison to her children’s school.
Membership Chair, Janine Frank, [email protected] – Janine holds a Master’s degree in Journalism from CU Boulder She works as a copywriter and local freelance writer and editor. Janine has two teenage boys who have opened her eyes to the unique and special needs of the gifted population. She spent two years as BVGT’s Programming Chair and now looks forward to helping the organization grow so it may continue to help inform and empower parents, educators, and students in our community.
Communications Chair – Tricia Carpenter, [email protected] – Tricia has been actively involved with Talented and Gifted Education since moving to Boulder Valley in 1999. She has worked as a middle school technology and math teacher, a TAG Educational Advisor, and an ACT/SAT tutor. Tricia has a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science and Master’s degree in Secondary Math Education from Stanford University. She currently has children in high school, middle school, and elementary school in BVSD.
Parent Liaison Coordinators, Tricia Carpenter & Deb Darnell, [email protected] – See Tricia’s profile above.
At-Large Community, Catherine Zakoian, MA, LPC, NCC – Catherine is a Boulder-based counselor and education and organizational development consultant in private practice. She is deeply experienced in serving gifted and profoundly gifted children, teens, adults, schools, and entrepreneurial organizations. Prior to her graduate work in counseling psychology, Catherine directed human resources and production management operations for iconic, privately held, creative businesses. Catherine is also an affiliate counselor with Gifted Development Center. www.catherinezakoian.com
At-Large Community, Ed Porritt, [email protected] –Ed has a Master’s Degree in Education and is pleased to serve for his second time on the BVGT Board. As principal and teacher, endorsed in Gifted and Special Education, Ed has devoted his career to serving struggling students. His true passion is first identifying then developing comprehensive services for GT/2e students, particularly among underserved populations. He has spent most of his 30-year career developing and operating programs and schools for uniquely abled students in a variety of public and indepedent settings. A native and 50-year resident of Boulder, he now lives in Jefferson County.
At-Large BVSD, Maia Jourgensen – Maia is the Director of Student Success in Boulder Valley School District.