The Gifted LearningLinks administrative team works collaboratively to ensure that students and instructors all enjoy a superlative online learning experience.
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| Randee Blair |
| Associate Director, Center for Talent Development |
| Having spent 30 years in Evanston/Skokie School District 65 as a teacher and curriculum coordinator for math and gifted education, Blair is well equipped for her role as associate director of Center for Talent Development’s Saturday Enrichment Program and Gifted LearningLinks. She is an esteemed conference speaker, having presented at the National Association for Gifted Children and the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. She is also author of several professional development books for teachers. Today, Blair applies her expertise to enhancing the professional development of CTD instructors. She loves to witness gifted students’ creativity and enthusiasm for learning, knowing they are precursors to the innovations and accomplishments these students will produce later in life. Blair holds a master of education degree in educational leadership from National-Louis University and a bachelor of science degree in elementary education from University of Wisconsin-Madison. Blair spends baseball season watching Cubs games with her family and spends the rest of her free time working out at the gym, traveling to see her grandchildren, doing needlepoint and reading. Her book club recently celebrated its 30th anniversary, and she has been a diehard Cubs fan even longer than that! |
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| Patrick Byrd |
| Program Assistant, Gifted LearningLinks |
| As the program assistant for Gifted LearningLinks, Patrick Byrd processes applications and initiates enrollment, supports the program coordinators, and regularly communicates with parents and students regarding their GLL experience. Byrd received his BA in Music from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and his MA in Music History from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. His passion for education interweaves with his musical interests. He was a teaching assistant at UW-Madison and the Brevard Music Center, taught music elective courses to students in grades 6 through 12 at the UW-Madison Summer Music Clinic, and has tutored in a variety of settings since high school. In his free time, Byrd enjoys bicycling, disc golfing, and devising ways to further “greenify” his life. |
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| Cynthia Cho |
| Coordinator, Gifted LearningLinks |
As a coordinator for Gifted LearningLinks (GLL), Cindy Cho supports the course instructors and ensures the smooth running of the program. She has been a classroom teacher in both the lower and middle school grades and is well versed in educational technology. She has a BA in Cognitive Science/Education from Wellesley College, Wellesley, Massachusetts, a MA in Educational Technology from the Teachers College, Columbia University in New York, and a MA in Educational Administration from Rider University in Lawrenceville, New Jersey. Cho is excited by the opportunity to work at Northwestern University and to be a part of an organization with such “positive energy.” She also finds it exciting to contribute to cultivating the potential within the “future thinkers and doers for our world.” When not juggling the myriad tasks of GLL, she loves to watch NHL games, especially those of the Flyers and her new hometown Blackhawks!
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| Amy Gyarmathy |
| Program Coordinator, Saturday Enrichment Program |
| Program Coordinator, Gifted LearningLinks |
As coordinator for the Saturday Enrichment Program, Amy Gyarmathy places students into SEP courses and makes sure the classes continue to prompt rave reviews. The needs of children have always been important to Gyarmathy, from her days as an inner-city teacher until now, as she works to provide high-quality, challenging classes to the underserved gifted population. Gyarmathy joined the Center for Talent Development (CTD) after being amazed by what her own daughter learned through participation in a CTD program and relates to the challenges that parents of gifted children can face. Her respect for parents who tirelessly provide their children with opportunities is equaled only by her admiration for children who determine that seeking knowledge is a worthy pursuit. Gyarmathy holds a bachelor of science in English education from Illinois State University and is working toward a master of arts in public policy and administration at Northwestern University.
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| Sara (Sally) Macnamara |
| Department Assistant, Saturday Enrichment Program and Gifted Learning Links |
As department assistant for Center for Talent Development (CTD), Sara (“Sally”) Macnamara manages CTD’s academic evaluations for students in PreK through grade 3 and applications to the Saturday Enrichment Program (SEP) and Gifted LearningLinks. This job requires great attention to detail – making Macnamara the perfect person for the job. Whether she is scheduling appointments, greeting families, proofreading or mailing testing reports, Macnamara is organized, prompt and friendly. In addition to her work with the PreK through grade 3 academic evaluations, Macnamara processes applications and payments, answers phones and responds to general inquiries. She makes sure that office equipment and supplies are stocked and in working order, and she is the SEP point person in the Tech building at the Evanston, Illinois, location. Macnamara really enjoys her interactions with CTD parents and students, and she has a huge respect for her fellow coworkers, whom she rates in that top 5 percent -- just like CTD students!
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| Elfi Sanderson |
| Coordinator, Gifted LearningLinks |
| As program coordinator for Gifted LearningLinks, Elfi Sanderson deftly balances roles of manager, troubleshooter and counselor by applying skills developed during a long and illustrious career as an educator. Her 23 years of service as gifted coordinator at Bannockburn School District 106 in Illinois make Sanderson the perfect sounding board and adviser to parents seeking to advocate on their children’s behalf with local schools. Her experience as a teacher for 34 years gives her credibility with GLL instructors as well, and she capitalizes on this experience when she plans staff development initiatives. Sanderson is certified as an elementary teacher, special education teacher and an administrator, with a type 75 certificate. Her degrees include a master of education in educational leadership and a bachelor of arts in elementary education. She has also completed 35 hours of graduate course work in curriculum and instruction through National-Louis University. Likening teaching and working with gifted students to gardening, Sanderson enjoys nurturing students according to their individual needs, and she is always impressed by how quickly and beautifully GLL students grow! |
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| Anne Stevens |
| Coordinator, Creative Studies, Center for Talent Development |
| Instructor, Saturday Enrichment Program |
| Instructor, Gifted LearningLinks |
| Instructor, Leapfrog |
| Anne Hayden Stevens is the coordinator of our evolving Creative Studies strand and an instructor in the Saturday Enrichment, Gifted LearningLinks, and Leapfrog programs. She has a MA in Visual Studies from the University of California at Berkeley and a BFA in Printmaking and Drawing from California College of the Arts. Stevens taught for many years in the School of Art and College of the Built Environment at the University of Washington. Fifteen years of experience as an interdisciplinary arts educator has led her to advocate for arts-integration as a critical component of gifted differentiation and student success. Stevens maintains an active art practice and, in her free time, frequents estate sales for mid-century design finds. |
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