About
Established in 2004Maryland Educators of Gifted Students evolved from a need among educators to unify and collaborate in maintaining and improving gifted education services for children in the state of Maryland.
The members of MEGS are able to enhance curriculum, instruction, and achievement for all students by combining efforts to provide educators with professional development, conferences, and networking opportunities.
|
Our Goals
|
Our Executive Board
Penny Zimring (she/her)
|
Rae Lymer, Ed.D. (they/them)
|
Gina Byrd, M.Ed.
|
Kristen Modes, M.Ed., NBCT (she/her)
Vice President Kristen Modes is the Content Specialist for Gifted and Differentiated Services for Charles County Public Schools. Prior to this role, she coordinated gifted/enrichment instruction programs as a school-based gifted resource teacher. Kristen offers local and national professional learning leadership in gifted instructional strategies, characteristics, social-emotional skills, equitable identification practices, acceleration, and curriculum writing. She served as a tri-chair of the 2022 Maryland State Conference on Gifted and Talented Education.
|
Debbie Blum (she/her)
Treasurer For the past eight years, Debbie Blum has served as the Coordinator of K-12 Gifted and Talented (G/T) Education for the Howard County Public School System. Prior to this role, she supported differentiated instruction and talent development programs as a school-based G/T Resource teacher for 5 years and later as a Central Office resource teacher for 8 years. Debbie has been a member of MEGS since 2006, serving as a State Conference Chair for several years and currently serving as the outgoing Treasurer.
|
Esther Gencheva (she/her)
Treasurer Elect Esther has taught Kindergarten for 9 years with Baltimore City Schools and through BCPSS has had the privilege of teaching and supporting Gifted Learners in various ways, including CTY. She completed her Masters of Ed through Johns Hopkins School of Education in 2016 and was part of Teach for America's 2014 cohort. She also has the great pleasure of being a mom to 3 sons.
|
McKenna L. Lewis, Ed.D. (she/her)
Secretary Dr. McKenna L. Lewis is a school leader at Heather Hills, a Talented and Gifted Center in Prince George's County. Dr. Lewis has served in several capacities in Baltimore and Prince George's County to include: classroom teacher, Special Education Chair, Gifted Coordinator, Assistant Principal and Principal. She is an advocate for all students, but has dedicated her research and career to championing for special populations. Dr. Lewis brings a wealth of knowledge and is proud to serve.
|
April Todd (she/her)
Member Engagement April instructs TAD (Thinking and Doing) for grades 6-8 with Wicomico County Public Schools. She has presented her unique instructional practices at NAGC and MEGS. In 2008, she was named Maryland Teacher of the Year, and she is a 2021 MEGGY Teacher of the Year recipient.
|
Carina Wells (they/them)
Advocacy Carina Wells is an Educational Associate for Baltimore City Schools. After starting teaching English Language Learners while service overseas in the Peace Corps, they returned to the States to teach Special Education in Baltimore. They now coordinate supports for Special Populations at KIPP Baltimore with a focus on gifted learners, students with disabilities, and twice exceptional students.
|