Join us LIVE from NAGC25 with the Turning the PAGE Podcast, hosted by Dr. Elizabeth Schucker, featuring renowned scholar and national leader Dr. Fred A. Bonner II. This episode centers on leadership, equity, and the urgent need to expand representation in STEM education, especially through the recruitment and retention of Black male educators.

Dr. Fred A. Bonner II shares how his personal experiences and professional journey shaped his mission-driven work in education and gifted advocacy. We explore the Black Male STEM Teach (BMST), a groundbreaking $1.5 million grant-funded initiative supported by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, implemented through the ARCH-III Center and Prairie View A&M University. The BMST project is developing a framework designed to increase the number of Black male STEM teachers in public schools and strengthen pathways into the profession.

This episode also offers a leadership lens for conference attendees, as Dr. Bonner reflects on key takeaways from NAGC panels and roundtables, sharing three high-impact strategies educators can use to build their leadership capacity and find meaningful opportunities within NAGC. In the second half, listeners will be invited into action planning: how to turn those strategies into a practical leadership plan aligned with personal goals and purpose.

Whether you're a classroom teacher, administrator, researcher, or emerging leader, this episode is a must-listen conversation about belonging, representation, and building systems that truly serve all learners.

Bio:

Dr. Fred A. Bonner II

Professor and Endowed Chair

Prairie View A&M University

Cypress, Texas, United States

Fred A. Bonner II is Professor and Endowed Chair of Educational Leadership and Counseling in the Whitlowe R. Green College of Education at Prairie View A&M University. He is also the Executive Director and Chief Research Scientist of the Achievement, Research, Creativity, and High-Ability (ARCH-III) Center. Bonner is the former Samuel DeWitt Proctor Endowed Chair in the Rutgers University Graduate School of Education. He is the author of more than 100 publications and the author of Building on Resilience: Models and Frameworks of Black Male Success Across the P-20 Pipeline.

In this episode of the Turning the PAGE Podcast, we sit down with NAGC Closing Keynote Speaker Dr. Brian Housand, a nationally recognized speaker, author, and curiosity provoker who brings energy and insight to gifted education. As Program Coordinator for the Academically or Intellectually Gifted program at UNC Wilmington, Dr. Housand blends research, creativity, and a touch of whimsy to ignite new ways of thinking. Whether on stage or in the classroom, he inspires educators to embrace complexity, unlock student potential, and transform learning into an exciting adventure of discovery.

Join us for an insightful conversation that offers a sneak peek into his powerful closing keynote, connected to the theme "Won't You Be My Neighbor? Creating Community and Connection in Gifted Education." Beyond his keynote, this episode explores rich, meaningful discussions about his influential work as a researcher, advocate, scholar, parent, and passionate educator. Tune in to hear how Dr. Housand is shaping gifted education by fostering community, nurturing connection, and championing impactful advocacy.

Sessions: https://nagc25.eventscribe.net/searchGlobal.asp

In this episode of the Turning the PAGE Podcast, we sit down with the NAGC Closing Keynote Speakers, Dr. Corey Gray and Dr. Keishana Barnes, alongside NAGC President Dr. Catherine Little and Director of Content and Learning Lacy Compton. Join us for an insightful conversation that offers sneak peeks into their powerful closing keynotes connecting to the theme "Won't You Be My Neighbor? Creating Community and Connection in Gifted Education." Beyond their keynotes, this episode engages in rich, meaningful conversations about their influential work as researchers, advocates, scholars, parents, and dedicated educators. Tune in to discover how they are transforming gifted education by fostering community, nurturing connection, and driving powerful advocacy efforts.

Sessions: https://nagc25.eventscribe.net/searchGlobal.asp

Corey J. Gray, Ph.D. is an educational philosopher, creativity advocate, and equity champion based in Atlanta, Georgia. He holds a Ph.D. in Gifted and Creative Education from the University of Georgia, where his research focused on culturally responsive gifted education and teacher perceptions of creativity. His work has been featured in academic and practitioner-based journals and on local, national, and international stages. Corey currently serves as an elementary educator, with experience across diverse educational settings.

Over the past 25 plus years, Dr. Keishana L. Barnes has studied and worked in the field of education. A former GATE kid, she graduated with a double major in Special Education and Child Development from Vanderbilt University, earned a master’s degree at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, and her PhD in Educational Psychology and Research at the University of Memphis. She now works as a professor teaching future teachers.