Programs, Events, and Activities

We encourage you to attend presentations throughout the school year. At these meetings you can expect:

  • ELP staff will give an overview of the range of ELP services at each building and will discuss new information regarding programming changes.
  • A Friends of ELP Board Member will be present to answer questions you may have about our group.

2019-20 ELP Parent Programs

Event Date Time Location
Watch for details coming soon!

Past Programs

One of the goals of our organization is to sponsor informative programs throughout the school year. Over the past few years, we’ve covered a great number of topics of interest to families of high-ability students. If you see a topic on this list that you’d like us to re-visit, please let one of our board members know.

2017-18 School Year
Navigating High School and Preparing for College (student panel) January 4, 2018 Watch video (via YouTube)
Executive Functioning: Helping Gifted Students with Planning, Organization, and Time Management March 29, 2018 View Presentation
2016-17 School Year
Gifting the Gifted: Parenting Your Exceptional Child Featured Nancy Schornack  View Outline
Navigating High School and Preparing for College January 9, 2017
Growth Mindset March 23, 2017
2015-16 School Year
Helping Children Cope with Anxiety Featured Lindsey Swan View Presentation
Where are they now? A panel of former Johnston ELP students Featured Justin Allen, Emily Betz, Josh Boeschen, Jennifer Glover Konfrst, Thomas Lashier, & William McDowell
Exceptional Educational Experiences in the JCSD Featured Chris Bergman
2014-15 School Year
Differentiation and the Teacher-Leader Grant in the JCSD Featured Matt Robie & Dr. Bruce Amendt View Robie’s Presentation
View Amendt’s Presentation
Best Practices for Parenting a High-Ability Student Featured Mary Schmidt View Presentation
Sex, Gender, and Gifted Kids: What Parents and Teachers Need to Know Featured Sally Rapp Beisser View Presentation
2013-14 School Year
Perfectionism: The Occupational Hazards of Parenting Gifted Students Featured Lisa Van Gemert View Presentation
Motivation and Underachievement: How they affect your high-ability student Featured Kathy Paul View Presentation
Play Up! Using common-sense sports analogies to encourage support for high-ability learners Featured Matt Robie View Handout
2012-13 School Year  
Guiding the Gifted Reader Featured DeDe Small & Todd Hodgkinson View Presentation
Acceleration Featured Mareen Marron View Presentation
What you need to know about academic testing Featured Sue Kline View Presentation
2011-12 School Year  
Programs and Services offered by Belin-Blank International Center for Gifted Education and Talent Development Featured Catherine Blando
The Importance of Play: From the voices of 506th Grade Gifted Students Featured Sally Beisser View Handout
The Benefits of Being in ELP Activities Featured Jessica & Rita Pray
2010-11 School Year  
Purposes and Methods of Reading Instruction Featured Chris Bergman & Annie Orsini View Presentation
Talented and Gifted Education in Iowa: Laws, Funding and Future Featured Mary Mascher, Clay Guthmiller, & Linda Moehring
Supporting the Emotional Needs of Gifted Students  Featured Sonja Mennenga