Concurrent 60 min

Supporting Gifted Minds and Hearts: Creating Effective SEL Programs in Middle School

Saturday, November 15, 2025

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM ET

Location: Convention Center, 302/303

Grade Level: 6-8

Colleen Urlik, EdD

Principal/Consultant
Adams 12 School District/Rising Tide Education
Aurora, Colorado, United States
Molly G. Gibney, MA

Assistant Principal, Hulstrom K-8
Adams 12 School District
Northglenn, Colorado, United States

Short Description: Explore how a magnet school developed a robust social-emotional learning (SEL) program tailored to gifted middle school students. Participants will learn practical strategies for addressing unique emotional needs, fostering resilience, and creating a supportive environment. Participants will receive concrete strategies, ideas, and examples to inspire similar initiatives within their own system.

Learning Objectives:

Explore how a magnet school successfully embedded social-emotional learning (SEL) practices into its curriculum to support the unique needs of gifted middle school students.
Gain actionable strategies to address challenges such as perfectionism, stress, and underachievement while fostering resilience, empathy, and self-regulation in gifted learners.
Learn how to engage families, educators, and community stakeholders in designing and sustaining a comprehensive SEL program, along with methods to measure its effectiveness over time.