The Pennsylvania Association for Gifted Education (PAGE) Announces 2016 Award Recipients

Harrisburg, PA: The Pennsylvania Association for Gifted Education (PAGE) is proud to announce the 2016 recipients of their annual awards honoring individuals making an impact in gifted education. Recipients will be honored at the Second Annual PAGE Fall Conference on Friday, November 18, 2016:

2016 Innovation Award – Melissa Bilash, The Grayson School, Broomall, PA

Melissa Bilash founded The Grayson School, PA’s only independent school designed specifically for gifted learners with an “all gifted, all day” academic program. She serves on Legislative Committees for both PAGE and the National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC), and on NAGC’s Special Schools Committee. Her practice, Advocacy & Consulting for Education, has served thousands of students and their families across Pennsylvania by securing critical educational services, accommodations, tuition, and settlement funds. One of only 78 federally-trained Special Education Advocates, she has testified before Congress and met with Senators, Representatives and U.S. DOE staffers regarding best practices in gifted education. She has been awarded Special Congressional Recognition, recognized as PAGE’s 2010 Parent of the Year, and as a Philly.com 2016 Stellar Startup.

2016 Outstanding Educator – Donna Mower, North Penn School District

Donna Mower is a North Penn alumnus and graduate of Millersville University. Her career started in 1984 as a learning support teacher at North Penn; she has been teaching gifted students since 1996. Currently a middle school gifted support teacher, Donna is also the secondary gifted department chair. Donna advises the National Junior Honor Society and Academic Competition. She serves as a teacher representative on NPAGE, course advancement committee, and gifted task force. Ms. Mower is very active outside of school serving in multiple leadership roles at her church. Her family includes her husband, two sons, one daughter, two daughters-in-law and one granddaughter.

2016 Distinguished Parent – Susan Grosh Landis, Lancaster, PA

Susan Grosh Landis is a strong advocate for gifted education, through her own sons’ full-grade accelerations as well as challenging her district to strengthen and improve gifted services on behalf of all identified gifted students. Her efforts have resulted in significant growth in opportunities for gifted and talented students over the past 15 years. She brings clarity, understanding, and positive change to the issues and needs impacting high-ability learners, raising awareness on a district and community level that gifted students will not thrive if we “just leave them alone.”

About PAGE: A nonprofit advocacy organization dedicated to helping gifted learners, parents and educators. An affiliate of the National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC), since 1951, PAGE has assisted countless parents, teachers and administrators in helping Pennsylvania’s gifted learners reach their full potential. We do this through our free Helpline, our network of local affiliates, annual conferences, and effective advocacy. Working with state legislators and members of the state Department of Education, PAGE fostered the passage of Pennsylvania’s Chapter 16, Special Education for the Gifted, one of the strongest for gifted education in the nation.