Denver Public Schools Gifted and Talented staffs at least one teacher for gifted and talented services at each school in the district. Please refer to the GT Point of Contact List to find your school’s GT teacher and coordinator.
Dr. Rebecca McKinney
Director
rebecca_mckinney@dpsk12.org
Rebecca holds her doctorate in Curriculum and Teaching with a concentration in gifted education from the University of Denver and a masters degree in Special Education: Gifted and Talented from the University of Northern Colorado. She has over 20 years of experience with expertise in curriculum, instruction, early childhood education, educational leadership and gifted education. She is passionate about ensuring equity in gifted education. A Colorado native, she lives in Denver with her husband, two children, and two Shelties.
Dr. Robin Greene
Department Manager
robin_greene@dpsk12.org
Robin Greene holds her doctorate in Curriculum and Teaching with a concentration in gifted education from the University of Denver. She holds her Masters degree in Education Administration with a focus on gifted education. She is endorsed in gifted education, elementary education, and linguistically diverse education. Robin has over 18 years’ experience in education and has been an HGT teacher, GT teacher, GT Coordinator, general education teacher, and curriculum coordinator. Robin is passionate about providing equitable access to gifted education.
Dr. Ellen Honeck
Department Manager
ellen_honeck@dpsk12.org
Ellen Honeck, Ph.D., has been involved in gifted education as a classroom teacher, administrator, gifted specialist, curriculum developer, consultant, adjunct professor, and Associate Director of a gifted education institute. She is currently a member of the NAGC Board of Directors and presents at national, international and local conferences. In 2016, Ellen received President’s Award from NAGC for her dedication and work in gifted education. She is passionate about early childhood, curriculum and instructional strategies, and the whole child.
Brian Beard
Middle & High School Support
brian_beard@dpsk12.org
Brian Beard has a Bachelor’s Degree in English with an emphasis in Secondary Teaching and a Master’s Degree in Special Education with an emphasis on Gifted Education from the University of Northern Colorado. He has 16 years in 6-12 English and Language Arts classrooms having taught several classes at each grade level. He loves time in the mountains with his family. He is also the current program chair for the Global Awareness Network for the National Association for Gifted Children.
Sherri Creel
Elementary and HGT Site Support
sherri_creel@dpsk12.org
Sherri Creel has a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing from Oklahoma State University and a Master’s in Special Education with an endorsement in Secondary Math from the University of Texas at Dallas. She has worked for DPS for 30 years, 12 years in the classroom and the rest of her tenure at the Gifted Education Office. She is a 3rd degree Blackbelt in Taekwondo and has been training for 15 years. She loves to travel and hopes to spend the majority of her retirement traveling the world.
Nancy Davis
Office Support
nancy_davis@dpsk12.org
Nancy Davis joined the Gifted and Talented Department in June 2018 as Office Support. She has a varied background of Director of Operations, Office Manager and Administrative Assistant with seven years in schools. She is passionate about ensuring equity and support for all students and families. She is a Colorado Native, is fluent in Spanish and has two adorable two Shih Tzu pruppets!
Dr. Vanessa Ewing
Charter Support
vanessa_ewing@dpsk12.org
Dr. Vanessa Ewing holds degrees in educational psychology and curriculum/instruction. Her experience includes 20 years experience as an instructor in teacher education programs, serving as a teacher and principal of gifted children, and doing cognitive assessments. Vanessa works with charters in identification and programming for gifted children. She also leads classes in gifted education. She is passionate about varied educational models for student needs, twice-exceptional students, and creativity. When not working, Vanessa enjoys time with her son, traveling, and painting.
Jennifer McDonough, NCSP
Department Psychologist
jennifer_mcdonough@dpsk12.org
Minda McGurk
Activities
malinda_mcgurk@dpsk12.org
Minda has her BA in Performing Arts and her Masters in Non-Profit Management. In 2012, Minda discovered she had a highly gifted child, which became a source of education and passion. As a result, Minda joined the GT department. Minda has had the privilege of presenting at a variety of conferences on the importance of activities and their impact on education. Minda is also passionate about dance and teaches regular classes with Aurora Dance Arts and acts as stage manager/tech manager for all of their productions. She also loves spending time with her hubby, two gifted kiddos, and their dogs and ferrets!
Mark Mishou
Elementary Support
mark_mishou@dpsk12.org
Mark is completing his 24th year as an educator of gifted and talented. His focus/passion includes underrepresented populations in gifted and talented programs. He has undergraduate degrees in Kinesiology, and Business Management from Lamar University, a Masters in Gifted Studies from Mississippi University for Women, and is currently doing doctoral work at the University of Denver. He has presented gifted and talented research at conferences at the local, state, and international level. He loves to ski.
Greg Moldow
High School Support
gregory_moldow@dpsk12.org
After 18 years teaching high school English, Greg continues the nomadic journey, building GT programs for high school students at over 13 schools. When those castle drawbridges get lowered out there, he’s training students to advocate politely and gratefully for their academic needs, connecting them to professors and professionals to cultivate their curiosity, mentoring them through some underachieving fog, etc., etc. Anything to advance the cause of our youngsters. He loves to hike with family, swim, read, obsess over his cats, . . .
Stacey Pendleton
Assessment and Technology
stacey_pendleton@dpsk12.org
Stacey started working in the GT office starting in November 2016. Prior to that time, she taught history courses at the University of Colorado Denver and Metropolitan State University, while simultaneously serving as the Director of Operations for the state affiliate National History Day program. She has worked with Jeffco School’s GT program in assessments and summer enrichment programming. Stacey also serves as an RCM for DI Colorado. Outside of the office, she is an avid cinephile, concert-goer, and traveler.
Gail Stine
K-8 Support
gail_stine@dpsk12.org
Gail Stine has served as a classroom teacher, content specialist, I.B. Leader, Instructional Coach and Gifted Coordinator. She has worked in Texas, Aurora, Englewood and has now come full circle back to Denver, the district where she went to school as a child. Gail is a governor of professional development for CAEGTC. Her greatest passion is the joy of children: those she taught, her own children and her 8 grandchildren. She loves the outdoors, yoga, staying active and experiencing new adventures.
Brian Weaver
High School Support
brian_weaver2@dpsk12.org
Brian holds multiple degrees, including a Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction. He has classroom taught in grades ECE -College. Brian represents Denver’s GT Educators on the State Advisory Council, serves on The Shannon B. Jones Passion Pursuit for Creative Learning Board, and the Ridge View Academy School Board. Brian is an affiliate faculty member at the University of Denver for Teacher Education, and with Colorado Community Colleges for Communication. Brian’s passion areas include organizing dynamic opportunities for student voice and intellectual camaraderie.
