AAGC Conference 2026
October 7-9
Unmasking Gifted Potential
Located in the heart of downtown Mobile, AL, this beautiful venue offers a stunning setting, top-tier amenities, and the perfect atmosphere for learning, networking, and collaboration.
Teachers, why not make the most of the conference by combining professional growth with a fun-filled trip? After an inspiring conference, extend your stay and experience the National Shrimp Festival in Gulf Shores! Make this fall break one for your family to remember—learn, connect, and relax by the coast!
Book your hotel group rate for the conference To receive the special hotel group rate, you must book your room by September 15, 2026.
Hotel Registration Here!
Registration Information
Don't miss out on our Conference Discount! Register and submit payment by September 11, 2026, to lock in the $400 rate.
Early Conference Registration: $400 (until September 11, 2026)
Onsite Registration: $450.00 Only credit cards will be accepted for onsite registration.
Past Presidents and Lifetime Achievement Awardees receive a special registration cost of $75.00. You must contact executivedirector@alabamagifted.org for the code.
Important: All early registration payments must be received by September 11, 2026. Once payments have been received NO REFUNDS will be issued after August 15, 2026.
2026 Draft Agenda
FRIDAY WORKSHOPS
(must register for the workshops)
BE SURE YOU HAVE DOWNLOADED THE WHOVA APP BEFORE THE DAY OF THE CONFERENCE
Keynote Speakers
We are thrilled to welcome an exceptional lineup of keynote speakers for this year’s Alabama Association for Gifted Children (AAGC) Conference! These leaders in gifted education, innovation, and advocacy will inspire and challenge us as we work to support gifted learners.
Brian Housand, Ph.D.
Dr. Brian Housand believes learning should always be an adventure. As Coordinator of the Academically or Intellectually Gifted Program at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, he helps educators challenge gifted learners both intellectually and emotionally. A frequent speaker at national and international conferences, Brian explores creativity, gifted education, and the power of play. His latest book, SEED: Silverquicken Episodes for Enrichment and Diagnosis, blends immersive storytelling with puzzle-based learning designed to instigate cognitive and affective growth. A longtime classroom teacher, gifted specialist, and professor, he also co-authored Using the Schoolwide Enrichment Model with Technology and wrote Fighting Fake News!. When not teaching or presenting, Brian proudly embraces his geeky passions for Star Wars, Disney, Taylor Swift, video games, and fonts. Find him at brianhousand.com or on social media @brianhousand
Have you ever met someone for the first time and just knew you were going to be friends? When we met over a decade ago, we instantly connected over our shared interests of fashion, pop culture, family, and of course teaching.
We quickly began collaborating on lesson plans and curriculum ideas. As we continued our discussions, we realized the large amount of time it takes for gifted educators to find, plan, and implement appropriately challenging and engaging lessons suitable for gifted learners. We started pulling pieces of best practices together and began writing our own curriculum units to fit the needs of our learners. This became a passion project.
Together, we have authored numerous units, one of which was awarded the Curriculum Award from the Tennessee Association for the Gifted (“Views from the Zoo,” 2021). Most recently, we have published a five-book series of Integrated Lessons in Higher Order Thinking Skills (Routledge, 2022), targeting gifted learners in the upper elementary grades.
