Meet the TAG Executive Board
Co-President - Anne Rucker
president@tngifted.com
Teaching is a second career for Anne Rucker. She originally trained to be a lawyer and practiced briefly in Memphis before moving to Nashville where she taught paralegals. Anne graduate from Mississippi State University with a degree in political science and then University of Memphis where she earned a juris doctorate (J.D.). She obtained her license to teach from Aquinas College and her masters from Arkansas State University. Anne taught elementary school for 9 years in Williamson County before moving to gifted education as a gifted teacher in middle school and now at the high school level.
Co-President - Kathleen Herbert
president@tngifted.com
Kathleen Herbert resides in the Nashville area and has been a gifted education teacher in Williamson County Schools since 2000. She is also a consultant for Borenson and Associates, the developer of Hands-On Equations and Fractions Sense. Her prior experience includes work as an adjunct professor at University of South Carolina, Spartanburg, Title I and Chapter I reading and math teacher, and a classroom teacher in grades 4,5, and 6. She is married with two adult sons.
Co- President Elect - Lindsey Glass, Shelby County Schools
presidentelect@tngifted.com
Lindsey Glass has been an educator for 15 years; the last 10 years as a teacher of the gifted in Memphis City/Shelby County and Hamilton County Schools. Her passion for gifted education and teaching began when she was a second grade student in the Memphis City Schools CLUE program. In 2016 she was awarded the Jo Patterson Distinguished Service Award. Lindsey holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Education from Tennessee Technological University and graduated in 2014 with a Master’s Degree in Special Education – Gifted, Talented, and Creative from Arkansas State University.
Co- President Elect - Blair Trotz, Shelby County Schools
presidentelect@tngifted.com
Blair Trotz has been teaching for over 25 years. She teaches CLUE (gifted education) at Grahamwood Elementary in Shelby County Schools in Memphis, TN. In 2015 she was awarded TAG "Teacher of the Year" and "Teacher of the Year" for the Spark Awards, sponsored by the Memphis Rotary Club. In her spare time, she enjoys reading and cooking.
Vice President, West - Robert Uhrman
vicepresidentwest@tngifted.com
Vice President, East - OPEN Position!
Vice President, Middle - Toni Brown
vicepresidentmiddle@tngifted.com
Vice President, Middle - Toni Brown
vicepresidentmiddle@tngifted.com
Secretary - Dr. Kristy Mall, Murfreesboro City Schools
secretary@tngifted.com
Dr. Mall is a teacher in a school for gifted and high achievers and teaches during the summers in Vanderbilt's Programs for Talented Youth. She is the SENG (Supporting Emotional Needs of the Gifted) liaison for the state, and serves on the publications committee for the National Association for Gifted Children in addition to her work on the board. She presents nationwide at conferences about gifted and twice-exceptional students, and was recently selected to help work as part of the Community of Practice on the IDEA definition and rights of twice-exceptional children. She is the mother of a gifted daughter and a son that is twice-exceptional (gifted and high functioning autism) and loves advocating for and working with gifted children and their families.
Treasurer/Advocacy - Dr. Megan Parker Peters, Lipscomb University
advocacy@tngifted.com
Dr. Peters has served as a school psychologist in public schools and as a specialty psychologist at Vanderbilt University, assessing and consulting with families of intellectually gifted and twice-exceptional learners. Dr. Peters has worked with families and schools from across the country who were seeking expertise in the areas of appropriately evaluating and serving gifted learners. Currently, Dr. Peters is an Assistant Professor and the Director of Teacher Education and Assessment at Lipscomb University. She is a licensed psychologist and licensed school psychologist who has earned the designation as a Nationally Certified School Psychologist. Dr. Peters specializes in researching and assessing gifted and twice-exceptional learners. Dr. Peters has published numerous articles related to the social emotional needs of gifted learners. She also serves on the editorial board of the National Association for Gifted Children’s publication, Teaching for High Potential.
Treasurer - Eric Fecht, Vanderbilt University
treasurer@tngifted.com
Parent Liaison - Alli Finney
parentliaison@tngifted.com
Alli Finney is a former first grade teacher with a long-time passion for gifted education. When her son was born in 2004, she began the full-time job of finding creative outlets suitable for his busy mind. A resident of Williamson County, Alli joined and later Co-Chaired the WCSlink support group for parents of gifted students while also serving as a PTO President. Along with her husband and son, Alli enjoys traveling and learning about different places, people, and cultures.
Co-Past President - Lorri Whitney, Hamilton County Schools
pastpresident@tngifted.com
Co-Past President - Tara Strang, Hamilton County Schools
pastpresident@tngifted.com