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Chicago Gifted Community Center

Creating connections - Creating community

In Chicago and the suburbs            

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Amy Trujillo

Batavia

 

Member profile details

Membership level
Professional Membership
First Name
Amy
Last Name
Trujillo
Organization
Vanguard Gifted Academy
Phone
2242130087
 

Contact Data

City
Batavia
State
Illinois
 

Professional Details

Services Offered
  • School
Description of Services
Vanguard Gifted Academy is a dedicated independent school for gifted and twice-exceptional (2e) learners, serving the Far West Suburbs since its founding in 2017. Now in its 9th year, the academy utilizes a unique 'Banded' model: Band One (K–2nd grade) and Band Two (3rd–5th grade). This structure allows for fluid, ability-based instruction alongside intellectual peers rather than rigid age-based grading. Beyond our full-time daily curriculum, we serve as a regional resource hub through extensive evening and weekend outreach, including specialized STEM enrichment, competitive robotics coaching, and public festivals designed to provide community for gifted families throughout the Fox Valley.
Description of Experience with the Gifted
Vanguard Gifted Academy was founded in 2017 by Elizabeth Blaetz, who established the school’s mission after holding a Master's Certificate in Gifted Education from Northwestern University. In July 2025, Amy Trujillo took over as Head of School to lead Vanguard into its next chapter of innovation. Amy brings nearly 20 years of experience as a licensed educational leader with a Master of Science in Instructional Design & Technology. Her career is marked by high-level leadership, including serving as Past President of the Florida Association for the Gifted (FLAG) and the Florida Association of Science Teachers (FAST). Her impact in the field was recently honored by FLAG through the establishment of the "Amy Trujillo Award for Excellence in Creative Teaching." This transition ensures Vanguard’s legacy is led by a nationally recognized expert in both gifted pedagogy and STEM innovation.

About cgcc

The Chicago Gifted Community Center (CGCC) is a member-driven 501(c)(3) non-profit organization created by parents to support the intellectual and emotional growth of gifted children and their families. 

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We  are an all volunteer-based organization that relies on annual memberships from parents, professionals, and supporters to provide organizers with web site operations, a registration system, event insurance, background checks, etc. 

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info@chicagogiftedcommunity.org

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