Panel Discussion – 
Navigating the School Years with a 2e Student

SOS for 2e kicks off this year with an expert 2e panel.  What do a college student, a therapist and a community activist have in common? They are all 2e!  Each member of our guest panel has navigated their way through the educational system successfully.  Come and listen to each unique story and how they cope socially, emotionally and academically through their school years.  Each guest member will introduce themselves and tell you their stories of successes and failures. What motivated them to push past their disabilities and what they each discovered after they graduated high school.  60 minutes or more will be provided to ask questions. 

Below are the specially selected panel bios for this event:

STUDENT

Sara Marie Wheeler is a recent graduate of Neuqua Valley High School in 204. Gifted with communication and invisible physical disabilities, Miss Wheeler took advantage of early graduation last school year (December) and is currently starting her second semester at College of DuPage. Teaching teachers and other school staff how to adequately prepare for and accommodate her learning needs has been challenging, and she hopes to help make the journey easier for others who share similar learning needs.

PROFESSIONAL THERAPIST

Jessica Brown-McBroom is a licensed clinical professional counselor at Centennial Counseling Center.  Jessica carries her own personal story of struggle and success as a 2e student.  Jessica received her bachelor’s in psychology from Wheaton College and returned three years later to pursue her master’s degree in clinical psychology.

COMMUNITY ACTIVIST

Newenka DuMont is a community activist championing the rights for gifted children.  Newenka is the luckiest dyslexic you could meet!  She grew up knowing that she was dumb and slow, only to discover in middle school that she was in fact quite a capable learner. She has a degree in computer engineering and worked as a management consultant for becoming an active in the gifted community.  She is the current president and a founding member of the Chicago Gifted Community Center, she is working with the Illinois Association for Gifted Children (IAGC) as a member of their board, and she is a trained SENG Parent Group master facilitator. 

Please RSVP to sosfor2e@gmail.com if you are interested in attending this event.