IAGC BOARD OF DIRECTORS2026
About our Board Members:  Diana Rea - President Diana Rea is currently the Superintendent for Du Quoin Community Unit Schools, District 300. She also served the district as Director of Instructional Services/ principal from 2014 - 2021, and was awarded the Elementary Principal of the Year - Egyptian Region in 2020. She is a successful grant writer, designing unique opportunities for students in K-12 surrounding STEM education and enrichment avenues. She served in a previous district as the coordinator for gifted programming, expanding programming and acceleration options to meet the unique needs of gifted and talented students from diverse areas and backgrounds. Her experience includes teaching gifted in Mississippi, Georgia and Illinois. Mrs. Rea has a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Southern Illinois University, a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from Eastern Illinois University, and an Education Specialist in Curriculum and Instruction with an area of focus in Gifted Education from the University of Virginia. She holds the gifted teacher and gifted specialist endorsements. She served as an Illinois State Board of Education Gifted Advisory Council board member from 2013-2019. Mrs. Rea has presented at several conference including the IAGC, ESSA, NCLB, and IRC conferences. She is passionate about advancing gifted programming through professional development for educators, administrators and families in the areas of programming, differentiated instruction and social-emotional learning. (Term Concludes 12.31.27)
Yvette Stahl - President Elect Yvette Stahl is currently the Executive Director of Learning & Teaching for CUSD 303 St. Charles, after 15 years as an educator and over 7 years as a Gifted Program Teacher and Gifted Program Coordinator. She actively participated as a member of the District 303 contract negotiation team 2021-2023 and has been a long-standing member of the MTSS committee in District 303. She has co-authored and taught district-wide professional learning courses, and facilitated professional learning in large and small groups. She currently focuses on improvement planning around Accelerated Placement throughout our system, including AP, Acceleration, Whole-Grade Acceleration and Academically Talented/Gifted Curriculum implementation. Her education includes a Master of Education: Curriculum, Technology and Education Reform from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; a Certificate of Advance Study in Educational Leadership, Administration and Supervision and she is currently working towards a Master of Educational Studies/Interdisciplinary through Johns Hopkins University. (Term Concludes 12.31.27)
Pam Shaw also serves as co-chair of the Illinois Association for Gifted Children's Policy and Advocacy Committee. She is the Director of K-12 Quality Assurance for Quality Matters (QM), the global organization leading quality assurance in online and innovative digital teaching and learning environments. As the parent of two twice exceptional young adults, she has navigated the advocacy process from both the gifted and special education perspectives. She serves as the Treasurer of the Chicago Gifted Community Center, which facilitates educational and emotional support for gifted children and their families. Pam is the Vice President of the Fremont District 79 Board of Education and a member of the FSD79 Policy Committee and Handbook Committee. She holds a M.Ed. in special education with an emphasis on gifted education from the University of Missouri. (Term concludes 12.31.27)
Fabiola Alexander - Treasurer Fabiola Alexander is currently a Bilingual Interventionist, at Nicholson Elementary School, West Aurora District 129 after working as a Dual Language REACH Teacher with Elmhurst School District 205 where she served as the first in the district to provide Spanish and English instruction in the REACH program, developing deep technical topics with subject-matter-experts to research, scope, and design learner-centered curricula for math and English/Spanish language arts. Additionally she served as D205 University Facilitator, providing professional learning opportunities for staff and sharing collective knowledge and practice to improve instruction. Her credentials inlcude: Bilingual Education Teacher License, ESL Endorsement, IL Teacher Evaluator Certification, KIDS Training. Ms. Alexander holds a Master of Arts in Education, Principal Endorsement, from Northern Illinois University (DeKalb, IL)
Deanna Markos - Secretary
Deanna Markos is currently an Advanced 8th grade English teacher at McClure Junior High- District 101. Previously, Ms Markos was a Talent Development teacher for 2 years with D102. Deanna serves on the IAGC Advocacy committee as well as the Conference Planning committee as a social media liaison. Previously, Deanna acted as an Advanced Learning Coordinator and Instructor for a private school in Elmhurst for four years, taught high school English and Debate for eight years, and instructed creative drama classes at the Children's Theater of Western Springs (IL) for 17 years.
An Illinois certified K-12 teacher, Deanna holds a BS in Secondary Communications Education from Miami University (OH), an Elementary Certificate from Columbia College Chicago, and a Masters in Administration (G/T concentration) with principal licensure from the University of Cincinnati. (Term Concludes 12.31.27) BOARD MEMBERS AT-LARGE
Denise Kuchta Denise Kuchta is the Coordinator for Gifted, as well as the Mathematics Instructional Coach at Queen Bee School District 16, where she re-established the gifted program in 2015-2016. Throughout her career, she has worked closely with students in grades 3-8, specializing in mathematics, gifted education and acceleration for math and English/Language Arts, and special education and interventions. Denise serves on the Board of Directors for the Illinois Association for Gifted Children, and is the Secretary of the organization. She has served on the Social/Emotional Committee as well as the Networking Committee for several years. She also recently served as the chair of the IAGC Leadership Retirement Committee. Her passion in gifted education stems from life-long giftedness and the unique path students will take from the K-8 system to high school and into adulthood. She is committed to the needs of underrepresented learners and providing opportunities that facilitate life goals. She is also an advocate for educating the parents of gifted children – as well as parental involvement in education. Denise has a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education with endorsements in Mathematics, History, Language arts, and Middle school Teaching from Western Illinois University. She has a Master’s Degree in Administrative Leadership (Type 75) and an endorsement in Gifted Education from Aurora University. (Term concludes 12.31.2026)
Throughout my career as a gifted educator in Illinois, I have participated in various IAGC events. Together with my colleagues, I served on the social-emotional committee and was successful in hosting a parent symposium for families of gifted learners in the northwest suburbs. I have also presented at the IAGC conference on differentiating the Common Core standards for gifted readers and effective student-led goal-setting. In my current role, I’ve enjoyed the opportunity to learn and support others through the Coordinators Connect and Collaborate group. Most recently, I’ve reconnected with the education committee and am looking forward to continuing to support their efforts and initiatives. Career Highlights, Education, Activities, and Awards I received a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education and a Master's degree in Exceptional Student Education (focus on Gifted and Talented) from Florida State University, as well as a Master's in Educational Leadership from Concordia University. (Term concludes 12.31.2026)
Dr. Evan Glazer serves as President of the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy bringing a wealth of education experience at both the secondary and university levels. A native of Illinois, he has deep experience leading high performing, specialized secondary STEM schools with rigorous academic programs, including Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology and Roanoke Valley Governor’s School for Science and Technology. Prior to joining IMSA, Evan served as Head of School for Avenues: The World School in New York. Before Avenues, he served more than ten years as principal of Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJHSST), a state-chartered magnet high school in Alexandria, Virginia. Dr. Glazer's earlier school leadership experience includes serving as the director of Roanoke Valley Governor’s School for Science and Technology (Roanoke, VA). He began his career in education at his alma mater, Glenbrook South High (Glenview, IL), where he taught math. Evan received his B.S. and M.S. degrees from the University of Illinois (Champaign, IL). He went on to earn a Ph.D. in instructional technology from the University of Georgia (Athens, GA). Evan has published two books, Using Internet Primary Sources to Teach Critical Thinking and Everyday Use of Mathematical Concepts: A Reference Guide. Currently leading IMSA’s strategic vision: Elevating IMSA Everywhere, which aims to create new IMSA enrichment access points for students and educators throughout the state of Illinois. (Term concludes 12.31.27)
Kenyatta Revelle is the Principal of Iles School (Gifted Magnet School Grades 1-8 and International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program Grades 1-5) in Springfield Public Schools District#186. She has 25 years of experience working as an educator of gifted children, with 14 of those years as administrator. As principal, she works collaboratively to develop and implement the International Baccalaureate (IB) primary years concept-driven program of in-depth inquiry focused on the development of the whole child as an inquirer, both in the classroom and in the world outside. Ms. Revelle is currently a member of the Illinois State Board of Education's (ISBE) Gifted Advisory Council, which discusses both proposed and signed education legislation as to its impact on gifted and talented students. In this role she often acts as a liaison between IAGC and ISBE/GAC. Along with her Education Co-Chairs she wrote and presented the IAGC Workshop "Differentiation in Practice", a four-hour professional development working with classroom teachers to design up-level instruction for advanced students. (Term concludes 12.31.28)
Jennifer Kendall
Presently in her 21st year in education, she believes all students deserve to learn something new each day, that learning should be joyful. Our students should be provided with meaningful, challenging tasks, while also receiving social emotional support. She hopes to support IAGC by providing more professional development to teachers in order to build more awareness of talent development strategies, leading to more student achievement and growth. She has attended and presented at the IAGC conference multiple times. Jennifer Kendall's education includes a B.S. Elementary Education from Indiana University and M.Ed. Reading from Loyola University Chicago. (Term concludes 12.31.28)
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Pamela Shaw - Past- President
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Lindsay Sudol
Evan Glazer 
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