LEARN ABOUT THE 2025 CANDIDATES

About our Board Members:

Pamela Shaw - President

Pam Shaw also serves as co-chair of the Illinois Association for Gifted Children's Policy and Advocacy Committee. She is the Senior K-12 Quality Assurance Manager for Quality Matters, 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 is currently on the board 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. She holds a M.Ed. in special education with an emphasis on gifted education from the University of Missouri. (Term concludes 12.31.25)

Diana Rea - President Elect

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 12.31.25.)

Susan Corwith - Past President

Susan Corwith is an Associate Director with Center for Talent Development (CTD) at Northwestern University. Dr. Corwith leads the Admissions & Advising, Assessment, School and Family Services, and Marketing and Communications teams at CTD. She brings to her role extensive experience in program design and evaluation, advocacy and outreach.  She received her PhD from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in educational leadership and policy analysis with an emphasis on high-quality programs for gifted students. For over 20 years Dr. Corwith has been active in the field of gifted education, working as a K-12 educator, gifted program coordinator, administrator and researcher. Dr. Corwith is also an instructor in the School of Education and Social Policy’s gifted masters and certificate programs and serves on accreditation teams for AdvancEd and CAEP. Prior to joining CTD, she was President of the Wisconsin Center for Academically Talented Youth, a nonprofit educational organization dedicated to meeting the needs of gifted students. (Term Concludes 12.31.25)

Leodis Scott - Treasurer  

Dr. Leodis Scott, Ed. D. is the Assistant Professor of Educational Leadership at DePaul University, College of Education. Dr. Scott has conducted research in the field of education. He developed a Quantitative Survey for Assessing Parent Involvement and Family Engagement at Lenart Elementary Regional Gifted Center (a Chicago Public School named as a 2020 Blue Ribbon School). Leodis has presented at IAGC regarding gifted schools at Chicago Public Schools and "Tools for Parent and Family Engagement of Gifted Students." He is an advocate for gifted children whose interests include developing educational leaders, schools, and organizations. Leodis possesses a Doctor of Education, Columbia University, Teachers College. (Term Concludes 12.31.25)

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 12.31.25)

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)

 Kenyatta Revelle 

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 19 years of experience working as an educator and administrator of gifted children. As principal, she worked 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. She has been a member of the Springfield Public Schools Gifted Program Review Committee for 14 years. She is a member of the Springfield Public Schools Equity and Cultural Diversity Committee. Kenyatta has served in several position on the Springfield Sister Cities Board and taught in Ashikaga (Springfield’s Sister City in Japan) for three years.  Kenyatta serves on the Board of the Community Foundation for the Land of Lincoln Board. She is a Committee Member on the Community Foundation for the Land of Lincoln Scholarship Committee, and was the Horace Mann Administrator of the Year Finalist in 2016 and 2019. She was the Horace Mann Educator of the Year Finalist 2004. Kenyatta has a Bachelor’s degree in English and a Masters from the University of Illinois, Springfield in Educational Administration.  (Term concludes 12.31.25)

Evan Glazer         

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)

Dr. Tara Kristoff 

Dr. Kristoff possesses a Doctorate in Education from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; ; a Juris Doctorate from The Ohio State University - College of Law; a Master of Arts in Teaching from Dominican University; and Bachelor of Arts from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Her dissertation on the Interpretation and Implementation of the Accelerated Placement Act by Illinois School District Leaders was published by the University of Illinois at Urbana – Champaign in 2021. She is licensed to practice law in Illinois as well as the federal bar.

In 2024, Dr. Tara Kristoff joined ISBE as Assistant General Counsel. Prior to that she served five years as the Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning at Rock Falls Elementary School District 13 in Rock Falls, Illinois.  As Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning, the district revamped every curricular subject to be aligned with the Illinois learning standards and to be digital focused in nature. Dr. Kristoff also created multiple sustainable systems from preschool – 8th grade that improved student learning and educator effectiveness.   

Dr. Kristoff has presented in past IAGC conferences on "The Connection of Science and ELA - The Effective Way to Differentiate and to Integrate Instruction" and she is a national conference presenter on ways to integrate science and ELA.   She is an active member of the IL ASCD, Illinois Reading Council, Illinois Science Teacher Association, and the Illinois Association for Gifted Children.  (Term concludes 12.31.25)

Lori Kim

 Lindsay Sudol

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)

Fabiola Alexander

Master of Arts in Education, Principal Endorsement, Northern Illinois University (DeKalb, IL)

Curriculum Development: Adjust the 3rd and 4th grade REACH (gifted) curriculum to fit the needs of dual language learners. Serving as the first in the district to provide Spanish and English instruction in the REACH program. Develop deep technical topics and work with subject-matter-experts to research, scope, and design learner centered curricula for math and English/Spanish language arts.Subject-Matter Expert: Serve as resource for REACH program, helping to educate both teachers and parents and identifying students who qualify for the program. Provide teacher mentorship and guidance for the creation of lesson content while promoting higher-level thinking.Distance Learning: Created hybrid-learning curriculum during 2020-2021 school year, providing instruction online and in-person simultaneously. Implemented technology to actively engage students in both areas. Teacher Leadership: Serve as D205 University Facilitator, providing professional learning opportunities for staff and sharing collective knowledge and practice to improve instruction.Bilingual Education Teacher License, ESL Endorsement, IL Teacher Evaluator Certification, KIDS Training. (Term concludes 12.31.2026)