President: Dave Mendell

Dave Mendell has been an elementary school teacher in the Wallingford-Swarthmore School District for 25 years.  While his tenure as a Teacher of the Gifted began just over eight years ago, he has been studying and researching Gifted Education since the beginning of his career.  Dave encourages and challenges his students to find a balance between learning and play as a strategy to help them build a strong foundation for years of future learning.  Dave has presented at numerous conferences including PETE&C, ISTE and the International Society for Autism Research.  Dave completed his Gifted Endorsement at Millersville University and he continues to research strategies for improving equity in Gifted Education.  It is Dave’s goal to highlight the social and emotional needs of gifted learners while working to build bridges between the many stakeholders of the gifted community.

Vice-President: Tammy McDonald, PhD

Dr. Tammy McDonald is a Gifted Support Specialist and department leader in the Bethlehem Area School District in Bethlehem, PA, where she has taught for 31 years. Her degrees include a B.A. in Psychology and Elementary Education from Muhlenberg College, an M.A. in Education from Kutztown University, and a M.S. in Educational Technology from Wilkes University. She also received her PhD in Human Development with an emphasis in Strategic Leadership and Academic Systems from Marywood University. Dr. McDonald holds a K-12 gifted endorsement certificate from Millersville University and a K-12 Principal Certification from Marywood University. Her areas of research interest include, but are not limited to: Gifted students, diversity/equity identification practices, social/emotional learning, and supporting gifted students in the regular education classroom. Dr. McDonald takes the lead in secondary gifted education and believes all students should have the experience of autonomy with choice as well as challenge in their education. She develops and presents professional development for gifted and regular education teachers and leads by example. LinkedIn Profile

Treasurer: Bobbi Portnoy

Bobbi Portnoy has served, among other roles, as an elementary teacher, a middle school math gifted education teacher, and a math and STEAM specialist. For the past four years, she has been an instructional coach and a math teacher for gifted and talented learners at the University Scholars Program of Pennsylvania Leadership Charter School. She holds Pennsylvania teaching certificates in elementary and middle school math education, as well as an undergraduate degree in psychology and two graduate degrees in education. Most recently, Mrs. Portnoy earned her M.Ed. in Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment from Cabrini University, presenting research in math curriculum alignment from kindergarten through twelfth grade and how the effects of gaps and overlaps on all students, particularly gifted students. Mrs. Portnoy has also served locally as a PAGE Affiliate president when her own children were younger.

Community & Affiliate Director: Deanie Gauntlett

Deanie Gauntlett resides in Exton, PA (Downingtown Area School District) with her wonderful husband, two fantastic children, and an adorable dog. She currently works for ifm efector, inc. in Malvern, PA, and has been with them for 18 years in order fulfillment. Her work has her utilizing her technical and operational skills to help ship orders and work with customers. Ms. Gauntlett’s gifted education journey began in 2004 with the birth of her son, Daniel, and then her daughter, Abby, in 2006. From an early age, her children could read and do other things other children were not doing (like memorizing six forms of the periodic table), which led Ms. Gauntlett to look for resources for her children. She soon realized her children just needed more, and luckily, she found out about a nearby PAGE conference just in time. Ms. Gauntlett walked into the PAGE conference and begged to be let in, which PAGE happily accommodated. She then founded the Downingtown Area Gifted Education Network (Downingtowngifted.org) as an affiliate chapter of PAGE in 2013 due to attending that conference. Ms. Gauntlett has been active with PAGE, attending conferences and becoming a local expert on the Gifted Individual Education Plan, often meeting with parents to help them understand what a GIEP is and how they can best partner with their school district. DAGEN also has hosted speakers and met for monthly coffees. As part of her advocacy work, Ms. Gauntlett became interested in learning how her local school board worked and ran for school board (but lost) in 2017. Also, in 2017, Ms. Gauntlett was named the PAGE Parent of the Year for her advocacy work with parents and the local school district. Ms. Gauntlett has also led workshops on GIEPs. Ms. Gauntlett enjoys volunteering her time by answering Pennsylvania parents’ questions about gifted education on social media, such as the Hoagies Gifted Discussion Facebook group. She also volunteers with her church and her kids’ school, the University Scholars Program, part of the PA Leadership Charter School. For fun, she is an avid reader and wannabe knitter. As her children transition to college, Ms. Gauntlett is excited to join the PAGE board to represent the parent perspective. She looks forward to continuing to help parents make the best decisions for their gifted children, using her hard-won knowledge and PAGE resources.

Board Member:  Lauren Almlof

Lauren Almlof is a special education teacher at Bucks County Technical High School, where she founded and leads gifted programming within a comprehensive career and technical education setting. She designs equitable services for high-ability learners pursuing technical and applied pathways, challenging traditional models of gifted education.  Her work centers on social-emotional learning and the identification of non-traditional and twice-exceptional learners. Lauren holds advanced degrees in education and transformative leadership as well as her Gifted Endorsement.

Outside of work, Lauren is passionate about yoga, loves reading, gardening, kayaking, hiking, and spending time with her husband and children.

Board Member: Bronwyn Korchnak

Bronwyn Korchnak earned her bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from Seton Hill College in 1996 and worked in environmental R&D before returning to Seton Hill and earning a teaching certificate in 1999.  That same year Bronwyn started teaching at Seton LaSalle High School in Pittsburgh.  She had a wonderful mentor who helped me learn and grow in my first few years of teaching. In the fall of 2002, she started teaching at Hopewell Senior High and has been there ever since.  In 2012 Bronwyn took over the gifted department for grades 9-12 and her world was flipped upside down.  Bronwyn’s son was 5 years old then and identified as gifted within months of this job shift.  She dove headfirst into the world of giftedness and hasn’t looked back since.  She has her PA Endorsement and Gifted certificate through Millersville University.

Bronwyn has been active within PAGE presenting at various conferences since 2014.  This past spring she presented a twice-exceptional parent-2-parent night.  Her focus is on twice-exceptional students as well as the need for their social and emotional learning.  She has shared the story of her son and their journal from 5 years old to the current 16 years old and all the challenges that 2E brings. She feels, that as a parent living through it, helping her child find himself and ways to succeed through many challenges gives her great insight.  “My experiences as a mom in this area has helped me to help my students!  I encourage and challenge them in ways that are beyond the academic.  I feel the biggest thing I can do for my students is to help them advocate for themselves.”

When Bronwyn has free time she enjoys reading books dealing with 2E students and martial arts.  She am a 4th-degree black belt and master instructor of Tang Soo D and trains with both of her sons.  She loves to watch movies (often looking for the gifted lesson within), cross-stitch, and ride my motorcycle.  She looks forward to growing and expanding my knowledge and role within the gifted community through PAGE.

Board Member: Dr. Elizabeth Schucker

Board Member: Dr. Melissa Survinski

Dr. Melissa Survinski is an Enrichment Facilitator at Hampton Middle School and Hampton High School since 2017. After teaching Latin for 11 years, she transitioned to Gifted and Enrichment. Dr. Survinski holds a PhD in Instructional Management and Leadership from Robert Morris University, and her research focused on how different pedagogical strategies can be used to build positive teacher-student interactions. Dr. Survinski works with students of all ability levels on creative writing, research (both scientific and academic), Maker education, graphic design, theater and drama, art, math, and career research. Dr. Survinski also serves on the Institutional Review Board at Hampton High School and advises AP Research students on qualitative data analysis. She has taught several classes for the Center for Talent Development at Northwestern University. She also serves as the teacher mentor for students in grades 6-12 who participate in the Pittsburgh Regional Science & Engineering Fair. Dr. Survinski is the LIGHT Education Initiative Coordinator for her district, and she was named a LIGHT Teacher Fellow for Middle School in 2025. In partnership with the Holocaust Center of Pittsburgh and the LIGHT Education Initiative, Dr. Survinski hosts an annual Holocaust Literature Summit for students in grades 7 & 8. She serves on the administrator advisory board for the College in High School program at the University of Pittsburgh and hosts several annual gifted competitions on behalf of the Northern Area Gifted Consortium. Dr. Survinski is also a National Geographic Certified Educator and completed the Excellence in Leadership program at the Disney Institute. Dr. Survinski is currently researching hands-on approaches to civic engagement utilizing a humanitarian focused maker space in middle school. She also enjoys writing children’s literature and published her first book in 2013. For the past three years, Dr. Survinski has served as a Curricular Advisor for the Rise Up Foundation and Alane Adams Studios.

Board Member: Natalie Bowen

Natalie Bowen brings a strong background in both psychology and education to her work in gifted education. She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Loyola College in Maryland and a master’s degree in education from West Chester University and is also a Licensed Professional Counselor. After spending 13 years as a school counselor in the Interboro School District, she now serves as a Teaching & Learning Specialist at Delaware County Intermediate Unit, leading initiatives in social-emotional wellness, gifted education, school climate and culture, and amplifying student voice. Her commitment to learning and supporting gifted education includes completing PAGE’s Professionals Leading and Understanding Gifted course and serving as a member of the Pennsylvania Gifted Equity Initiative team through the JAVITS grant, reflecting her dedication to creating equitable opportunities for all learners. Outside of work, Natalie loves reading, exercising, and spending time with her husband and four children on the sports fields around Springfield, PA or at the shore in the summer months.

Board Member: Shirley Moyer

Shirley Moyer, M.Ed. is a retired education administrator who most recently served at the helm of Gifted Education for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. With decades of experience in policy development, assessment interpretation, and strategic advocacy, she has championed equitable access for gifted and twice-exceptional learners across the state. Shirley brings deep expertise in communicating complex data to families and educators and has led statewide initiatives to improve identification practices and professional development. As a PAGE board member, she is committed to advancing inclusive, evidence-based support for gifted students and their families. Based near Harrisburg, Shirley continues to advocate for excellence in advanced learner education by mentoring emerging leaders in the field, providing professional development to districts, and assisting parents to ensure advanced learners are valued, respected, supported, and receive the educational experience they deserve.

Administrative Director: Kacey Shoupe

Kacey Shoupe has served as the Administrative Director of PAGE since 2019. As the organization’s only staff member, she works alongside a dedicated volunteer board to support operations, programs, and outreach that serve families, educators, and advocates of gifted education across the state.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in Information Management from the University of Pittsburgh and is passionate about strengthening resources and connections within the gifted education community.

Kacey lives north of Pittsburgh with her husband and two identified gifted children. In her free time, she enjoys reading, crafting, and baking. She is always happy to connect with PAGE members—reach out to her at kshoupe@giftedpage.org