Board Members

Elaine Chesebro has three decades of experience as an educator of gifted students and a deep commitment to gifted education. She has been honored as Teacher of the Year and NJAGC Educator of the Year, and was part of the advocacy team that received the NAGC David Belin Advocacy Award. Elaine teaches, consults, and presents on gifted education and STEAM enrichment. She has served NJAGC on its Advocacy, Conference, and Website Committees and co-chairs the NJ Department of Education’s SGTEAC.

Nicole Goldsmith has been a public school educator since 1994 and has specialized in gifted education since 2008. She serves as Co–Vice President of Programs and a Professional Development Provider for the New Jersey Association for Gifted Children (NJAGC), where she oversees the annual conference and Sharefest. Nicole is a frequent presenter at state and national conferences and is the 2025 NJAGC Teacher of the Year and author of The Creative Kids Book Series.

Aidan Allman-Cooper helps oversee the annual conference and professional development. A visionary leader and dynamic speaker, he inspires others with inclusive, impactful programs and ideas that drive meaningful change in education and advocacy. Aidan is a special education teacher at a private school and the Founder of SECA Organization, an educational advocacy and consulting company he has led for six years, championing the rights of students with disabilities. He graduated summa cum laude from Kean University with a BA.

In addition to her role at NJAGC, Jennifer also serves on the Board of Directors of the National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC). She was honored with a Joint Legislative Resolution from the NJ State Legislature for her work and dedication to gifted and talented education. Jen was the NJAGC Parent of the Year in 2021 and is a recipient of the NAGC David W. Belin Advocacy Award.

With nearly 30 years of experience educating high-ability, gifted, IB, and Immersion students, Diana Bavngaard Dubey Wisniewski holds 10 teaching certificates and has been published by the College of William & Mary. A Randolph Teacher of the Year (2014) and University of New Mexico Educational Leadership Fellow, Diana advocates for students requiring additional services. She consults for Kendall & Hunt Publishers and contributed to Educating Your Gifted Child. A multilingual educator and researcher, she serves as a Trustee of the NJ Consortium of Gifted & Talented Programs and has contributed to NJAGC since 2010.

Carol Rogaski is a retired G&T teacher with a Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT), Master of Science in Educational Technology (MSET), and additional graduate-level coursework in research, statistics, and cognition.  She has served on the NJAGC Board of Trustees as Trustee, Secretary, President, and Immediate Past President. Carol currently serves as Co-VP of Membership.

Loretta Kumpf is retired from 35 years of teaching in New Jersey, 26 in Gifted Education. She has received the NJAGC Hall of Fame, NJAGC Educator of the Year, and the Governor’s Teacher Recognition Awards. Mrs. Kumpf holds a graduate certificate in Gifted Education from Rutgers University. She has served on the NJAGC Executive Board for 30 years. Currently, as Vice President of Publications, she edits the Promise Newsletter, which contains articles of interest to the gifted education community. She is also a member of several committees and is passionate about supporting G&T teachers and parents of gifted children.

Kate Dormann is a passionate advocate for gifted and twice-exceptional (2E) learners, with more than 12 years of experience as a gifted educator and personal experience as a 2E mom of 2E children. She is committed to helping gifted learners feel understood, supported, and empowered to thrive.

A recipient of Teacher of the Year, NJAGC Educator of the Year, and the NJ Science Teachers’ Impact Award, Kate currently teaches K–7 gifted education in Orange, New Jersey. She currently serves as Secretary of the New Jersey Association for Gifted Children and has presented at NSTA, NJSTA, and NJAGC conferences on best practices for gifted and 2E learners.

Through teaching, advocacy, and professional learning, Kate champions inclusive, responsive approaches that recognize both the strengths and challenges of gifted students.

Amanda LeeMasci is a parent of three twice-exceptional boys. She is also an engineer/project manager for a large midstream company. Amanda joined NJAGC when her middle son was in elementary school and was acting out because he was bored. Having 3 kids who love to learn, she was seeking out support and ideas to help them continue to learn and grow. Amanda serves on the board as the Treasurer.

Connie Drakeobrien is the founder of Drakeobrien Consulting Services, partnering with families and educational systems to support gifted learners, including those who are twice-exceptional and underrepresented. Holding a UConn M.A. in educational psychology and a Franklin Pierce B.A., she is currently a doctoral student at Elmbridge University, formerly Bridges Graduate School for Cognitive Diversity. She teaches adult and youth ESL worldwide and is active in NJAGC and NAGC committees.

Mary Ann Clark is an educational leader with 24 years of experience in public education, specializing in gifted education, instructional leadership, technology integration, and student-centered innovation. She has served as an assistant principal, intervention and referral coordinator, HIB specialist, and teacher mentor. Mary Ann serves on the NJAGC Board to advocate for challenging, creative, and equitable opportunities for advanced learners. She also designs engaging STEM experiences for children.

Erica Azar is a gifted education teacher in Woodbridge Township, NJ, specializing in enrichment and exceptionally gifted math programming. She earned her undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Connecticut, holds a Supervisor Certificate, and is pursuing her Principal Certification at Rowan University. An NJAGC Board member since 2016, Erica enjoys serving on the Conference Committee and coordinating the Student Contests. She also loves parades and has appeared on the news discussing local celebrations.

Chelsea Clarke is a K–6 Gifted & Talented educator in the Roseland School District, Chair of the Essex County Gifted & Talented Steering Committee, and the 2023 NJAGC Gifted Teacher of the Year. She is passionate about advancing equitable gifted education through advocacy, professional learning, and family engagement, including co-leading the NJAGC Parent & Family Group with Caron Howick. Chelsea serves on the NJAGC Board to strengthen gifted education and foster collaboration among educators and families across New Jersey.

Lenore Cortina has been involved in gifted education for over 40 years as a parent, advocate, general education teacher, teacher of the gifted, school administrator, consultant, and Faculty Coordinator of the Gifted Education Certificate Program, Graduate School of Education, Rutgers University. Dr. Cortina is currently retired and serves as a Trustee on the Board of the New Jersey Association for Gifted Children.

Melissa Hill is the Gifted & Talented Teacher and Program Coordinator in the Cedar Grove Public Schools with more than 20 years of experience in gifted education. She also serves on NJAGC’s Professional Development Committee and as Historian for the Essex County Steering Committee for Gifted & Talented Education. Melissa is passionate about preparing educators to recognize, challenge, and support gifted learners through meaningful professional learning. She serves on the NJAGC’s Board to advance advocacy, collaboration, and high-quality gifted education opportunities for students across New Jersey.

Caron Howick serves as Co-Chair of the Parent & Family Committee of the New Jersey Association for Gifted Children, and also as a Trustee. She came to this work through learning to advocate for her own children’s needs, and serves on the NJAGC Board to ensure that gifted and twice-exceptional students are understood and supported. She truly enjoys helping other parents and families navigate this journey.

Sandra Jung is a thrice-exceptional individual who brings a unique, neurodivergent perspective to the NJAGC Board. A homeschooling parent, she prides herself on having developed a strength-based, interdisciplinary curriculum that empowers unique differences. Sandra similarly leverages her innovative problem-solving skills as a member of the NJAGC Publications Team and the organization’s G-Suite Administrator. Her passion is fueled by a desire to enact meaningful change for generations to come.

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Karen Machuca is an experienced Principal overseeing the K-7 Gifted and Talented program in the Orange School District. She is currently an NJAGC trustee and has held NJAGC positions of Co-VP of Membership, Co-VP of Publications, and Secretary. Karen believes that it is essential that, as an administrator, it is her responsibility (and passion) to ensure that her students are seen, valued, and appreciated for their giftedness.

Allison Carrozzi Park is a Professor of ESL and Doctoral Student specializing in Cognitive Diversity. She serves as NJAGC’s Social Media Coordinator and on the NAGC 2e Network Leadership Team. An NYU Honors Scholar, Allison holds degrees in Childhood Education, Special Education, and a Master’s in TESOL. She is an ambassador for BluePath Service Dogs and the author of the children’s book, “Z is for Superhero!” Her work seamlessly bridges advocacy and academia to support diverse learners and their families.

Ali Welch oversees Gifted as Supervisor of Curriculum & Instruction for PreK to Grade 5 in Middlesex Borough Public Schools. Since joining the world of gifted in 2022, Ali has worked tirelessly to help create equitable identification processes and representative of the ethnicities within the district. She works to ensure fidelity to an MTSS model, using data to justify support for all students across the three tiers.  Within NJAGC, she serves as a trustee on the Conference and Professional Development committees.