Each year, NJAGC looks to recognize individuals who have made outstanding contributions in the field of Gifted Education and to honor distinguished students.
2021 Teacher of the Year
Kate Dormann
Kate Dormann has been a teacher of gifted and talented learners for 6 years. Currently, she is the elementary gifted and talented science teacher at Scholars Academy in Orange, NJ where she helped write the elementary science curriculum. She earned her teaching degree from William Paterson University. She is currently working on her Gifted Ed certification through Rutgers University.
Kate believes that science should always be taught through hands-on exploration. She came across a quote once that says, “The purpose of science is not to cure us of our sense of mystery and wonder, but to constantly reinvent and reinvigorate it.” She wants her students to be fueled by their curiosity and Kate hopes to help them discover the magic of science every day.
With that in mind, Kate breeds Zebrafish in her classroom. They are excellent model organisms because their embryos are transparent. This unique characteristic allows her students to study the details of development starting from fertilization and continuing throughout development. Her classroom has frog eggs and caterpillar eggs as well. Her classroom will also be building a butterfly migration station at Scholars Academy.
Students are also working as agricultural engineers to set up a community vegetable garden at Scholars Academy as part of their urban planning unit. They have partnered with their local watershed ambassadors who have connected them with mentors. Once they return to in-person instruction, students will be working on turning an old school bus into a greenhouse with the help of civil and mechanical engineers from Stevens Institute of Technology. Kate has also reached out to career organizations to develop mentorship programs and has gotten her students free memberships to the Biomedical Engineering Society. She has also coordinated 25 virtual field trips this year for students based on their interests.
Kate’s focus is to always encourage and support students with their social and emotional needs as well as their academic needs. Growing up 2E, she struggled to thrive in learning environments. Her experiences really shaped who she is as an educator. She wants to help all of her students flourish and advocate to get each of them the learning experience they deserve which is why she became a board member for NJAGC.
She is grateful to the Orange Board of Education, Superintendent Dr. Gerald Fitzhugh II for their continued support and encouragement with providing a solid, progressive program for students in gifted education. Kate is also extremely thankful to be part of such a collaborative GT team at Scholars Academy and for the support of the principal, Mrs Karen Machuca.
To see Kate’s classroom in action, follow her on Twitter: @KateDormann.
Kate believes that science should always be taught through hands-on exploration. She came across a quote once that says, “The purpose of science is not to cure us of our sense of mystery and wonder, but to constantly reinvent and reinvigorate it.” She wants her students to be fueled by their curiosity and Kate hopes to help them discover the magic of science every day.
With that in mind, Kate breeds Zebrafish in her classroom. They are excellent model organisms because their embryos are transparent. This unique characteristic allows her students to study the details of development starting from fertilization and continuing throughout development. Her classroom has frog eggs and caterpillar eggs as well. Her classroom will also be building a butterfly migration station at Scholars Academy.
Students are also working as agricultural engineers to set up a community vegetable garden at Scholars Academy as part of their urban planning unit. They have partnered with their local watershed ambassadors who have connected them with mentors. Once they return to in-person instruction, students will be working on turning an old school bus into a greenhouse with the help of civil and mechanical engineers from Stevens Institute of Technology. Kate has also reached out to career organizations to develop mentorship programs and has gotten her students free memberships to the Biomedical Engineering Society. She has also coordinated 25 virtual field trips this year for students based on their interests.
Kate’s focus is to always encourage and support students with their social and emotional needs as well as their academic needs. Growing up 2E, she struggled to thrive in learning environments. Her experiences really shaped who she is as an educator. She wants to help all of her students flourish and advocate to get each of them the learning experience they deserve which is why she became a board member for NJAGC.
She is grateful to the Orange Board of Education, Superintendent Dr. Gerald Fitzhugh II for their continued support and encouragement with providing a solid, progressive program for students in gifted education. Kate is also extremely thankful to be part of such a collaborative GT team at Scholars Academy and for the support of the principal, Mrs Karen Machuca.
To see Kate’s classroom in action, follow her on Twitter: @KateDormann.
2021 Administrator of the Year
Denise H. Wrubel
Denise Wrubel has over 30 year experience in education as a classroom teacher and administrator. She earned her B.A. in Education and an MA in Curriculum and Instruction at Georgian Court University. She currently serves as the Supervisor of Supplemental Programs for the Holmdel Township schools.
Denise is a passionate education leader who advocates for the growth and learning of students. Denise has led workshops on many aspects of curriculum and instruction including G&T services and data driven instruction.
Denise is a passionate education leader who advocates for the growth and learning of students. Denise has led workshops on many aspects of curriculum and instruction including G&T services and data driven instruction.
2021 Parent of the Year
Jennifer Madsen
Born and raised at the Jersey shore, Jennifer Madsen has devoted the past fifteen years to raising her twice exceptional son. What began as advocating for her own child’s educational needs quickly reignited her passion and commitment to helping all children. Jennifer serves on the Board of Trustees for the New Jersey Association for Gifted Children focusing her efforts on advocacy, legislation, and relationship building. She studied Political Science at Hunter College and has worked on various policy issues and numerous electoral campaigns. It was this background that enabled her to play an instrumental role in adding important language to gifted education legislation in New Jersey and ensuring its passage into law.
Jennifer is currently working alongside the New Jersey Department of Education in implementing this new law in her position as the Identification Committee Co-Chair on the Strengthening Gifted and Talented Education Advisory Committee, with an emphasis on the need to increase equity and access for underrepresented gifted children. Jennifer was recently appointed to the National Association for Gifted Children’s Legislative and Advocacy Committee and, along with several of her NJAGC colleagues, was a recipient of the 2020 NAGC David W. Belin Advocacy Award.
Jennifer is currently working alongside the New Jersey Department of Education in implementing this new law in her position as the Identification Committee Co-Chair on the Strengthening Gifted and Talented Education Advisory Committee, with an emphasis on the need to increase equity and access for underrepresented gifted children. Jennifer was recently appointed to the National Association for Gifted Children’s Legislative and Advocacy Committee and, along with several of her NJAGC colleagues, was a recipient of the 2020 NAGC David W. Belin Advocacy Award.
2021 Distinguished Student (Grades 9-12) for Academics
Adwik Rahematpura
Adwik Rahematpura is a senior at Morris Knolls High School in Rockaway, New Jersey in the International Baccalaureate program. He was born in Germany, moved to New Jersey when he was two, then moved to Switzerland for three years of middle school, and back to New Jersey in 2017.
In high school, Adwik has participated in multiple research internships: he has conducted original medical informatics research at NJIT and has assisted on computational psychology research at Drew University. He has also assisted on microfluidics research at NJIT and is a coauthor of a resulting peer-reviewed paper.
Adwik is a member of the bioethics working group of Arthur Caplan centered around COVID-19 vaccination and public policy, and was also a part of the 2020 class of the highly prestigious New Jersey Scholars Program. Additionally, Adwik is an EMT at his local ambulance corp in Madison, NJ and volunteers at St. Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston, NJ.
Adwik's desire to make a positive impact and love for people paired with his activities that enrich his learning are preparing him as he aspires to pursue a career in medicine. Simultaneously, Adwik is very interested in foreign languages; he is fluent in speaking English, German, French, and Gujarati and hopes to learn more. He has tutored local students for French in the past, and hopes to continue to pursue his passion for languages at college.
In high school, Adwik has participated in multiple research internships: he has conducted original medical informatics research at NJIT and has assisted on computational psychology research at Drew University. He has also assisted on microfluidics research at NJIT and is a coauthor of a resulting peer-reviewed paper.
Adwik is a member of the bioethics working group of Arthur Caplan centered around COVID-19 vaccination and public policy, and was also a part of the 2020 class of the highly prestigious New Jersey Scholars Program. Additionally, Adwik is an EMT at his local ambulance corp in Madison, NJ and volunteers at St. Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston, NJ.
Adwik's desire to make a positive impact and love for people paired with his activities that enrich his learning are preparing him as he aspires to pursue a career in medicine. Simultaneously, Adwik is very interested in foreign languages; he is fluent in speaking English, German, French, and Gujarati and hopes to learn more. He has tutored local students for French in the past, and hopes to continue to pursue his passion for languages at college.
2021 Distinguished Student (Grades 9-12) for Leadership
Sabriyyah Franklin
Sabriyyah Franklin is a senior at Morris Hills High School in Rockaway, NJ. During her high school career, Sabriyyah has demonstrated leadership in more ways than one. She has been both the Secretary and President of her school's African American Culture Club since sophomore year, a Project Leader during her sophomore year, has created announcements in her school during Black History Month, has written for her school's newspaper, and has served as Vice President to the ERASE Club (Eliminate All Racism & Sexism Everywhere.)
Sabriyyah names the opportunity to research and develop a Black Studies course for students going into the next grade in the Morris Hills Regional District as her greatest accomplishment in her school's gifted program. She researched and developed the curriculum from June 2020 to November 2020, when it was approved by the Board of Education.
Outside of school, Sabriyyah has been a prominent voice on social media, spreading awareness on topics such as racism and the importance of women's rights.
After graduating in June 2021, she plans to attend a Historically Black College with a major in Social Work and a minor in Business. She hopes to continue spreading awareness on important issues of today and inspiring others to search for their voice and achieve their mission in life.
Sabriyyah names the opportunity to research and develop a Black Studies course for students going into the next grade in the Morris Hills Regional District as her greatest accomplishment in her school's gifted program. She researched and developed the curriculum from June 2020 to November 2020, when it was approved by the Board of Education.
Outside of school, Sabriyyah has been a prominent voice on social media, spreading awareness on topics such as racism and the importance of women's rights.
After graduating in June 2021, she plans to attend a Historically Black College with a major in Social Work and a minor in Business. She hopes to continue spreading awareness on important issues of today and inspiring others to search for their voice and achieve their mission in life.
2021 Distinguished Student (Grades 3-5)
Avien Abney
Avien Abney, age 10, is an honor student at Heywood Avenue Elementary School in the Township of Orange New Jersey. He plays basketball with the Jersey Angels Basketball Team. He swims competitively for Deep End Swim Club in Newark. He has won awards for playing chess with The Newark Chess Club.
Avien is an award winning author of his book that he has written and collaborated with his dad, Virgil Abney. He is currently gearing up to release his second book entitled Why Do We Fall? this April.
Avien has been named a Readers Favorite Five-Star Award Winning Author, receiving this recognition for his contribution to the literary work that he wrote at age 7 and debuted in 2019 entitled: Random Thoughts: How Reading Helped Me Make Sense of My Thinking.
Avien has been a celebrity reader for a number of schools, organizations and corporations.
Avien is an award winning author of his book that he has written and collaborated with his dad, Virgil Abney. He is currently gearing up to release his second book entitled Why Do We Fall? this April.
Avien has been named a Readers Favorite Five-Star Award Winning Author, receiving this recognition for his contribution to the literary work that he wrote at age 7 and debuted in 2019 entitled: Random Thoughts: How Reading Helped Me Make Sense of My Thinking.
Avien has been a celebrity reader for a number of schools, organizations and corporations.