February 4, 2021

Twice Exceptional (2e) Students Through the Lens of Distance Learning

About The Episode

What does 2e look like, and how can you best leverage the strengths and interests of your 2e child during distance learning? In today’s episode, Resilience and Engagement for Every Learner (REEL) founders and parents of 2e kids, Callie Turk and Yael Valek, share the joys and silver linings of flexible learning for 2e students.

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Guest Info

Callie Turk

Co-Founder of REEL

Callie Turk is a client of the Children’s Health Council (CHC). who provided pivotal support to her twice-exceptional daughter. Callie Turk co-founded REEL (Resilience and Engagement for Every Learner), an advocacy group supporting twice-exceptional learners by building bridges between their parents and educators in Silicon Valley. In this work, she draws on her 15-plus year career working with ed tech companies and school districts at the cutting edge of educator professional learning. Callie received her MBA from Stanford University and BS from Miami University (Ohio). She is also a doctoral student with the Bridges Graduate School of Cognitive Diversity in Education. She can be reached at callie@reelpaloalto.org.

Guest Info

Yael Valek

Co-Founder of REEL

Yael Valek co-founded REEL (Resilience and Engagement for Every Learner), an advocacy group supporting twice-exceptional learners by building bridges between their parents and educators in Silicon Valley. She has two 2e children in elementary and middle school. Yael co-founded start-ups in the parenting community and children's creativity spaces. She has served on the board and advisory committees for several education-based non-profits. Yael received her BS and MS in Computer Science from Stanford University. She can be reached at yael@reelpaloalto.org.

Show Notes

With distance and hybrid learning, parents have front row seats like never before to their children’s strengths and challenges. Has your child memorized elaborate sequences of historical events but can’t remember to turn in homework? Are they doing advanced math for fun but won’t fill out a simple worksheet for school? Does your child talk about complex topics but struggle to read at grade level? You may have a twice-exceptional (2e) child! Listen to this week’s episode to hear Callie Turk and Yael Valek, founders of Resilience and Engagement for Every Learner (REEL) and parents of 2e kids, discuss effective approaches for supporting 2e learners. Callie and Yael share strategies for building self-advocacy, communication skills and social supports while connecting with teachers to champion each child’s unique learning profile. If left unidentified or supported, twice exceptional students can be prone to anxiety, loss of self-esteem, school burnout or depression, but if properly nurtured, they can come up with solutions that others can’t see. Adds Yael, “they’re the ones changing the world.”