Rebecca McKinney, EdD, is the director of the Office of Gifted Education with the Colorado Department of Education. She holds a doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Denver. She began her career in 1997 as an elementary teacher and athletic coach. After several years in elementary classrooms, Dr. McKinney moved into teaching in an early childhood classroom, teaching three and four year olds, where her passion for strength based instruction developed. Upon leaving the classroom, she spent several years as district level coordinator, a district director, and now as a state director. A focus of Dr. McKinney’s work continues to be creating equitable, culturally responsive systems and structures that remove barriers for students. During her time as the Gifted Education Director in the largest school district in Colorado, she implemented systems that increased identification of underserved gifted learners, supported school leaders in developing equitable strength based programming for diverse learners, and facilitated professional learning for educators, leaders, and district administration. Dr. McKinney currently designs and facilitates professional development, oversees program evaluations, and provides ongoing support to district and school leaders. She has a passion for supporting educators and school leaders as they continue to grow in the ways they can support and nurture all students. Dr. McKinney presents professionally on a wide variety of topics including but not limited to change leadership, differentiation, family engagement, and instructional strategies. She is a founding partner of Rising Tide Education Consultants LLC.

Colleen Urlik, EdD, holds her doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Denver and is the Principal at Hulstrom K-8, the Adams 12 Five Star School District’s magnet school for Advanced and Gifted Learners. She has been in education since 2003 in various roles, beginning as a classroom teacher, working with traditionally marginalized students, where her passion for equity and inclusion developed. Dr. Urlik stepped out of the classroom to become an Instructional Coach, then after several years entered into school administration as an Assistant Principal and now Principal. As a K-8 Principal, she focuses on providing a safe environment for teachers and students to take risks and grow while advocating for high expectations, equity, access, and inclusion for all. Her goals include involving educators’ and students’ voice at the building and program level, working with students and community, and partnering alongside educators as they continue to learn and grow in their abilities and confidence to support all students.

Dr. Urlik acted as President for the Colorado Association for Gifted and Talented for several years. In this capacity, she stepped into nonprofit leadership, including but not limited to collaborating across the state to impact policy and legislation and supporting and organizing large scale conferences, statewide student events, and a variety of learning events for families and educators. She presents professionally on a wide variety of topics, including leadership, curriculum and instruction, differentiation, and family engagement. Dr. Urlik is a founding partner of Rising Tide Education Consultants LLC.