Leadership
2025 SENG Board of Directors
Dr. Gayle Bentley
President
Southern California
Gayle Bentley holds a doctoral degree from Bridges Graduate School of Cognitive Diversity in Education and is dedicated to supporting gifted and twice-exceptional (2e) learners. With over two decades in public education, she brings extensive practical expertise to her work. As the founder of The Bentley Center, Gayle provides vital resources and support for parents of gifted and 2e children—a mission deeply personal to her as the mother of three 2e sons.
Dr. Bentley is also an adjunct professor at Bridges Graduate School and serves on the board of the California Association for the Gifted (CAG) and as the president of Supporting Emotional Needs of the Gifted (SENG). She frequently presents at national conferences and offers professional development for educators. Additionally, she co-authored "Using Picture Books to Help Little Ones Learn About Themselves," a book that explores the importance of connection in supporting the social and emotional learning of young children.
Dr. Ciminy St. Clair
President-Elect
Pennsylvania
Dr. St. Clair earned her bachelor’s degree in Elementary and Early Childhood Education from Penn State University. She began her career teaching first grade in Virginia before joining the Norwin School District, where she has served in the gifted department for more than 20 years. During her tenure, she has held positions as both the K–4 and secondary gifted coordinator and has taught 5th Grade Social Studies and 6th Grade Global Studies.
She holds a master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction, a K–12 Gifted Endorsement, a graduate certificate/licensure in School Administration and Supervision, principal certifications in both Virginia and Pennsylvania, and a doctorate in Educational Leadership.
Dr. St. Clair is a lifetime member and immediate past president of the Pennsylvania Association for Gifted Education. She is also an active member of the National Association for Gifted Children, a Director for Supporting the Emotional Needs of the Gifted, and a Senior Fellow with Teach Plus.
She has presented locally, nationally, and internationally on a wide range of educational topics, with a particular focus on gifted education.
Dr. Lin Lim
Past President
Southern California & Texas
Lin Lim, Ph.D., MBA, holds a doctorate in Human Development Psychology with a focus on attitudes and behavior through a dynamic systems lens, and an Executive MBA specializing in ethical leadership, technology management, and marketing. She is also a certified Marshall Goldsmith Stakeholder-Centered Coach®, LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® Facilitator, World Game Practitioner, and SENG Community Group Trainer and Facilitator. A lifelong learner, Dr. Lim has additional graduate academic certificates in Brain-Targeted Teaching from Johns Hopkins University and in Twice-Exceptional Education from Bridges Graduate School.
Her interdisciplinary scholarship centers on positive, strengths-based, human-centered approaches to learning, wellbeing, and flourishing across the lifespan. Her expertise lies in translating complex research into actionable practices that support individuals, families, and organizations. A published author and sought-after speaker, Dr. Lim contributes to diverse fields, including education, parenting, early childhood development, cognitive diversity, and Asian American studies. She is a strong advocate for active volunteerism and has served in various leadership roles within gifted education nonprofits, including as Past President of SENG (Supporting Emotional Needs of the Gifted. She has held Dean, faculty, and administrative roles at Bridges Graduate School and is currently channeling her efforts into two mission-driven initiatives: the nonprofit Quark Collaboration Institute and a stealth-mode startup focused on the intersection of human-centered technology and personal growth. Her work integrates theory, research, and real-world application—building bridges across disciplines, communities, and generations. Connect with her: linkedin.com/in/linlimgoh
Dr. Kali Fedor
Secretary
Pennsylvania
Dr. Kali Fedor has been teaching for over 20 years and currently serves as an Assistant Professor at the Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania in the Department of Early Childhood Education and Exceptionality Programs. She works closely with both undergraduate and graduate students, serving as a research mentor and advisor. Her research interests focus on social-emotional learning (SEL), twice-exceptional learners, parent perspectives, social pragmatic communication disorders, and educational advocacy.
Dr. Fedor is an active leader in the field of gifted education. She currently serves as Chair of the National Association for Gifted Children’s (NAGC) Parent, Family, and Community Network and is the immediate past Chair of NAGC’s Public Policy and Advocacy Committee. She is also a past president of the Pennsylvania Association for Gifted Education (PAGE). A frequent presenter at state, national, and international conferences, Dr. Fedor has been invited to serve as both a keynote and general session speaker on topics related to gifted education and advocacy. Her teaching experience spans Maryland, Arizona, and Pennsylvania.
Dr. Nereida García-Prado
Treasurer
Southern California
Dr. Nereida García-Prado has dedicated over 25 years to advancing equity and excellence in education. She has served as a Dual Language Immersion GATE teacher, instructional coach, and district leader for the Santa Ana Unified School District, and is an adjunct professor at Pepperdine University. In her current role as TK–12 GATE Program Specialist for Santa Ana Unified, she leads systemic efforts to ensure access and representation for historically underserved gifted learners, with a specialized focus on multilingual students.
A recognized leader in the field, Dr. García-Prado brings expertise in culturally and linguistically responsive gifted education, inclusive instructional design, and family engagement. Her work empowers students, families, and educators to build thriving, emotionally supportive, and culturally responsive gifted education programs.
As a SENG board member, she is deeply committed to advancing the social and emotional needs of diverse gifted populations, amplifying the voices of families and communities, and creating pathways for equity-minded practices that honor the whole gifted child.
Maureen Montania
Officer-At-Large
Paraguay
Maureen Montania holds an MSc in Health and Clinical Psychological Sciences from Birkbeck University of London (2022), awarded through the Chevening Scholarship for emerging leaders, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Educational Psychology from Universidad Católica “Nuestra Señora de la Asunción” (2019), funded by the university’s Academic Excellence Scholarship. She is the Lab Coordinator at Aikumby, Paraguay’s first center for giftedness and creativity, and a tutor researcher on national projects funded by the Paraguayan National Council of Science and Technology (CONACYT). Additionally, she lectures at Universidad Católica and Universidad Comunera in Paraguay, serves as a peer reviewer for the Gifted & Talented International Journal, and is an Associate Editor for the Journal of the Faculty of Medical Sciences at the National University of Asunción, a co-founder of R-Ladies Asunción and the Association of Gifted Professionals of Paraguay (REDPAC). Maureen received the Princess Diana Award in 2022 for her scientific-humanitarian efforts and was honored as an Illustrious Citizen of Fernando de la Mora in 2023, receiving a tribute from the Paraguayan National Congress for her contributions to scientific research in the gifted field.
Cherin Escher
Officer-At-Large
North Texas
Born in Germany, Cherin grew up in Europe & Iran, and has lived in the US with her family for over 25 years. She holds an MA in Philosophy, Literature, and
Psychology from TU Braunschweig, Germany. She is married and has five daughters, ages 20-30.
She became interested in the mission of SENG and trained as a facilitator in 2010 to lean more deeply into understanding giftedness and how to better support parents and their gifted students in her school district. She has run SENG SMPG (SENG Model Parent Groups) & SCG GT Parent groups since.
As President of CFB-AGT (Carrollton Farmers Branch’s Association for the Gifted & Talented) from 2016-2024, Chair of the TAGT Parent Division in 2018/19, and a Texas PTA Life Member, Cherin strongly supports equity and diversity in public & gifted education. Her five gifted girls, all attended public and private schools in Germany, Spain, and Texas/CFBISD schools, where she helped maintain, support, and improve above-level learning in joint efforts with parents, teachers, school administrators, and education leaders.
Cherin serves as a SENG Community Groups Coordinator, and has been a SENG SCG Trainer since 2023. Her passion and focus lies within family, children, education & connecting people.
Melissa Marsh
Officer-At-Large
North Texas
Melissa was born in Lincoln, Nebraska. She moved to TX with her husband and has lived in TX for the past 40 years. She holds a degree in early childhood education and served as the director of a private elementary school. She taught pre-kindergarten, music, kindergarten, and 1st Grade, and then substituted for over 15 years in her local school district, primarily for the specialized gifted and talented program. She also has experience raising three gifted children, including one who is profoundly gifted and another who is twice-exceptional. Her children are now gifted adults at 37, 36, and 28 years old. With three
grandchildren, Melissa finds herself once again exploring what’s available in gifted programming for young children.
Melissa has been working with the Carrollton-Farmers Branch Association for the Gifted and Talented (C-FB AGT) – the parents’ association in her school district – for almost 30 years. She has held various positions in C-FB AGT. This organization was awarded the Parent Gifted Group of the Year in 2020 by the Texas Association for the Gifted & Talented (TAGT). On a more personal level, in 2013, Melissa and her husband were awarded the Piney Woods Area Advocate for the Gifted Award by the TAGT. She has also volunteered or been selected to serve on various school district advisory committees, including a bond committee in 2017 and a district long-term vision committee over the past several years.
Melissa has been involved with SENG for over 20 years and became a SENG SMPG Facilitator in 2008 and a SENG SCG Trainer in 2023.
Erin Levering
Office Administrator
SW Virginia
Erin Levering holds a B.S. degree in mathematics and M.A.Ed. degree in curriculum and instruction (mathematics education) from Virginia Tech. With 27 years of experience in public and private secondary schools as well as at the university level, she has worked with students across the full mathematics curriculum, from basic Algebra through BC Calculus in high school and from Quantitative Reasoning through Calculus II in college. She has also taught Teaching Mathematics for preservice teachers. She currently teaches mathematics at a private women’s university and serves as the office administrator for SENG.