Gifted Services
Welcome to Union Park School Gifted Services
Learn more about gifted services at Union Park with the links below, or by emailing gifted specialist Lori Backsay.
Gifted services at Union Park
Our Classroom
About Mrs. Backsay
Phone: 623-445-5800
Email Mrs. Backsay
Mrs. Bacskay
My name is Lori Bacskay. This is my fifth year with DVUSD, with four years at Sonoran Foothills. A little about myself; I graduated from Arizona State University with a major in Early Childhood Education and Early Childhood Special Education. During my time as a student, I had the opportunity to work in an elementary school as a para. I was also a co-teacher for a school bullying program with the school’s resource officer. For the past three years, I have facilitated an after-school Reptile Club with The Phoenix Herpetological Sanctuary.
My family is the world to me. My husband and I live in Anthem, and we have three grown sons and four grandchildren. When we have free time, we enjoy hiking, camping, kayaking, swimming, reading, and watching football.
Gifted News & Helpful Links
Parent Seminar #8: ADHD, Anxiety, and the Gifted Child
Presenters: Dr. Laura Wingers, Founder, CENTER Psychology & Consulting/ Dr. Beth Richter, Clinical Psychologist, CENTER Psychology & Consulting
Description:
As parents, we do the best we can. But sometimes we get stuck. Particularly if we see behavior problems or emotional challenges or social difficulties or academic delays that just don’t add up. We don’t know why they’re happening. Or we’re not sure what to do about them. And we know that sometimes, with gifted children, challenges like anxiety and ADHD can be misunderstood, or misinterpreted, or responded to in ways that are not helpful.
When we understand better, we DO better. We can shift the lens through which we see the problem. And when we do that, we change our reaction. We can connect. And we can work together to solve the problem.
Join us to learn more about anxiety and ADHD in gifted children with Dr. Laura Wingers & Dr. Beth Richter of CENTER Psychology & Consulting.
Date/ Time: Thursday, December 5, 2024 (6:00 – 7:00 p.m.)
Location: ZOOM
About the Speakers:
Dr. Laura Wingers is a clinical psychologist and the founder of CENTER Psychology & Consulting, located in Scottsdale, Arizona. With a background in pediatric neuropsychology, clinical psychology, and school psychology, Dr. Wingers’ professional focus includes assessment and consultation for children and adolescents experiencing:
-highly and profoundly gifted intellect and related developmental asynchrony
-anxiety and mood disorders
-ADHD and executive function impairments
-dyslexia and other learning differences
-inflammatory processes requiring mind-body approaches to managing mood and behavior
Dr. Wingers has been honored with awards and recognition from the Arizona Psychological Association, the Arizona Psychological Foundation, and the Arizona Association of School Psychologists. She has presented at the National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC), the Arizona Association for Gifted & Talented (AAGT), Supporting Emotional Needs of the Gifted, the Arizona School Administrators Association (ASA), the International Dyslexia Association-Arizona Branch (AzIDA) and a variety of school districts and parent groups.
Dr. Beth Richter is a clinical psychologist specializing in neuropsychology and health psychology at CENTER Psychology & Consulting. Dr. Richter has a passion for helping families discover their child’s areas of strength and areas of growth in order to provide personalized and integrative recommendations on their journey towards overall well-being. Her current professional focus includes child and adolescent development; learning differences such as dyslexia, dyscalculia, and dysgraphia; other neurodevelopmental differences such as ADHD, autism spectrum, and executive function difficulties; children and families with chronic illness; and gifted intellect. She provides assessment services including comprehensive and targeted neuropsychological evaluations, as well as neurodevelopmental, psychoeducational, gifted, and school readiness assessments. Using her training and passion for health psychology, she also helps to create and deliver presentations for The Well-Being Project at CENTER. This program aims to promote awareness, increase access, and provide community and connection.