Barbara Poyneer

Barbara had her first contact with gifted education 44 years ago when her oldest daughter’s kindergarten teacher recommended Laura enter the gifted program in the Kent school district. At that time she knew nothing about giftedness or gifted education programs. She’s since learned a lot about both and in one way or another has been involved in advocacy for them since that time, becoming Treasurer of the Coalition in 1999. 

She has seen the year the Governor tried (and failed) to defund the then voluntary program and the wonderful year Highly Capable became part of basic education and required in every district in the state. She has worked actively for the passage of legislation to improve the program and secure adequate funding.