Arlene R. DeVries, M.S.E.

Author of:

A Parent’s Guide to Gifted Children (iParenting Media Award Winner, Mom’s Choice Award Winner, National Best Books Award Winner, Arizona Book Award Winner, Indie Excellence Book Award Finalist)
Gifted Parent Groups: The SENG Model, 2nd Edition
Appropriate Expectations for the Gifted Child
“Pushy Parents”…Bad Rap or Necessary Role?
What Parents Should Expect for the Gifted Child: How to Make It Happen

Arlene DeVries is a frequent speaker at state, national, and international gifted conferences, where she provides practical advice and suggestions for parents and educators. Her degree in Guidance and Counseling and her nearly three decades as a consultant for the gifted/talented program with the Des Moines, Iowa, public schools have led her to a special interest in the social and emotional needs of gifted children.

DeVries has facilitated more than 75 10-week series of guided discussion groups for parents of gifted students. In these groups, parents receive insights and guidance in addressing such issues as characteristics of gifted children, motivation, discipline, stress, depression, communication of feelings, peer relations, sibling rivalry, tradition breaking, and parent relationships. She also has trained facilitators across the country to lead these SENG model parent groups.

DeVries has served as President of SENG (Supporting Emotional Needs of the Gifted) and a member of the Board of Directors of the National Association for Gifted Children, including, for many years, chair of the Parent-Community Division. A Past-President of the Iowa Talented and Gifted Association, she received its Distinguished Service Award in 2003. In 2005, she received the Drake University School of Education Distinguished Alumni Award. She currently teaches an online class for Drake titled “Social and Emotional Needs of Gifted.” At the 2009 SENG conference, she was honored with SENG’s Leadership Award for promoting social emotional needs of the gifted. DeVries also serves on the editorial boards of Roeper Review, Journal of Secondary Education, and Parenting for High Potential.

DeVries addresses parents and educators on the social and emotional needs of gifted students, living in the gifted family, quality gifted programs, what parents should expect for their gifted child, establishing parent advocacy groups, gifted education beyond the classroom, underachievement, perfectionism, stress, and friendship issues.