OUR MISSION & VISION
Gifted & Quirky is committed to providing individualized Success Support Services to students
in elementary, middle, high-school, and college, as well as adults fully engaged in careers and
the everyday challenges of adult life who may face challenges related to giftedness, attention
deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism, anxiety disorder, and other diagnoses.
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Get To Know Us
Founder & CEO of Gifted & Quirky
My name is Dr. Valerie Gaye Marie Scott, and I am the founder and CEO of Gifted & Quirky,
Inc. As an educator, education administrator, and university adjunct professor, I have been
providing basic success support services to students, adults, and families for over 45 years.
After retiring from the public school system, I began conducting extensive research in autism,
specifically around highly intelligent individuals with autism and their experiences in higher
education. During that time, I also began experimenting with providing individualized academic
life coaching services to students identified as twice exceptional.
During our global Covid experience, I realized the need to pivot to a virtual platform if I wanted
to continue to serve others. After successfully providing virtual services during a two-year pilot
program, Gifted & Quirky was incorporated on 04/24/24.
Our
Story
Why Gifted & Quirky?
My grandson was diagnosed with ADHD in elementary school. He is amazingly gifted intellectually and loves advanced math and science; however, he struggles with basic executive
functioning skills like getting himself organized, getting started on a task, focusing on a task, and remaining focused on the task until it is completed. He typically understands the academic content, but he often cannot get started without some level of prompting. Prompting from his parents or his grandparents did not seem to work, so I started Gifted & Quirky just for him when he was in 8th grade.
Working with Denis E. Ordoñez Jr., our founding academic life coach, brought forth gradual improvements in my grandson’s daily functioning and academic success. We were able to support him in his transition from middle school to high school, and we continue to support him now as an 11th grader.
My grandson is intellectually gifted but also gifted
with the ability to laugh at himself and what he identifies as his nerdiness and quirkiness. As we felt the aura of giftedness and quirkiness literally emanating from our other pilot program clients, we knew instinctively what the name of our nonprofit should be.
Empowering Success Journeys
Gifted & Quirky is a dedicated non-profit organization that specializes in supporting individuals who may be called “twice exceptional” and may exhibit characteristics associated with neurodivergent conditions, including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), specific learning disabilities (SLD) such as dyslexia, sensory
challenges, such as visual or hearing impairments as well as other emotional and anxiety disorders. However, a disability diagnosis is not required to benefit from our services.
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We offer success support services to students enrolled in virtual school programs, home school programs, private school programs, and public-school programs.​
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Our academic and career support services focus on executive functioning strategies and skills such as planning, organizational skills, time management, working memory, study skills, task analysis, problem solving, emotional self-regulation, and self-advocacy.
Meet the Team
Hi there! We’re the Gifted & Quirky team—so happy to meet you! We’re here to celebrate brilliance, individuality, and all the quirks that make you uniquely you. Let’s thrive together!
Founding Vice President, Board of Directors
Secretary, Board of Directors
Secretary, Board of Directors
Treasurer, Board of Directors
Member, Board of Directors
Dr. Cortney Roberts
Emily Taylor-Snell
Ellen Kay
Dr. Janice H. Ryner
Jeff Schwartz
Services
Discover the dedicated team at Gifted & Quirky, experts in providing tailored Success Support Services.
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Our professionals specialize in guiding students through academic challenges and empowering adults in their careers and daily lives. From elementary to college students, as well as working professionals, we are here to support you every step of the way. ​
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All services are provided virtually nationwide via Zoom.
All professional service providers have master’s degrees and state certifications in their areas of
expertise. We provide parent advocacy support services for 504 Plan meetings, Response to Intervention
(RTI) meetings, initial disability evaluation meetings, and Individualized Education Program (IEP) meetings.
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Adult clients of all ages needing support with their own executive functioning challenges or
support with raising a child or grandchild with a disability may benefit from our services.
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Public, charter, and private schools may benefit from our faculty professional development services focused on researched-based classroom teaching and behavior management strategies designed to support success for students in general education classrooms with specific learning disabilities, ADHD, and autism.
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Let us help you unlock your full potential and achieve your goals.
Empowering Success Together
Ready to unlock your full potential? Schedule a FREE 15-minute consultation today with an Academic Life Coach at Gifted & Quirky! Our expert team is dedicated to helping students and professionals overcome challenges and achieve their goals. Whether you're an elementary student, a college student, or a working professional, we specialize in providing personalized Success Support Services tailored to your unique needs. Let us guide you every step of the way—reach out today to start your journey toward success!
Begin To Unlock
Your Full Potential
Today
