Founder
Katie Haydon, founder of IGNITE, is a local teacher, nationally-known writer and speaker, and a mentor to students of all ages in Ojai and around the country. A life-long learner herself, she loves to find the most creative, innovative, hands-on ways to present math, writing, history, and science to kids. She has taught second grade, Spanish, creative writing, and journalism at Monica Ros, Topa Topa, and Valley Oak Charter schools in Ojai, and creative writing in various programs in Chicago. Katie is a published author on teaching, parenting, and early foreign language instruction, and her work was recently featured in Igniting Creativity in Gifted Learners, K-6 (Corwin Press 2009), edited by Joan Franklin Smutny. A graduate of Northwestern University, Katie majored in Spanish and Latin American language, literature, and culture, and minored in economics. She also serves on the Torrance Legacy Creative Writing Awards committee for the National Association for Gifted Children.
Educational Advisors
Joan Franklin Smutny, Director and Founder of the Center for Gifted at National-Louis University in Evanston, Illinois, is one of the foremost speakers and educators in the field of gifted education today. Joan has spoken with and counseled thousands of parents of bright and talented children over the years. In addition to teaching students from kindergarten through high school in her own programs, she teaches gifted education to graduate students; presents at seminars nationwide; counsels parents and educators on the unique needs of gifted children; is membership chair for the National Association for Gifted Children; edits and advises for published books, texts, and periodicals; and is the author or editor of 15 books on gifted education and parenting gifted children. To learn more about Joan and the Center for Gifted, please visit www.centerforgifted.org.
Audrey Werner, a faculty member at Whittier College and California State University (both Fullerton and Pomona), prepares and mentors teachers at the elementary and high school levels for state certification. Prior to this role, she was an elementary and middle school teacher throughout her entire career, where she applied her training in multiple school-related areas such as: cooperative learning, clinical supervision, all areas of literacy, gifted education, and English language development. Audrey also is a member of the Board of Trustees at Clairbourn School in San Gabriel, CA; a presenter at educational conferences; and an editor of educational materials. She received her master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from Cal State University, Fullerton, and her Bachelor of Science in education is from Miami University in Ohio.
Scott Rich, Assessment Specialist at Scholastic Testing Service, Inc. (STS) in Bensenville, Illinois, is a presenter at creativity and gifted education conferences throughout the country, specializing in scoring and interpreting results of the Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking. Scott markets assessment solutions to schools and districts internationally, and he manages the company’s contractual and copyright matters. An Ohio State University alumnus, Scott received a J.D. from DePaul University. Prior to his position at STS, Scott practiced in the area of family law and domestic relations, with a concentration in adoption and custody litigation. Scott donates his time as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) to advocate for the best interest of abused and neglected children within the juvenile justice system in Chicago. He also holds a position on the board of the Equine Therapy Association of Illinois, conducting research and training for new equine-assisted therapy programs for disabled children. For more information about Scott and STS, please visit www.ststesting.com.
