Beyond the Brain: How Physical Movement Helps Gifted Minds Heal and Thrive
Grades K-12 |Social & Emotional Learning and Identity | Intermediate/some experience with gifted education
Gifted students experience the world with heightened intensity. When that sensitivity collides with trauma or chronic stress, their brilliance can mask underlying dysregulation. Drawing on neuroscience and trauma research, this session explores how movement supports healing and self-regulation. Participants will learn practical, movement-based strategies that integrate mindfulness and emotional awareness to help gifted learners reconnect, regulate, and thrive.
Ginger Canaan
Region 7 Education Service Center, TX
Ginger Canaan, M.Ed. is a Gifted and Talented Specialist at Region 7 ESC and serves on the Commissioner’s Advisory Council for Gifted/Talented Students. With nearly three decades in education, she specializes in gifted programming, curriculum design, and instructional innovation, inspiring educators to create engaging, inquiry-rich learning experiences that nurture the potential of gifted and high-ability students.
Andrea Beltran Cain
Haddam-Killingworth District, C.T.
Dr. Andrea Beltran Cain, Ed.D., M.Ed., is a School Counselor and researcher specializing in trauma, movement, and cognitive development. Her work bridges neuroscience, emotional regulation, and education to create trauma-informed practices that foster resilience and academic growth. With over a decade of experience, she supports gifted and twice-exceptional learners through evidence-based strategies promoting cognitive and emotional well-being.