Elizabeth Blaetz

Head of School

It is exciting to see my vision of Vanguard Gifted Academy being realized!  The Vanguard Model is proving to offer gifted children the academic challenge and personal advancement I desired when founding the school.  Having taught in this model and now as an administrator I love seeing how empowered our gifted children become as they grow their problem solving skills and realize they can overcome life’s challenges.  Surprisingly they don’t stop there; they eagerly continue to extend their learning by developing innovative ideas that improve their process and/or final results.  Best of all, they are having fun!

Credentials & Areas of Expertise:

  • Master’s Certificate in Gifted Education – Northwestern University

  • Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instruction – National Louis University

  • Presenter: National Association for Gifted Children Conferences and Illinois Association for Gifted Children Conferences

  • Gifted Education Administrator – Vanguard Gifted Academy, Quest Academy

  • Gifted Education Teacher – Vanguard Gifted Academy, Da Vinci Academy, Quest Academy

  • Curriculum development

  • Differentiation and personalized learning

  • Blended learning and technology integration

Endorsements:

“You have attained expert status in the field of gifted education. The status is not only deserved based on your education and experience but also on your actions – you continue to educate both faculty and families on what ‘gifted education’ is and how it is delivered at Quest Academy…You have set a high bar when it comes to presenting, particularly at the Illinois Association for Gifted Children and the National Association for Gifted Children conferences.”
Ben Hebebrand
Head of School, Madison Country Day School
Former Head of School, Quest Academy

“Elizabeth is a person of integrity who takes pride in being a leader and goes that extra mile to support everyone within the school community. She has strong people skills and is someone who listens to and respects the voices and opinions of others. Elizabeth is also an excellent communicator, both orally and through the written word. Not only has she presented at the Illinois Association for Gifted Children and the National Association for Gifted Children conferences, she also developed and authored a white paper which supported best practices within math acceleration for gifted learners. Elizabeth has a strong track record of success and is a proven organizational and educational leader.”
Lisa Diones
Former Lower School Head, Quest Academy

“Elizabeth is a dedicated teacher and administrator.  She takes her job seriously but her sense of humor could get us through any day…Elizabeth has an ability to look forward, seeing paths for the school to take, she streamlined the progress reports, saving teachers time and redundancy while still giving parents a meaningful report…Elizabeth supported me in all our dealings, providing advice on how to proceed, even when it meant a change in my approach or behavior.”
Brenda Jurewicz
Teacher, Quest Academy

​”Elizabeth has not only acted as a support for my children throughout the years but also as a support for myself. Her compassion and understanding of gifted children are unparalleled. She teaches and mentors with heart and intelligence and is able to be firm while being supportive. She has a gift that cannot be taught. I wish every child could have a mentor such as her in their life. She is truly one of a kind and I will be forever grateful for all she has done for my boys!”
Aimee Detterbeck
Former Parent, Quest Academy