Publications & Presentations
Vanessa is a trauma-informed specialist educator working in the fields of gifted education, and child and adolescent well-being. She holds a Masters in Specialist Teaching (gifted and talented) (Distinction). Vanessa also manages the Facebook for the newly formed and growing Facebook group, Trauma Informed Network Aotearoa.
Peer-Reviewed Journals
Riley, T., Sampson, C., Wardman, J., Walker, D. (2015). Connecting like-minded learners through flexible grouping. SET, 1, 24-33.
Riley, T. & White, V. (2016). Developing a Sense of Belonging Through Engagement with Like-Minded Peers: A Matter of Equity. New Zealand Journal of Educational Studies, 51(2), 211-225.
White, V. & Riley, T. (2017). Advancing early childhood educators’ access to professional learning in gifted and talented education. NZ International Research in Early Childhood Education Journal, Special Issue: Early Childhood Teachers and their Work, 20(2), 34-49.
Riley, T. & White, V. (2016). Developing a Sense of Belonging Through Engagement with Like-Minded Peers: A Matter of Equity. New Zealand Journal of Educational Studies, 51(2), 211-225.
White, V. & Riley, T. (2017). Advancing early childhood educators’ access to professional learning in gifted and talented education. NZ International Research in Early Childhood Education Journal, Special Issue: Early Childhood Teachers and their Work, 20(2), 34-49.
Other Publications
Riley, T., White, V., Wardman, J., Sampson, C., & Walker, D. (2015). A meeting of the minds. Tall Poppies, 40(1), 24-25.
White, V. (2014). The power of the positive: Advocacy in gifted education. Tall Poppies, 39(3), 22-23.
White, V. (June, 2020). Extraordinarily abled: Complex needs, giftedness, and wellbeing.
White, V. (June, 2020). Good sports: Teaming up to support our gifted kids.
White, V. (June, 2020). Pride and joy: Wellbeing for our gifted rainbow kids.
White, V. (June, 2019). Adrift from my culture.
White, V. (2019, Dec). Battling anxiety. Tall Poppies Espresso, 15-18.
White, V. (Dec, 2019). Taking off my armour: Belonging and the awkward anxiety-provoking in-between's.
White, V. (Nov, 2019). Clowning around with octopodes and Tony Starch: The seriously humourous side of giftedness.
White, V. (Oct, 2019). Preparing to ride the crest of sea change: Transformation through learning and growth.
White, V. (Sept, 2019). Failing forward: Minimising imposter syndrome through tinkering.
White, V. (Aug, 2019). Warrior woman: Contextualising learnings from the 2019 World Council for Gifted and Talented Children (WCGTC) conference.
White, V. (May, 2019). Tackle the myths and be a legend: Gearing up for Gifted Awareness Week 2019.
White, V. (Apr, 2019). Finding a common thread: Creating collaboration in home-school partnerships.
White, V. (Mar, 2019). Authentically gifted: Gender and liminality.
White, V. (Feb, 2019). Dream big! Guiding gifted kids to envision their future, their way.
White, V. (Dec, 2018). Drawing a blank: When nothing inspires.
White, V. (Nov, 2018). Hear our voices: Gifted education and social change; equipping our gifted kids to lead change.
White, V. (Oct, 2018). Dusty hail, curiosity, and the searching bug: Helping gifted kids to develop effective research skills.
White, V. (Sept, 2018). Tranquility, connectedness, and wairuatanga: Ponderings on spiritual giftedness.
White, V. (Aug, 2018). Say it with flowers: Empowering our kids to blossom.
White, V. (June, 2018). Coming out of his shell: One gifted kid’s success story.
White, V. (May, 2018). Frogs, giants, and winter philosophy: Empowering kids to change the world.
White, V. (Apr, 2018). Grasshopper thinking: Creativity through association and disobedience.
White, V. (Mar, 2018). Hanging by a thread: Visions of hope.
White, V. (Feb, 2018). Breaking ice on a scorching new school year: Helping gifted kids survive school transitions in the heatwave.
White, V. (Dec, 2017). Looking forward, looking back: A celebration of growth, courage, hopes and dreams.
White, V. (Nov, 2017). Emotional intensity: A challenging and often misunderstood aspect of giftedness.
White, V. (Oct, 2017). I’ll do it tomorrow: Exploring the relationship between procrastination and inspiration.
White, V. (Sep, 2017). Dabbling in the ever expanding ’puddle’ of learning: Identifying and nurturing growing edges.
White, V. (Aug, 2017). Truth triggers, relationships and identity: How we respond to school reports and other forms of feedback.
White, V. (June, 2017). An open letter to Board of Trustees: On diversity, inclusion and ethical leadership.
White, V. (June, 2017). Practicing empathy and compassion: Protecting the wellbeing of gifted advocates.
White, V. (June, 2017). Some infinities are bigger than others: Learning without limits.
White, V. (June, 2017). Super Girl: On a mission to save the world one person at a time.
White, V. (May, 2017). Budding young writers: Using online tools to engage kids in writing.
White, V. (Apr, 2017). Stranger in a strange land: Zombies, minefields, and other perils of parenting gifted.
White, V. (Mar, 2017). Lock down or let loose: Getting in ’the zone’ for optimal performance.
White, V. (Feb, 2017). Black holes, summer light, and a dragon: The dark and light of transitioning learners into a new school year.
White, V. (Jan, 2017). Jubilant fresh Earth-orbit: The link between when the stars align, like-minded leadership and the ’11 missing days’.
White, V. (Dec, 2016). Same score, different stave: Conducting a symphony with differentiation in the classroom.
White, V. (Nov, 2016). Gifted education? Piece of cake! Exploring the continuum of provisions for gifted learners.
White, V. (June, 2016). Through their eyes: Exploring what inclusion means for gifted learners.
White, V. (June, 2016). How do you see me?
White, V. (June, 2016). Walk a mile: In my shoes.
White, V. (June, 2015). I just want to fly: A metaphor for gifted kids.
White, V. (n.d.). The power of +2: Avoiding that sinking feeling.
White, V. (n.d.). Smashing assumptions.
White, V. (2014). The power of the positive: Advocacy in gifted education. Tall Poppies, 39(3), 22-23.
White, V. (June, 2020). Extraordinarily abled: Complex needs, giftedness, and wellbeing.
White, V. (June, 2020). Good sports: Teaming up to support our gifted kids.
White, V. (June, 2020). Pride and joy: Wellbeing for our gifted rainbow kids.
White, V. (June, 2019). Adrift from my culture.
White, V. (2019, Dec). Battling anxiety. Tall Poppies Espresso, 15-18.
White, V. (Dec, 2019). Taking off my armour: Belonging and the awkward anxiety-provoking in-between's.
White, V. (Nov, 2019). Clowning around with octopodes and Tony Starch: The seriously humourous side of giftedness.
White, V. (Oct, 2019). Preparing to ride the crest of sea change: Transformation through learning and growth.
White, V. (Sept, 2019). Failing forward: Minimising imposter syndrome through tinkering.
White, V. (Aug, 2019). Warrior woman: Contextualising learnings from the 2019 World Council for Gifted and Talented Children (WCGTC) conference.
White, V. (May, 2019). Tackle the myths and be a legend: Gearing up for Gifted Awareness Week 2019.
White, V. (Apr, 2019). Finding a common thread: Creating collaboration in home-school partnerships.
White, V. (Mar, 2019). Authentically gifted: Gender and liminality.
White, V. (Feb, 2019). Dream big! Guiding gifted kids to envision their future, their way.
White, V. (Dec, 2018). Drawing a blank: When nothing inspires.
White, V. (Nov, 2018). Hear our voices: Gifted education and social change; equipping our gifted kids to lead change.
White, V. (Oct, 2018). Dusty hail, curiosity, and the searching bug: Helping gifted kids to develop effective research skills.
White, V. (Sept, 2018). Tranquility, connectedness, and wairuatanga: Ponderings on spiritual giftedness.
White, V. (Aug, 2018). Say it with flowers: Empowering our kids to blossom.
White, V. (June, 2018). Coming out of his shell: One gifted kid’s success story.
White, V. (May, 2018). Frogs, giants, and winter philosophy: Empowering kids to change the world.
White, V. (Apr, 2018). Grasshopper thinking: Creativity through association and disobedience.
White, V. (Mar, 2018). Hanging by a thread: Visions of hope.
White, V. (Feb, 2018). Breaking ice on a scorching new school year: Helping gifted kids survive school transitions in the heatwave.
White, V. (Dec, 2017). Looking forward, looking back: A celebration of growth, courage, hopes and dreams.
White, V. (Nov, 2017). Emotional intensity: A challenging and often misunderstood aspect of giftedness.
White, V. (Oct, 2017). I’ll do it tomorrow: Exploring the relationship between procrastination and inspiration.
White, V. (Sep, 2017). Dabbling in the ever expanding ’puddle’ of learning: Identifying and nurturing growing edges.
White, V. (Aug, 2017). Truth triggers, relationships and identity: How we respond to school reports and other forms of feedback.
White, V. (June, 2017). An open letter to Board of Trustees: On diversity, inclusion and ethical leadership.
White, V. (June, 2017). Practicing empathy and compassion: Protecting the wellbeing of gifted advocates.
White, V. (June, 2017). Some infinities are bigger than others: Learning without limits.
White, V. (June, 2017). Super Girl: On a mission to save the world one person at a time.
White, V. (May, 2017). Budding young writers: Using online tools to engage kids in writing.
White, V. (Apr, 2017). Stranger in a strange land: Zombies, minefields, and other perils of parenting gifted.
White, V. (Mar, 2017). Lock down or let loose: Getting in ’the zone’ for optimal performance.
White, V. (Feb, 2017). Black holes, summer light, and a dragon: The dark and light of transitioning learners into a new school year.
White, V. (Jan, 2017). Jubilant fresh Earth-orbit: The link between when the stars align, like-minded leadership and the ’11 missing days’.
White, V. (Dec, 2016). Same score, different stave: Conducting a symphony with differentiation in the classroom.
White, V. (Nov, 2016). Gifted education? Piece of cake! Exploring the continuum of provisions for gifted learners.
White, V. (June, 2016). Through their eyes: Exploring what inclusion means for gifted learners.
White, V. (June, 2016). How do you see me?
White, V. (June, 2016). Walk a mile: In my shoes.
White, V. (June, 2015). I just want to fly: A metaphor for gifted kids.
White, V. (n.d.). The power of +2: Avoiding that sinking feeling.
White, V. (n.d.). Smashing assumptions.
Presentations
White, V. (2020). Restoring harmony through balance Keynote presented at the New Zealand Association for Gifted Children's Gifted Wellbeing Conference, online.
White, V. (2019, July). Shame on me: Gifted learners' experiences of trauma. Presented at the inaugural Trauma-Informed Educators Network Conference, Nashville, TN.
White, V. (2019). Trauma-sensitive education practices. Webinar presented in the Massey University online Learning Support Network.
Keppel, K. & White, V. (2017, April). The Missing Piece of the Puzzle: Getting identification and diagnoses of gifted and multi-exceptional learners right. Development of a New Zealand resource for clinicians, parents and educators. Presented at the giftEDnz Roadshow, Christchurch, New Zealand.
Riley, T., Wardman, J., Walker, D. and Sampson, C, and White, V. (2015). ”People Who Think the Same as Me”: The importance of like-minded peers for gifted children. Presented at "The Many Faces of Giftedness" conference run by the New Zealand Association for Gifted Children, Hamilton, New Zealand.
White, V. (2014). Developing culturally appropriate identification processes for your Pasifika students. Presented at the Waikato Regional Gifted and Talented Education Network meeting, Hamilton, New Zealand.
White, V. (2014, November). Birds of a feather: Online learning through online communities of practice. Presented at the Specialist Teaching block course, Christchurch, New Zealand.
White, V. (2019, July). Shame on me: Gifted learners' experiences of trauma. Presented at the inaugural Trauma-Informed Educators Network Conference, Nashville, TN.
White, V. (2019). Trauma-sensitive education practices. Webinar presented in the Massey University online Learning Support Network.
Keppel, K. & White, V. (2017, April). The Missing Piece of the Puzzle: Getting identification and diagnoses of gifted and multi-exceptional learners right. Development of a New Zealand resource for clinicians, parents and educators. Presented at the giftEDnz Roadshow, Christchurch, New Zealand.
Riley, T., Wardman, J., Walker, D. and Sampson, C, and White, V. (2015). ”People Who Think the Same as Me”: The importance of like-minded peers for gifted children. Presented at "The Many Faces of Giftedness" conference run by the New Zealand Association for Gifted Children, Hamilton, New Zealand.
White, V. (2014). Developing culturally appropriate identification processes for your Pasifika students. Presented at the Waikato Regional Gifted and Talented Education Network meeting, Hamilton, New Zealand.
White, V. (2014, November). Birds of a feather: Online learning through online communities of practice. Presented at the Specialist Teaching block course, Christchurch, New Zealand.