The Story of The Gifted Collective
After more than 21 years of service in public education—as a classroom teacher in multiple grade levels and communities, and later as a district administrator—our founder, Adam Laningham, grew increasingly concerned that too many gifted children and families were not having their needs met within the system. While his time traveling the country as a speaker, author, consultant, and advocate for gifted education was rewarding, Adam deeply missed working directly with students and teachers.
In 2024, he took a leap of faith, investing his savings and retirement to create something truly different: The Gifted Collective. His vision was to build a warm, enriching place where gifted children, parents, educators, and even gifted adults could find meaningful support, resources, and community.
The Gifted Collective opened its doors in February 2024 with enrichment classes, professional development for teachers, and a carefully curated bookstore. Just months later, in August 2024, Arizona’s first gifted microschool was launched at the center. This small program began with five twice-exceptional boys in grades three through eight—students who had struggled to have both their academic and social needs met in a variety of traditional school settings and even through homeschooling. For these children, the microschool quickly became a safe haven where they were welcomed, understood, and able to thrive.
Building on this success, a second microschool opened in August 2025. Today, The Gifted Collective offers two distinct microschool options:
One designed for traditionally gifted learners who benefit from a small, flexible environment with individualized curriculum and gifted-trained teachers.
Another specifically designed for twice-exceptional students, where social and emotional support is built directly into the classroom and curriculum by trained professionals.
What began as one educator’s dream has grown into a vibrant community where gifted learners and their families finally feel seen, supported, and celebrated.
Adam’s Definition of Giftedness
Our mission is to create a small, thriving learning community where gifted and neurodivergent students — and all curious minds — feel they truly belong. Founded on the principles of gifted pedagogy, the Gifted Collective is committed to knowing every child as an individual, fostering a love of learning, and building the academic and life skills they need to flourish now and in the future.
Our Founder
Adam C. Laningham brings more than two decades of experience in public education and a deep passion for supporting gifted and twice-exceptional learners. Recognized as Arizona Gifted Teacher of the Year, Adam has taught across multiple grade levels, developed and led innovative gifted programs, and managed district-wide initiatives serving over 6,000 gifted students.
As founder of Bright Child Books, Adam is the author of several works dedicated to nurturing the potential of advanced learners. He also established The Gifted Collective, an innovative learning center that supports gifted and 2e children and their families.
Adam’s leadership extends nationally and internationally. He served six years on the board of Supporting the Emotional Needs of the Gifted (SENG), including serving as President, and contributes his expertise as a member of the Arizona Association for Gifted and Talented (AAGT) Advisory Council, a founding member of Callisto (supporting gifted foster youth), and an advisor for CogAT Riverside Insights. Most recently, he founded the nonprofit Growing Intellect & Fostering Talent.
An engaging speaker and trusted consultant, Adam is committed to creating opportunities, resources, and communities that empower gifted learners to thrive—academically, socially, and emotionally.
About Us
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We are not a chain. We are not a franchisee. We are Arizona-based educators.
Founded and led by Adam Laningham, we are a group of gifted educators and professionals who created a learning center for the gifted and curious minds of Arizona. Our dream is to have a place that is welcoming and inclusive for all gifted learners and their families, while providing the resources and services this unique community needs. We work to support children being educated in the school system, those who are in homeschool, as well as those who want to come to our Gifted Microschool for their academic needs. We also support their parents and educators. Though our learning center was created specifically for gifted and neurodivergent learners, we welcome all children who need more enriching support to meet their academic needs.
We come from the Arizona educational system and know the challenges the school system has supporting neurodiverse learners. Our goal is to be the place where these children are understood, supported, and can flourish.
To this end, The Gifted Collective, brings together amazing educators, service providers, and resources to service the community. We are proud to be Arizona's first Gifted Microschool (opening Fall of 2024), the physical home of Bright Child Books, and partner with many educational, mental health, and holistic experts to support gifted learners and their families academically, physically, socially, emotionally, and mentally.
We specialize in gifted education and know how to meet the needs of our gifted learners. That said, gifted learning strategies are good for all children, thus children do not need to be identified as gifted to participate in any of our services. If your child needs an enriching curriculum as well as support in social and emotional areas, The Gifted Collective is the right place for them.
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After more than two decades in education, one truth has guided everything we do: gifted children are not just advanced learners — they are complex, sensitive, and deeply human.
They can debate philosophy at ten and fall apart over a change in routine. They can read three grade levels ahead and still struggle to make a friend. They are capable of extraordinary things, and they need extraordinary support to get there.
That's why The Gifted Collective was built the way it was — not as a place that simply accelerates learning, but as a community where gifted children are known, valued, and given everything they need to truly thrive.
What Makes Us Different?
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We specialize in gifted education and the support of these children both academically and emotionally. We know how to meet the needs of our gifted learners, as well as any child who would flourish in a nurturing and creative environment. Our teachers are state certified educators. They also hold or are working on earning their Gifted Teaching Endorsement. Guest presenters or facilitators are background checked and are experts in the field they are presenting on.
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• Focusing both on academics and social & emotional support
• Helping the children better understand themselves
• Providing tools to help them cope with feelings and difficult situations
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• Training teachers in gifted pedagogy
• Providing support for parents and guardians of gifted learners
• Working with mental health providers
• Collaborating with gifted, nonprofit organizations
