Gifted & Talented
Dream Team
Our Educator Community
Gifted & Talented is fortunate to have an incredible network of passionate and dedicated educators who believe in our vision and are excited to collaborate and become part of our growing team.
We believe something special happens when educators have the opportunity to share the subjects and interests they are genuinely passionate about. By bringing together educators with diverse talents, experiences, and areas of expertise, we can give students more opportunities to explore their interests, discover new ones, and connect with adults who share their enthusiasm for learning.
We look forward to introducing the wonderful educators who will help shape our programs and bring the Gifted & Talented community to life.
Dream Team
Our Educator Community
Gifted & Talented is fortunate to have an incredible network of passionate and dedicated educators who believe in our vision and are excited to collaborate and become part of our growing team.
We believe something special happens when educators have the opportunity to share the subjects and interests they are genuinely passionate about. By bringing together educators with diverse talents, experiences, and areas of expertise, we can give students more opportunities to explore their interests, discover new ones, and connect with adults who share their enthusiasm for learning.
We look forward to introducing the wonderful educators who will help shape our programs and bring the Gifted & Talented community to life.
Meet Our Team
Paula Turner
Director of Instruction and Gifted Programs
Hello Gifted and Talented Community!
I am so thrilled to step into the role of Director of Instruction and Gifted Programs! Teaching has been my heart and passion since 2008, and over the last 12+ years specializing in gifted education, I’ve had the joy of working with gifted learners of all ages.
While I love diving into academic rigor, my true passion lies in supporting the social and emotional growth of every child. I believe that when we nurture a student's unique curiosity, emotional depth, and individual strengths, their academic potential naturally soars. Every learner deserves an environment where they feel understood, supported, and celebrated for exactly who they are.
My journey in education has allowed me to wear many hats. I hold licenses in K–6 Elementary Education, 6–9 Language Arts, K–12 Gifted Education, ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages), and K–12 Exceptional Student Education (ESE). Having expertise across both gifted and diverse learning needs helps me view every student holistically, ensuring our instruction meets all learners with empathy and excellence.
In my free time, I love traveling the world—especially cruising to amazing places like Italy, Greece, Croatia, and Alaska! When I’m closer to home, you can find me swimming in the pool, relaxing at the beach, reading a great book, or enjoying board and card games with friends and family. As a lifelong learner, I’m always eager to explore new places and ideas to keep growing both personally and professionally.
I can't wait to partner with our wonderful students, families, and teachers to create a vibrant, caring, and intellectually inspiring environment. Please feel free to reach out, say hello, or share what makes your child shine—I look forward to meeting you!
Warmly,
Paula Turner
Director of Instruction and Gifted Programs
Gifted and Talented
Haley Guignard
Founder & Executive Director
The idea for Gifted & Talented began with something I was searching for as a parent: an ongoing extracurricular enrichment opportunity for my daughter centered around hands-on, project-based learning. I envisioned a place where fun and education could come together, while also creating the sense of belonging and community that children often find through athletics and other youth activities. I quickly realized that what I was looking for simply didn’t exist here in Pinellas County.
That vision was also shaped by how much I loved being part of my daughter’s school community. As a PTA mom, I had the opportunity to support and connect with students, educators, staff, and families. I genuinely loved being part of a community brought together by a shared purpose: supporting our children and working together to make their school experience the very best it could be.
My own educational background has always centered around people, development, and community. In college, I studied psychology, sociology, social work, and human services. I earned my Associate in Arts from St. Petersburg College and my Bachelor of Arts in Sociology with a concentration in Psychology from the University of Florida. In 2024, I became a certified K–6 educator and went on to teach second grade for two years.
Teaching changed me in ways I didn’t expect. The capacity of my heart grew tremendously as I came to know and care for my students, and I became deeply inspired by the passion, dedication, and creativity of my fellow educators. Those experiences brought the vision for Gifted & Talented into even greater focus: creating a place where students can learn alongside educators who share their interests, passions, and enthusiasm for discovery.
I believe every child has strengths and interests worth discovering, but they don’t always have the opportunity or access to explore them deeply. Through Gifted & Talented, I hope to connect children with like-minded peers and passionate educators while giving them the freedom to explore their interests, try new things, build confidence, and discover what excites them.
Above all, I want to create the kind of place I was searching for as a parent—a nurturing, supportive community where children feel that they belong, where learning is something to look forward to, and where curiosity has room to grow. I’m incredibly excited to welcome families into this community and to see what our students discover, create, and accomplish along the way.
Haley Guignard
Founder & Executive Director
Kristina Hanson
Director of Visual Arts
Hi! I’m Kristina—a lifelong creative, art teacher, and professional graphic designer who believes art should be fun, a little messy, and full of possibilities.
I’ve been creating and designing professionally for nearly 20 years, and I’ve spent the last several years bringing that experience into the classroom as a K–5 art teacher. With a BFA in Graphic Design and a background in branding, illustration, painting, and visual design, I love exploring all kinds of materials, techniques, and creative ideas with my students.
I’m also a little obsessed with all things saltwater. The ocean is one of my biggest sources of inspiration, especially all those beautiful shades of blue that never seem to look quite the same twice. I’m drawn to sunset colors just as much—the unexpected mix of pinks, oranges, purples, and golds. Both have a way of inspiring the colors, ideas, and little details that make their way into my art.
I believe art isn’t about making something “perfect.” It’s about experimenting, getting curious, trying something new, and finding your own creative voice. My goal is to create a space where kids can get messy, think outside the lines, try things they’ve never tried before, and leave feeling proud of what they made.
When I’m not teaching or working on a design project, you’ll usually find me spending time with my own kids, getting out on the water, photographing a sunset, or dreaming up my next creative adventure. I’m happiest when I’m creating, exploring, and making memories with the people I love.
Come get creative, make a mess, and see where your imagination takes you!
Donna Gauthier
Early Learning
& Creative Discovery Instructor
I am beyond excited to join the dedicated team of educators at Gifted and Talented. As the Discovery Den Teacher, I look forward to celebrating young learners as they achieve academic, social, and emotional growth in an engaging and positive environment.
After graduating from college with a degree in English, I earned my law degree and practiced until the birth of my first child. While raising my girls, I volunteered extensively in their schools and activities, substitute taught, and then earned my Teaching Certificate to pursue a career in education.
As an adult education instructor, I taught GED in the areas of Science, Social Studies, Writing, Reading, and Math, as well as ESOL (English Speakers of Other Languages) students who sought to improve their English reading and writing skills. In more recent years, I have utilized my training and experience to work with younger, elementary-aged learners and preschool children as young as two.
I strive to instill a love of learning, to foster confidence and creativity, and to provide a nurturing atmosphere where children feel valued, accepted, and safe. It is truly fulfilling to see them beam with delight when they learn a new concept, master a skill, or create something magical borne of their own unique imagination.
When I’m not working, I love visiting with my family and friends while golfing, fishing, playing card games, or simply catching up over a leisurely lunch. I also enjoy painting and giving new life to old furniture, and am known to spend a fair amount of time spoiling my dogs.
I’m looking forward to meeting you and getting to know your child as we grow and learn together. See you in the Den!
Amberlyn Moore
Program Instructor
I have been a classroom teacher for two years, teaching both first- and third-grade students, and I currently teach first grade. I hold a professional teaching certification for Pre-K through third grade. At Gifted & Talented, I will be teaching Little Explorers Science Lab and Odyssey of the Mind.
I am passionate about helping children learn and grow, and I believe children thrive when they have opportunities to learn through hands-on experiences. I am originally from Texas and relocated to Florida after completing my undergraduate degree. I love living near the ocean, and one of my favorite ways to spend my free time is enjoying a cup of coffee on the beach.
Interested in joining Gifted & Talented?
At Gifted & Talented, we believe exceptional programs begin with exceptional people. We’re building a team of passionate educators and professionals who enjoy creating meaningful, engaging learning experiences and helping students explore their interests, develop confidence, and discover what they’re capable of.
We’re especially interested in connecting with educators and subject-area professionals who can bring creativity, enthusiasm, and real-world expertise to our enrichment programs, competitive clubs, project-based learning experiences, workshops, camps, and special programs.
Whether your passion is STEAM, robotics, science, mathematics, humanities, writing, the arts, entrepreneurship, competition teams, or another unique area of expertise, we’d love to hear what you could bring to our community.
Tell us a little about yourself, your experience, and the programs or subjects you’d be excited to lead.
Join Our Dream Team