Mike and Chaya sit down with Dr. Mandi Davis Skerbetz, co-founder of Sage School of Dallas, who has dedicated her career to reshaping how we support neurodivergent and twice-exceptional students. Dr. Skerbetz shares how she identified gaps in public, private, and charter institutions, the hard reality for parents forced to pick between academic or emotional support, and reveals how Sage is rewriting what an effective, compassionate school can be when it’s built for the kids who don’t fit anywhere else.

We Also Cover:

• Why “gifted” doesn’t guarantee success without the right support
• The concept of Consequence Choice
• How Sage addresses social, emotional, and academic needs
• Why classrooms shouldn’t look like “traditional schools” anymore
• Tips for parents advocating for their children in non-inclusive systems
• Why busywork and rote memorization fail neurodivergent learners—and what to do instead
• The balance between freedom and structure in a 2e-focused classroom
• The connection between executive functioning skills and long-term career readiness
• How to foster authentic friendships versus just peer connections for neurodivergent students
• How Mandi’s theory of “consequence choice” builds buy-in and confidence
• The role of curiosity, connection, and inclusion in transforming education

Quotes:

• "I want a parent to drop their kid off and know they’re getting everything they need in the same day."
• "Kids do not need to memorize. I don't care who they are, I don't care if they're gifted, I don't care if they have a 'lower IQ.' You can Google anything. We need critical thinking skills."
• "For kids that are super smart, super gifted, but have social emotional challenges, it's like, 'They're smart, they'll be fine.' And no, it doesn't work that way."

About Dr. Mandi Davis Skerbetz:

For over 20 years Mandi has worked in the field of special education including being a special education and gifted teacher. Neurodiverse students and their families have been at the heart of everything Mandi has done throughout her career. It has been her dream to have a school where students' strengths are truly enhanced and needs supported for long-term success and achievement. Dr. Skerbetz has worked in various roles at public, charter, and private schools in Dallas, TX and Pittsburgh, PA. She has taught and mentored students in the field of Special Education at Carnegie Mellon University, Johns Hopkins University, Southern Methodist University, and University of Pittsburgh.

Connect with Dr. Skerbetz:

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/mandidavisskerbetz/
• https://www.sageschooldallas.org/
• https://www.instagram.com/sageschoolofdallas/
• https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61567948017506

As always, thanks for lending us your ears and keep igniting that spark!

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