Meet Lihi

Gifted Education Counselor, ECHA Specialist

I am so excited to have you here!

I’m Lucy’s mom, Ben’s wife, a yoga lover, and a Gifted Education Specialist. Since 2019 I’ve been living in the Netherlands with my family (we are originally from Israel). We initially moved here for my Master’s in Gifted Education, but we have lived here happily ever since.

The first reaction I get when I say to people I work with gifted kids is, “Ha, interesting! I didn’t know there’s a specific profession for that!”.

Until I dived deeper to understand what it means to be a Gifted Specialist, I did not know either about the various needs of the gifted and talented. But the further I got in my studies, the more I realized how often this group of students is overlooked.

After completing my master’s, I noticed there was almost no support offered for expat gifted children who don’t speak Dutch. That’s why I started Beyond IQ – to ensure gifted international students don’t fall between the cracks, not only in international schools in the Netherlands but also worldwide (read here about the challenges of expat gifted students).

My goal is to ensure kids learn at their level of ability. If their potential is higher than their performance in school, they can be frustrated and unmotivated. That moment when a child finds the exact level of challenge he or she needs, there’s a spark in their eyes. That’s what I’m aiming for.

My Inspirations

These people have made me better

Dr. Sylvia Rimm is a psychologist, the director of the Family Achievement Clinic in the USA, and one of the most renowned scholars in the field of underachievement.
Dr. Robert Gagné- It is common to say “gifted and talented children,” but I like Gagné’s view that having gifts (natural abilities) doesn’t mean that you are talented. There's a learning process that determines the skills we develop.
Prof. Lianne Hoogeveen is the president of ECHA and my thesis mentor during my master's. She taught me to empower children’s strengths while acknowledging their weaknesses rather than focusing on labels.
Dr. Maria Montessori- I started reading about Montessori education while pregnant with my daughter. I immediately loved the way of looking at the child as an independent, curious, responsible human being.
Swami Sivananda- The Yoga philosophy and practices is a lifelong journey of finding balance in my life. With that in mind, I try to educate children to practice contentment, self-love, and compassion toward others.

Who Can I Help?

5-18 Years old

High-Performing Students Who Need More Than Just Good Grades
Some gifted students excel effortlessly, but without the right challenges, they may struggle with motivation, resilience, and managing expectations. Our program helps them develop a growth mindset and essential life skills to reach their full potential.
Underachieving Gifted Students
Did you know that up to 50% of gifted students underachieve at some point? Whether their grades don’t reflect their true ability or they lack engagement, we provide the tools and support to reignite their curiosity and drive.
High-Potential Students Who Need Recognition
Not all gifted students are top performers. Some show exceptional potential through intelligence tests, achievement scores, or teacher observations, even if their grades don’t match. We help schools nurture these hidden talents.
Internationally Relocated Students Seeking Challenge
Moving to a new country and school can disrupt a gifted student’s learning journey. If they’re bored, unchallenged, or unmotivated, our program provides intellectual stimulation and a global peer network to keep them engaged.
Twice-Exceptional (2E) Students
Gifted students with learning differences like ADHD or dyslexia often go unnoticed or unsupported. We ensure these students receive the enrichment they need while addressing their unique learning challenges.

Giftedness is BEYOND IQ

It's a wide range of capabilities

Even though there’s no consensus on what giftedness is, this definition of the NAGC is widely used:

“Gifted and talented students perform—or have the capability to perform—at higher levels compared to others of the same age, experience, and environment in one or more domains…”

Giftedness means having high potential and “raw” talent, but it doesn’t always translate into performance (and then giftedness can be masked). But with a suitable learning environment and sufficient challenge, the child thrives.

Every student needs to learn according to their ability level and always experience a “struggle” in learning. Otherwise, a lack of motivation and frustration arise when everything is easy.

Why do Gifted International Students Need Support?

More challenges than for the gifted locals

1. From earning top grades in their home country without investing much effort, international students arrive in a new and unfamiliar environment where they encounter challenges that they have not experienced before. As a result, their giftedness is often masked, and they may become underachievers.

2. Imagine an international student who was accelerated in math in their previous school, but the new international school does not offer any acceleration programs. In this case, the student is forced to adjust and is probably required to learn content they already know. This situation can often lead to boredom, demotivation, and even a loss of passion for the subject.

3. To prove that the student is gifted, schools send the child to take an intelligence test that is often performed in the local language. Many expats who need to take this kind of test do not have local language proficiency. This language barrier can result in false test results and mistakenly indicate that the child is not gifted.