Who’s behind

The Bright Line?

Kia ora!

Ko Katja tōku ingoa, Nō Eichsfeld ōku tīpuna, Kei te noho au ki Ngāmotu, Aotearoa / New Zealand.

Originally from Germany, our family has been calling Taranaki in Aotearoa / New Zealand home since 2008. Both our children are very bright but that did not translate into a smooth ride at school or with friendships.

Desperate to find help and like-minded peers for my children I teamed up with other parents and started a support group for families with gifted children. This led to the set up of the Taranaki Explorers, the local branch of the New Zealand Association for Gifted Children. We organised monthly get togethers for the families and children and supported each other through the rollercoaster ride. Pretty quickly we realised that these get-togethers - as amazing as they were - they were just not enough.

2014 I rallied a group of supportive parents, principals and educators and we set up the ‘Taranaki Neurodiversity Trust’, a registered charity that advocates for the social, emotional and academic needs of gifted students in our region.

Additionally, we created a one-day-school where students attend for one day a week to take part in a tailored curriculum while learning with like-minded peers.

If you are keen to find out more about this amazing programme, check out TheHeadOffice.org.nz for further information.

I had the pleasure to oversee the running and growth of our programme for over 10 years and am humbled by the difference it made to the children, their families and the schools who are collaborating with us.

Having worked with hundreds of families and educators over the years, I am now extending my services to families who are looking for support, guidance and someone to talk to without fear of judgement - no matter where they live.

Logo with a speech bubble containing the text 'the BRIGHT line' and a small rocket illustration launching upward.
A woman with short blonde hair, glasses, and pearl earrings smiling outdoors in a forest setting.

Testimonials

  • Laura, parent from Cumbria, UK

    I would recommend speaking to Katja to any parent, guardian, teacher or any one who comes into contact with gifted/high learning potential children.

    I have found her to be warm and knowledgeable and talking to her has been incredibly helpful in navigating my journey of parenting a HLP child! Whether its about how to communicate better with your child or others you come in contact with to address social and emotional needs, or teachers around educational needs and academic abilities, Katja's lived experience means she can help you through it all and communicate things in a way that just can't be found/replicated in books or information online.

    She has made me feel less alone, and helped me to identify my needs as well as what I need to do to better support my child. I have gained a lot of confidence and peace of mind through Katja's help and support. 

  • Cushla, Deputy Principal from New Plymouth, Aotearoa | New Zealand

    Katja Eager is a relentless advocate for gifted kids. 

    In the past two decades she has raised two gifted children, researched approaches to parenting and educating the neurodiverse, set up a charitable trust and a complementary educational programme.  But beyond this, she has built a community of educators and parents in the pursuit of collaborating with others to share experience and knowledge around neurodiversity.  Her influence in our community has been significant.

    As a Deputy Principal of a large school, I have seen the pressures that teachers are under to cater for neurodiverse students.  They can arrive to school anxious. Some struggle with perfectionism and have trouble with friendships.  Some are bored and struggle to engage in learning and may even be showing underachievement at school.  Some students can mask their sensitivities, build up tension during the day, and then explode at home.  Through her advocacy, I have seen her help teachers and families navigate the challenges and celebrate the unique joys that gifted learners bring. 

    I highly recommend families and educators to reach out to The Bright Line for support with their precious neurodiverse kids.  

  • Fiona, parent and fellow trustee at The Head Office from Taranaki, Aotearoa | New Zealand

    I know that I could never have done what I did for my own kids without all the hard work, vision and connections that you created. I’ve always said that progress comes from standing on the shoulders of giants… and you for sure are one of the best.

    You’ve been a steady hand, a generous heart, and a source of deep comfort to not just me, but so many. You are the kind of person that makes others feel less alone simply by being there. Knowing that someone truly understands makes the world of difference.

  • Kirsty, parent from Taranaki, Aotearoa | New Zealand

    You completely opened my eyes into a world of education for neurodiverse children. We are changed forever.

Get in touch

If an in-person or online meeting is not what you are looking for or if you your time zone doesn’t match the booking slots available, just send an email and we will be in touch.