The Center for Gifted Studies

Twenty-six educators from throughout the Commonwealth of Kentucky came to WKU last week to hear a national leader in youth leadership.

The Center for Gifted Studies hosted the Leadership Institute XVII on Dec. 6 at the Carroll Knicely Conference Center.

“Leadership must be developed as skills in athletics or any other talent area,” said Dr. Julia Roberts, Mahurin Professor of Gifted Education and the Executive Director of The Center for Gifted Studies. “This institute allowed educators opportunities for involvement in leadership experiences that integrate leadership skills with the standards that are important in Kentucky schools.

Mariam MacGregor, leadership expert and award-winning author of several books, including Building Everyday Leadership: Promoting Attitudes and Actions for Respect and Success andTeambuilding with Teens: Activities for Leadership, led the Institute. During the Thursday session, MacGregor showed educators how to develop leadership skills in young people by embedding them in Common Core State Standards and other standards. For example, she showed educators how to incorporate leadership into civics classes by creating a political campaign for a mayoral candidate.

Caldwell County Schools Gifted and Talented Resource Teacher Anna Lea Claxton was one of the educators in attendance.

“Everyone loves professional development, especially when it is applicable to both the classroom and Common Core Standards,” Claxton said. “I am continually looking for lesson ideas that will meet the needs of the gifted students and Common Core Standards, and the Leadership Institute did just that! I came away with many ideas, including a book with even more useful activities and ideas that can be used and adapted for not only leadership students of all grades but also other areas of gifted education as well.”

Participants in the Leadership Institute XVII included: Tracy Adams, Russell County; Kathie Anderson, Kentucky Department of Education; Heather Bushelman, Warren County;Anna Lea Claxton, Caldwell County; Catherine Cliburn, Cloverport Independent; Vicki Cooper, Allen County; Katie Decker, Warren County; Temisha Denison, Caverna Independent; Tami Dodson, Monroe County; Missy Dotson, Pike County; Hannah England, Russell County; Chris Fortenbery, Marshall County; Pamela Harper, Pendleton County; Wendy Jones, Bardstown Independent; Kellie McClellan, Pike County; Jessica Miles, Metcalfe County; Andrea Partington, Warren County; Robert Paugh, Bowling Green Independent; Della Peavler, Barren County; Tiffany Pickering, Cloverport Independent; Gina Poore, Clinton County; Brianna Powell, Russellville Independent; Lorie Richey, Warren County; Leslie Wood, Butler County; Michelle Wyatt, Caldwell County;Roberta Wykoff, Fayette County; Daniel Zoeller, Trinity High School.

The Center for Gifted Studies offers several opportunities throughout the year for educators of gifted students, their parents and advocates. Along with the Leadership Institute, The Center hosts the Berta Seminar, which focuses in the social emotional needs of gifted students, and the Twice Exceptional Seminar, which explores gifted students who also have other exceptionalities.

The next seminar available to educators and administrators is 2014 Berta Excellence in Education Workshop featuring Dr. Sylvia Rimm on March 6 and 7. For information on this seminar, visit http://www.wku.edu/gifted/berta_seminar.php

To see pictures from the Institute, visithttp://www.flickr.com/photos/giftedstudieswku/sets/72157638411547176

For information on the Leadership Institute or any other offering from The Center for Gifted Studies, contact Zack Ryle at (270) 745-3014 or at zachary.ryle@wku.edu.

About The Center for Gifted Studies: Located on the WKU campus in Bowling Green,The Center for Gifted Studies has been serving children who are gifted and talented, their educators, and their parents for 30 years. The Center provides exciting educational opportunities for gifted young people, rigorous professional development for teachers, and support for parents of gifted young people. Under the direction of Dr. Julia Roberts, The Center has become one of the preeminent advocates for gifted education in the United States.  The Center believes that when gifted young people meet their extraordinary potential, our communities, our state, our nation—even our world—become better places. That is why each school year, The Center renews its commitment to encouraging excellence by providing quality programming and resources for gifted students, their teachers, and their parents.