KGTC discusses ways to better serve gifted students

Kellen Jenkins / The Bulletin

Connie Phelps, director of Gifted Education, stands in her office after the Friday KGTC meeting in Visser Hall. Phelps was the on-site coordinator for the meeting, which discussed the challenges of gifted education and the best ways to accelerate gifted children’s learning.

The Kansas Association for the Gifted, Talented and Creative’s (KGTC) meeting held Friday in Visser Hall 330 addressed many of the issues facing educators in the field. The KGTC serves the needs of gifted and talented students through services, programs and training for their educators.

The meeting served as a way for educators who teach gifted students to meet with other educators to discuss triumphs, challenges and solutions. According to Marcia Law, president of the KGTC, the meeting allows educators to bring new information and techniques back to students to better their overall education experience as well as recognize new students.

“It can be easy for teachers to overlook gifted students because it appears they do well enough on their own,” said Connie Phelps, assistant professor in psychology and special education. “It is so important though to make sure they are functioning at the proper level.”

At the opening panel, several members stressed the importance of connecting on a social level with gifted students.

“It’s important to build a rapport with them and let them know you accept them for who they are,” said Kelly Stice, member of KGTC. “Someday Individual Education Plans are not going to be the most important thing. They have to feel comfortable with themselves.”

Jim Persinger, another KGTC member, also stressed the importance of socialization in the education of gifted students.

“Socialization starts very early with learning communication skills,” Persinger said. “Without the social aspect, cognitive strengths aren’t going to be as prominent.”

Solutions to the problem of socialization were offered as well. Betsy Yanik, professor of mathematics, computer science and economics at ESU, stressed the importance of looking beyond the academic setting for students who attend smaller schools. Clubs or groups with an academic pursuit could help students break the ice and meet other students who share common interests as well as challenges.

Lewman also stressed the need to reach a variety of students. KGTC strives to find students who may get overlooked due to socio-economic background or being located in a rural area. The state of Kansas ensures that there is an appropriate IEP applied to such students.

ESU serves as a leader in the education of teachers for the gifted, boosting roughly 80 students in the online program. Students also are given numerous opportunities to engage in professional experiences through presentations and conferences. According to Phelps, ESU students have given presentations on gifted students at the local, state, national and international level.

Though educators believe ESU’s program is strong, they stress the need for exposure at the undergraduate level. Currently the program is promoted primarily to graduate students but Phelps believes that the program would benefit from early student awareness of the opportunity. She stated that the need for teachers capable of teaching all students is strong, and the training offered by ESU can be very helpful to students.

“Standards for teachers of gifted students have grown,” Phelps said. “All over the state, people look to ESU to put out great teachers for this growing field.”

The state of Kansas is currently the forerunner of the field, allocating federal funding to KGTC’s programs and providing legislative support throughout the year. The state recognizes gifted students as having an exceptionality to be considered with special education funding. Gifted education is also assisted by the Jacob K. Javits grant which is applied directly to gifted education.

“The state recognizes that these students are different,” said Ginger Lewman, former legislative liaison for KGTC. “Kansas has mandated that we try to find something that works for these students. We’re very fortunate here.”

Gifted and talented students can be overlooked in a regular classroom due to a number of factors, according to Marcia Law, KGTC president. Students may achieve at a level lower than their capabilities because their academic capabilities are not being tested effectively. KGTC attempts to counteract this through a number of ways. Advanced placement classes, extra-curricular groups and the ability to skip a grade level allow students to find an appropriate academic fit.

KGTC also offers a larger opportunity for gifted students in the Kansas Academy for Mathematics and Science. Housed on Fort Hays State University’s campus, KAMS serves high school juniors and seniors in math, science and engineering programs. The school is a result of funding provided by the state for such programs.

KAMS has a traditional academic year and tuition is free but students are responsible for housing. KGTC hopes that the school will lead more students into careers utilizing the academic areas emphasized at the school.

“These are all emerging fields in Kansas,” said Lewman. “There is a huge need for more workers in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields in the state and this fills this.”