Liberating Culturally Diverse Gifted learners: Increasing Inclusion & Belonging in Gifted Education Classrooms

PD Webinar Series

April 15, 2025, 6:00 pm CT

Liberating Culturally Diverse Gifted learners: Increasing Inclusion & Belonging in Gifted Education Classrooms

In gifted programs across the nation, many educators are aiming to increase the representation of culturally diverse populations who have previously been underserved in gifted and advanced learner programs. This session will focus on the need to ensure that culturally diverse gifted learners (including those who are twice exceptional), many of whom are new to gifted education classroom spaces, feel a sense of belonging and acceptance. Increasing a sense of belonging has great potential for retention in gifted programs and for students to gain the most value from participating in advanced learning opportunities. Strategies that 'liberate' are defined as those that enable culturally diverse students to express their intersectional identities (i.e., cultural/racial; gender; income; strengths; language, etc.) while engaging in advanced learning opportunities.

Meet Joy Davis

Joy Lawson Davis, Ed.D. is a career educator with over 40 years of experience as a practitioner, scholar, author and consultant. In addition to local district and university experiences, Davis served for five years as the Virginia State Specialist for K-12 Gifted services. A graduate of the College of William & Mary, Dr. Davis holds both master’s and doctorate degrees in Gifted Education. Davis has conducted workshops, been a long-term program consultant, and served as a keynote speaker and distinguished guest lecturer nationally and internationally.Diversity Education and Gifted Education are her areas of special expertise. Dr. Davis served for five years on the Board of Directors of the National Association for Gifted Children. She has published numerous articles, technical reports and book chapters and is the author of the award-winning book: Bright,Talented & Black: a Guide for Families of African American Gifted Learners and Gifted Children of Color Around the World: Diverse Needs, Exemplary Practices and Directions for the Future, co-edited with Dr. James L. Moore III. Davis is the Special Populations columnist for the NAGC publication: Teaching for High Potential and serves on the Gifted Child Today advisory board. Dr. Davis was recently awarded the 2019 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Supporting Emotional Needs of the Gifted organization (SENG).

Zoom link will be emailed closer to the event.