Without question, the source of my inspiration is Leta Hollingworth. My book, Counseling the Gifted and Talented, was dedicated to her, and Giftedness 101 is a celebration and continuation of her work. Pictures of Leta and quotations adorn my office walls. My keynote address at the NAG conference, on Giftedness 101, was a tribute to Leta Hollingworth. It was actually Leta who was the first to challenge Sir Frances Galton's claim that the gifted (the cream) naturally rise to the top (eminence). Child-centered, Leta understood the inner world of the gifted, the value of IQ testing, and the importance of opportunity and nurturing. She wrote the first textbook on giftedness, the first text on twice exceptional learners, and the first book on the profoundly gifted. She taught the first course on gifted education. Her educational innovations are still in use today in general and gifted education. In addition, she is credited with conducting the definitive studies proving to science that women are as intelligent as men. Her studies led to women being given the right to vote, the right to go to college, and the right to work. Leta Hollingworth is a figure worth remembering.

Rare photo of Leta Hollingworth at the Speyer School

Please help us match a $5,000 challenge grant for the Indigenous Students Leap Ahead (ISLA) Project, aimed at identifying and serving thousands of indigenous gifted students. Our preliminary research with Navajo revealed that as many as 80% of American Indian children are visual-spatial learners; yet, their instruction is neither culturally relevant nor geared to their learning style. Judged on the basis of reading and math performance, many truly gifted indigenous students never have their visual-spatial gifts recognized.  The funds will be used to support research with indigenous populations using the Visual-Spatial Identifier, teacher training, appropriate 21st century technologies, and strength-based programming.  Please contact the GDC office at 1-888-GIFTED1 to donate.