About Us

Mission

The Center for Gifted Education and Talent Development, established in 1999, is committed to transforming potential into excellence through innovative educational opportunities, research, and outreach. 

Vision

We focus on the intellectual, academic, social, and emotional needs of gifted children and adolescents in Texas, and assist those who parent, teach, and otherwise work with them. We aspire to be a leading resource on giftedness, talent development, and creativity that is known regionally, nationally, and internationally. 

Center Initiatives

1. Talent Development: The Center provides advanced courses for gifted students to develop expertise and talent. The courses will largely be during the summer but will also include Super Saturday programs as well. The Center also offers online courses using Zoom or a similar platform.

2. Professional Learning: The Center hosts professional learning opportunities in gifted education, talent development, and creativity for the audience of educators and other service providers (e.g., counselors) in gifted education. Professional learning are offered in conferences, distinguished lecture series, symposia, and online learning opportunities. 

3. Community Collaboration: The Center provides resources and opportunities for the Central Texas area as well as other regions of the state. The Center offers learning opportunities for the local community, including gifted and talented students; parents of gifted and talented students; and teachers, counselors, and administrators working with gifted and talented students.

4. Research: The Center is committed to providing multiple opportunities for research for Baylor faculty and graduate students. Areas of interest include:

• Research related to the process of talent development through out-of-school learning.
• Research related to issues of equity and access for underrepresented student populations.
• Research related to school-based implementation of model curriculum.
• Research related to effectiveness of professional learning on teacher practices in schools.
• Research related to the development of creative capacities in specific disciplines.
• Research related to STEM initiatives with gifted students in school and beyond school settings. 
• Research related to social and emotional factors in creativity and talent development.
• Research related to learner ability profiles including students with multiple exceptionalities.