Unlocking Potential: Rethinking Gifted Education and Twice-Exceptional Learners with Dr. Austina De Bonte

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In this episode of the "Fueling Creativity in Education Podcast," hosts Cyndi Burnett and Matthew Worwood engage in a thought-provoking discussion with Dr. Austina De Bonte, an expert in gifted education. Austina who transitioned from a successful career in technology at Microsoft to pursue her passion for gifted education, shares her multifaceted experiences and research. She highlights the challenges and strategies associated with equitable identification of gifted students, particularly focusing on twice exceptional students—those who are both gifted and have a learning difference or disability. Dr. De Bonte emphasizes the importance of using methods such as local norms and or-based rules in testing to provide a more inclusive and accurate identification process. She also addresses the stereotypes and assumptions associated with giftedness and the need for a broader understanding of the complexities involved.

Throughout the episode, Dr. De Bonte explores the significance of re-evaluating the terminology used in gifted education, supporting the shift from "gifted" to "highly capable" to mitigate misconceptions. Additionally, she offers valuable insights for parents navigating the educational system with twice exceptional children, encouraging a deeper exploration of underlying issues that may affect a child's performance. Listeners will gain an understanding of how Austina's approach intertwines creative educational experiences with systematic solutions, ultimately advocating for a more comprehensive and equitable gifted education landscape. The episode provides valuable perspectives for educators, parents, and administrators seeking to enhance their understanding of gifted education and foster creativity in the classroom.

About Dr. Austina De Bonte:
Dr. Austina De Bonte is President of WA Coalition for Gifted Education, Past President of NW Gifted Child Association, Advisor to The G Word documentary, and a consultant at Smart is not Easy. She specializes in helping families get to the root cause(s) of their kids’ twice exceptional challenges. Her signature style combines her experience as a parent of grown 2e students and family consultant along with synthesized research, current district practices across Washington State, and cutting-edge neuroscience. She has a Masters degree from MIT (1998), and an Ed.D. from Bridges Graduate School (2024), where her dissertation was titled “Beyond Universal Screening: Practices and Attitudes that Promote Equity in an Accelerated Program.”

Learn more about her at Smart is Not Easy.

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For more information on Creativity in Education, check out:
Matt's Website: Worwood Classroom
Cyndi's Website: Creativity and Education