TPP 278: Supporting Black Gifted Students, with Dr. Joy Lawson Davis

This week I’m talking with Dr. Joy Lawson Davis, an award-winning author, professional learning trainer, independent consultant, and equity activist. Dr. Davis’ areas of expertise and focus are culturally responsive teaching, supporting Black gifted students, equity and access in gifted education programs, and meeting the needs of diverse gifted learners.

Dr. Davis is the author of Bright Talented & Black: A Guide for Families of African American Gifted Learners; Gifted Children of Color Around the World: Diverse Needs, Exemplary Practices & Directions for the Future, and her recently released books Empowering Underrepresented Gifted Students: Perspectives from the Field and Culturally Responsive Teaching in Gifted Education.

This is a jam-packed conversation with a lot of resources for parents and schools. We talked about special gifts that Black gifted children have that are often missed, the biggest roadblocks in traditional education models for Black gifted students, and how schools can support the Black families in their community and make their programs more inclusive. I asked Joy her perspective on the very timely issue of racial disparities in public gifted school programs, as well her ideas for white families who want to join the fight for equity in gifted programs.

Things you’ll learn from this episode

• Why Dr. Davis does the work she does for underrepresented and Black gifted students
• What Joy sees as the biggest roadblocks in traditional education models for Black gifted students when it comes to being identified as gifted and getting the support and opportunities they deserve
• How schools can support Black families in their communities and make their programs more inclusive
• What public schools can do to support all of their gifted students and address the racial disparities in their programs
• How test prepping for gifted programs creates an unfair barrier, and other types of screenings that can be used instead
• How white families can be allies when it comes to ensuring gifted programs are inclusive and representative

Resources mentioned for supporting Black gifted students

• Dr. Joy Lawson Davis’ website
• Empowering Underrepresented Gifted Students by Joy Lawson Davis Ed.D. and Deb Douglas
• Culturally Responsive Teaching in Gifted Education edited by C. Matthew Fugate, Ph.D., Wendy Behrens, M.A. Ed., Cecelia Boswell, Ed.D., and Joy Lawson Davis, Ed.D.
• Bright, Talented, & Black by Joy Lawson Davis, Ed.D.
• Going Beyond Lip Service When It Comes to Equity

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