President’s Message
by Hal Curties
H
appy New Year!While there are signs of progress in meeting the needs of gifted learners in Alberta, there still appears to be much work to do. Gifted learners continue to be underidentified in Alberta. Most conservative estimates suggest that gifted learners should constitute 2–5 per cent of our student population. Figures from Alberta Education last year indicate that identified gifted learners make up 0.01 per cent of our studentpopulation. Clearly, there is more to be donetowards identifying gifted students.
In working with teachers who have identified gifted students in inclusive settings, I have become aware of the fact that teachers (who must daily work with a multitude of special needs) need resources that are immediately usable.These resources exist, but awareness of their existence is lacking. The Gifted and Talented Education Council can be instrumental in assembling and sharing these resources.
Finally, we need to continue to talk to education faculties and school boards to encourage adequate education and training of teachers in all areas of special education, including gifted and talented. While it is relatively easy to point out how education for gifted learners in Alberta needs to be improved, it is critical that we not lose sight of the significant work that is being undertaken by schools in many districts. Thanks to a number of dedicated teaching professionals, learning conditions for highly able students across the province have improved. Our work is to appreciate the opportunities and continue to address the obstacles.