Underachievement in Gifted Education

This book provides an opportunity for researchers, professionals, and practitioners working directly with gifted individuals to engage with and examine the concept of underachievement of highly capable and talented individuals from different perspectives.

Chapters written by experts in gifted education from diverse backgrounds explore underachievement in principle, illuminate underachievement as a response to written and unwritten policy and practice, showcase ranges of intellectual capability outside of traditional academic subjects, shift deficit views of not meeting rigid expectations to honoring interests and cultural values of the individual, and provide suggested and proven practices and services as solutions to bridge the gaps in achievement and performance for gifted and talented students.

Expertly blending theory with practice, Underachievement in Gifted Education is a must read for all practitioners, educators of gifted individuals, and researchers seeking more opportunities to help students align how they choose to exhibit their talent and efforts with external and internal expectations, personal interests, and cultural values to reach their maximum potential.

Kristina Henry Collins is an Associate Professor of Talent Development at Texas State University and the Immediate Past President for Supporting the Emotional Needs of the Gifted (SENG, Inc.). She is an award-winning researcher and nationally recognized expert in identity and talent development of underrepresented and underserved students in gifted, STEM, and advanced academics.

Javetta Jones Roberson serves as the District Coordinator of Secondary Advanced Academics & Gifted and Talented in McKinney ISD in McKinney, Texas. She is an Adjunct Professor in the Teacher Education and Administration Department at the University of North Texas.

Fernanda Hellen Ribeiro Piske is a globally respected expert in giftedness, inclusive and special education with a doctorate in Education from the Federal University of Paraná State, Brazil. She is the founder and President of Institute C&S – Creativity & Giftedness, for gifted students and 2e students, in Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil.