Educators

Welcome to the Center for Talent Development Summer Program! We value educator involvement in the Summer Program and invite you to join us in serving the needs of academically talented students.

Meet a Few Summer Program Educators

	Mariah, Leapfrog Instructor “Teaching at Leapfrog is a dream come true for any teacher,” says Mariah. “You have a classroom full of students who are excited about learning. Further, you have all the support and resources you need to teach great lessons. …This type of environment makes teaching exciting and helps you remember why you went into the profession in the first place.” Read more...
	Jeffrey, Apogee Instructor “CTD does a great job setting up an environment where you are there to teach and not worry about anything else,” he says, noting the advantages of small class sizes, qualified teaching assistants and the chance to create a curriculum based on students’ interests and abilities rather than a textbook. Read more...
	Shauna, Spectrum Instructor What I especially love about the students are their varied experiences. That they come from so many different backgrounds, that they have traveled to so many different countries, that they have read books that I have never even heard of—that makes the classroom alive. We generate knowledge as a group. Read more...
	Tim, Equinox Instructor I like to devote each summer to some special educational endeavor. Through the years I've spent summers working on my master's degree in English at the University of Chicago, studying lyric poetry at Harvard, studying Shakespeare at the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Folger Shakespeare Library, studying Dante in Siena and studying Italian at the University of Iowa. When I learned about the Center for Talent Development (CTD) Summer Program, I saw an opportunity for another variation on the theme, and I've enjoyed three delightful summers of teaching and learning at Northwestern. Read more...
	Jane, Leapfrog Instructor "Summer Program is a chance to hone my skills as a teacher, as I work to craft a 'homerun lesson' morning after morning, activity after activity. Such out-of-the-park moments are what these students deserve, are able to manage and can truly excel with. The Summer Program is unlike any other teaching opportunity. I can be more avant-garde, risky, hands-on, and more open-ended with each lesson I present." Read more..
	Abel, Equinox Instructor Abel spends time pondering how to get complex mathematical ideas across to students effectively – “an interesting mathematical challenge in itself,” he says. He also encourages rich interaction in his classroom. “I want my students to go beyond solving problems,” he says. “I want them to understand ideas..." Read more..

As an educator with an interest in gifted education, you can: 

Apply for a job. We hire dozens of outstanding instructional, residential and administrative staff each year, and we are always looking for qualified applicants. Take a look at our job opportunities today!

Become an ambassador. Don’t let talented students languish over the summer! Contact us to request program catalogs for qualified students or invite us to speak at your school. We appreciate your help in spreading the word about our program and ensuring that bright students stay engaged and inspired throughout the year.

Recommend a student. Do you know a student who would benefit from the Summer Program? Applicants seeking your recommendation are instructed to provide you with a description of the course(s) for which they are applying, as well as a recommendation form.

Apply best practices for gifted education to your classroom. Center for Talent Development is rich with resources for educators who wish to advocate for the gifted community, incorporate best practices into their own teaching or simply advance their understanding of gifted students’ needs. Browse our web site for resources, research and related events.

Thank you for your interest in the Summer Program and the growth and development of gifted and talented students!