Gifted and talented specialist retires

Dorothy Kennedy, associate professor in the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point’s (UWSP) School of Education (SOE) and leader in gifted and talented education, has emphasized the importance of paying close attention to the many gifted K-12 students in our schools.  She will retire at the end of the semester after 11 years at UWSP.

Kennedy came to Stevens Point in 1990 from Lafayette, Ind., where she had been teaching graduate courses in gifted education at Purdue University. She has since played a leading role in gifted and talented education at the SOE. Her first year at UWSP found Kennedy leading UWSP’s Youth in College Program. The following year she took over the directorship of College Days for Kids. She also has directed the Network for Gifted Education, a program that gives parents of high-ability students ideas on how to improve their children’s learning potential.

"This summer’s Youth in College Program will be my swan song," said Kennedy. "As a former secondary education English teacher, I am a firm believer in these types of pre-college programs."

Kennedy’s enthusiasm showed in the classroom as well. "I enjoyed the students passing through these doors over the years, especially nontraditional students," said Kennedy. According to Kennedy, nontraditional students are seeking teaching jobs with greater regularity than in the past. At UWSP she gives high marks to SOE faculty and administrators.

Upon her retirement, Kennedy will relocate to Texas to spend time with her only granddaughter, Olivia, who resides in the Houston area with Kennedy’s daughter and son-in-law. But she will not fully retire from her gifted and talented work. Her husband, Will, also plans to relocate to Houston this summer. In addition to spending time with Olivia, Kennedy will do some reading, writing and preparation for her part-time adjunct professorship at the University of Houston.

In 1991 she served on the Wisconsin Superintendent’s Advisory Council on Gifted Education and from 1992-94 she served as vice president for the Wisconsin Association for Talented and Gifted. She also was a member of the National Task Force on Secondary Gifted Education from 1995-97. Since 1993 she has worked with the Stevens Point Area School District Advisory Council’s Gifted Education committee.

Kennedy has been the director for Youth in College since 1990 and College Days for Kids since 1992. Youth in College is a summer program for K-8 students from area communities. College Days for Kids brings over 500 sixth grade central and northern Wisconsin students to campus to attend courses ranging from chemistry magic to creative writing. The Network for Gifted Education sponsors both programs.

A Michigan native, Kennedy holds a bachelor’s degree from Eastern Michigan University, master’s degree from Butler University and Ph.D. from Purdue University.

While at Purdue University, she was awarded the David Ross Research Fellowship in 1989 and was recognized as the Outstanding Graduate Student by the National Association for Gifted Children.

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