Dr. Debra Troxclair, assistant professor of curriculum and instruction at the University of Louisiana at Monroe, recently returned from the National Association for Gifted Children’s Annual Convention in Tampa, Fla., where she was appointed to the Professional Standards Committee for a two-year term ending in 2011.

The policy and procedure of this committee addresses the purpose, composition and functioning of the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education Standards. Committee members work with the NAGC Board; state directors of gifted education; and the network of universities offering coursework and degree programs in gifted education, NCATE and others concerned with the preparation of teachers of the gifted.

Troxclair explained, “My task will be to work with several colleagues to develop a document produced by this organization for NAGC that will respond to the recent legislation, Public Law 110-315, Higher Education Opportunity Act.”

On Oct. 14, President Bush signed into law the HEOA, which makes provisions that expand and enhance gifted education. The term “teaching skills” in this legislation has been expanded to include “skills that enable a teacher to focus on the identification of students’ specific learning needs, particularly students with disabilities, students who are limited English proficient, students who are gifted and talented, and students with low literacy levels, and the tailoring of academic instruction to meet such needs.”

Because of this legislation, $33.7 million in pre-baccalaureate program grants will be announced to assist in pre-baccalaureate program reform efforts, developing teacher residency programs, and preparing school leaders for rural schools.

Troxclair is also a member of the University Networking Committee and the Guidance and Counseling Network, where she was nominated and named as advocacy officer.





Photo by Richard Lupo, University Photo Services