In this special on-location recording at the National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC) Conference in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, hosts Dr. Matthew Worwood and Dr. Cyndi Burnett sit down with Sarah Caroleo, Ph.D. to explore the powerful role of professional learning in advancing gifted education.

Together, they unpack how thoughtfully designed professional learning (PL) can elevate teacher practice, strengthen advanced learning opportunities, and help close long-standing excellence gaps within schools and districts.

About the Guest

Sarah Caroleo is a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the Annenberg Institute, Brown University. She researches professional learning in gifted education, sharing evidence-based strategies to help teachers support high-potential students and close excellence gaps.

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In this Winter 2026 episode of the Listen and Learn series, Dr. Jennifer Riedl Cross joins Dr. Matthew Worwood and Dr. Cyndi Burnett to challenge traditional views of giftedness. Moving beyond IQ and high achievement, she introduces Transformational Giftedness—the idea that intelligence and talent are most meaningful when used to tackle societal challenges and create positive change.

The conversation explores the “Rage for Justice,” the moral intensity often found in gifted individuals, and how it can be channeled into effective activism. Animal justice emerges as a compelling entry point for young activists, highlighting how concern for animals often sparks broader social awareness and motivates action for the common good. She shares the work she has done in this area conducted in collaboration with Barbara J. King.

Dr. Worwood and Dr. Burnett discuss practical strategies for nurturing young changemakers. From persuasive writing and public speaking to strategic thinking, they emphasize how educators and parents can help students transform passion into real-world impact. Creativity is central, with activism framed as an imaginative act—envisioning worlds that do not yet exist and taking steps to bring them to life.

If you are interested in this topic, you might also want to check out Barbara J. King's TED talk on grief and love in the animal kingdom!

About the Guest:

Dr. Jennifer Riedl Cross is a Research Professor at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Her research focuses on the social and emotional development of gifted students, particularly those who use their talents for social justice and advocacy.

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In this special end-of-year episode of the Fueling Creativity in Education Podcast, hosts Dr. Cindy Burnett and Dr. Matthew Warwood reflect on their accomplishments throughout 2025, sharing candid insights into the goals they've met and the challenges they've faced. From launching their YouTube channel and refining their website, to penning an almost-complete book titled "The Future Creative: 10 Actions for Fueling Creativity in Education." They discuss the importance of aiming for "B plus work" in a busy world and celebrate the creative experiments with video shorts, newsletter outreach, and organizing over 200 interviews into meaningful collections. The hosts also express heartfelt appreciation for their growing community and the feedback they've received from listeners and past guests.

Looking ahead, Dr. Cindy Burnett and Dr. Matthew Warwood invite listeners to shape the future of the podcast by sharing feedback, suggesting topics, and exploring new ways to connect around their forthcoming book. Exciting plans for 2026 include a five-year anniversary celebration—potentially a live or virtual party for VIP listeners who engage with their call to action. The episode concludes with personal reflections on how their mission has evolved: focusing on educating the whole person to foster transformational creativity that makes the world a better place. Tune in for a thoughtful recap, a glimpse into what’s next, and a sincere thank you to the Fueling Creativity community!

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Visit FuelingCreativityPodcast.com for more information or email us at questions@fuelingcreativitypodcast.com.