NAGC Names Teacher Scholarship in Honor of Late Professor Mary Frasier

The late professor Mary M. Frasier, a nationally recognized scholar and researcher in gifted education and founder of the Torrance Center for Creativity and Talent Development in UGA's College of Education, is being honored nationally with a teacher scholarship fund in her name.

The National Association of Gifted Children (NAGC) has announced the Mary Frasier Teacher Scholarship Fund for Diverse Talent Development. Recognizing that gifted students from diverse backgrounds are often served by teachers without training to meet their needs, the NAGC will offer scholarships to teachers from Title I schools to attend the NAGC Annual Convention and provide support for continued professional growth.

Each scholarship will provide:
•  Full registration to NAGC 2006 in Charlotte, N.C. – Nov. 1-5, 2006
•  Travel stipend of $500 to cover air/hotel
•  Two years comprehensive membership in NAGC.

For three decades, Frasier, a professor of educational psychology who died last February, brought national and international recognition to the College and UGA for her pioneering and highly influential work in identifying and teaching students who are under-represented in gifted education programs.

As a researcher, scholar and advocate, she had a profound effect on changing the way children are assessed for gifted services. She designed the Frasier Talent Assessment Profile (F-TAP), a comprehensive assessment system with multiple indicators that is much more effective in assessing the gifts and talents of low-income and minority children than single-indicator tests previously used. She worked with school districts throughout the nation to implement this assessment.

She was president of the NAGC from 1987-89, and received the NAGC's Distinguished Service Award in 1991, and then later the Ann F. Isaacs Founder's Memorial Award for her work with that organization.

NAGC leaders will participate in a kickoff orientation including Frasier's research-based strategies and methods to increase student diversity and an overview of the convention program offerings.  Thereafter, the scholarship recipients will attend any of more than 300 concurrent sessions – many concerned with supporting the needs and interests of learners from special populations.

“There is no one more deserving of this tribute than Dr. Mary M. Frasier. I consider her to be a pioneer and ‘waymaker' in a field of education where intelligence, creativity, and fearlessness often go unrecognized,” said Tarek C. Grantham, assistant professor of educational psychology at UGA.  “These are qualities that remain under-developed among many African Americans and females. Like them, Dr. Frasier weathered and defied social structures and policies that created barriers for herself and other under-represented groups in gifted and advanced levels of education. Her legacy involves helping others to rise above adversity and to advance in the struggle for equity and excellence in gifted programs. She made an impact that must be honored.”

“As Mary's academic advisor, mentor and lifelong friend, I cannot think of a better way to celebrate her life and work than by contributing to these scholarships, said Joseph S. Renzulli, director of the National Research Center on the Gifted and Talented. “Teachers will be trained in the precise Title 1 classrooms where her work can and should take root. I am honored to be among the first to contribute.”

All donors will be recognized during the convention. Any amount is appreciated, but a full scholarship costs $900.  Those who donate at this level will be included in a reception recognizing the Mary Frasier Scholars in Charlotte .  

“Imagine the positive ripple effect when teachers return to their schools armed with the strategies and tools inspired by Mary Frasier,” said an NAGC press release announcing the fund.

“I cannot think of a better way to honor ‘the mother of multiple criteria' and pioneer of efforts to desegregate gifted programs,” said Donna Y. Ford, professor of special education and Betts Chair of Education and Human Development at Vanderbilt University. “Mary's lifelong commitment to these goals will now reach into districts across the country. I am anxious to visit with these teachers from underserved classrooms at our convention in November – I plan to provide them with a full briefing on just what Mary meant to our field.”

“Georgia should be on all of our minds today as we launch this most fitting tribute to our beloved Mary Frasier,” said Sally Krisel, Georgia's State Coordinator for Gifted Education and a former student of Fraiser who received her Ph.D. in 2000.  “While Georgia is where she rooted her studies, Mary's influence was felt across the country and indeed around the world.  She was a giant in our field and a true friend to children and teachers everywhere.   It is thrilling to see how her legacy can now be spread across the country systematically due to the commitment and generosity of her colleagues and friends.  We applaud and support these efforts!"

For more information or to contribute to the Mary Frasier Teacher Scholarship Fund for Diverse Talent Development: http://www.nagc.org/index.aspx?id=1222

Tuesday, February 14, 2006
Writer: Michael Childs, 706/542-5889, mdchilds@uga.edu
Contact: Brent Mundt, bmundt@nagc.org