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Dissertation Defense Dr. James Maddirala, Director, Creative Leadership for Innovation and Change, Ph.D. Program invites you to the Public for Felicita Richards Tuesday, April 23, 2024, 4:00 PM AST Topic: Join Via ZOOM Tuesday, April 23, 2024 4:00 PM AST TOPIC: “Exploring Creative and Innovative Strategies to Engage Gifted and Talented Students in the Learning Process: A Case Study of One Public School District in the U.S. Virgin Islands” https://uvi-edu.zoom.us/j/91877831593?pwd=RHUvckdrdk1zY3JHdWtmS09QNnZzQT09 Meeting ID: 918 7783 1593 Passcode: 477485 ABSTRACT This research focused on the education of gifted and talented students in one public school district in the U.S. Virgin Islands. It explored what was being done on the elementary level i n the St. Thomas-St. John School district to educate high ability learners. This research stu dy focused on what strategies and programs were being used to engage them in the learn ing process on a level that matches their abilities. It asked questions about what crea tive approaches, techniques, and procedures teachers felt should be used to engage highly able learners. Additionally, this study sought to learn what policies administrators in the district perceived as needed to enhance learning for high achieving students in the public schools. Further, this research focused on creative ways found in the school district and in the research literature to engage learners with exceptional ability and talent . The findings from this study showed that the programs that currently exist cannot and do not ABSTRACT take the place of educating the St. Thomas-St. John district’s gifted and talented students which, based on the national percentages of 6-10%, should amount to between 314 to 52 3 students in the school district. In the interest of equity and social justice, this highly ab le student population within the St. Thomas-St. John school district needs specialized servic es. It is recommended that these students should be identified in the local school district and steps taken to define the need and develop a GATE program for students in the St. Th omas-St. John District. Recommendations from the participants and the literature were shar ed on best practices for engaging this population. Keywords: gifted and talented students; GATE; gifted students, highly able learners; high ability students; high achieving students; advanced learners; academically talented students ; academically advanced students, students with gifts and talents, engaging gifted and talent ed students; gifted and talented students in public schools; gifted and talented students in the U.S. Virgin Islands . Dissertation Committee Clinton Valley, EdD. Committee Chair Hinsdale Bernard, Ph.D. Committee Member Lisa Hassel Forde Ph.D. Committee Member Daryl Edwards Peer Reviewer James Maddirala, Ph.D. Program Director and Faculty Sponsor