In fact, for a teacher who works with gifted students, I'd want someone who has experience with the darker side of being gifted. In other words, the IDEAL candidate is someone who has personally battled:
a) anxiety,
b) social problems related to giftedness,
c) underachievement, and
d) perfectionism.
Because only with that kind of background can a teacher truly help HG+ kids with some of their most common difficulties.
Agree. That would make a great interview question, actually:
"What are some of the most common emotional difficulties associated with giftedness, and what experience do you have of overcoming them, either in yourself or in your students?"
In particular, alongside
- Providing students with opportunities for greater mastery of expanded content and skills.
I'd want
- Encouraging students to relish challenge, and helping them to overcome any reluctance to do so.
