ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, October 11, 1996 TAG: 9610110084
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG
SOURCE: LISA APPLEGATE STAFF WRITER
Nancy Ballinger, the new gifted and talented supervisor for the Montgomery County schools, still thinks like a teacher.
"When you start a new year, you always assess the students and go from there," she said. "That's how I see this job. I have no agenda. I see my role as listening, assessing where the gifted program is ... and building on that."
With much public discussion over the gifted curriculum recently, Ballinger has listened to an earful. On more than one occasion, parents of gifted children expressed concerns to the School Board that classes aren't challenging enough for their offspring.
Ballinger welcomes the input. She spent two years developing gifted programs in Pulaski County middle schools before coming to Montgomery a month ago.
"There's always discussion about gifted [programs] because there's so much passion for it," she said. "We need to have passion for education - it's a good thing."
Some parents have said they worry most about middle school pupils, something Ballinger has already begun to address. As a start, 24 middle school teachers will learn how to teach to students with different learning abilities at a seminar next month.
Ballinger replaces Linda Waggaman, who switched to Pulaski County. Since she took over, Ballinger has met with a teacher task force assigned to research gifted programs, a group of parents that oversees gifted curriculum and is trying to meet with staff at every school.
Her speech quickens when she's asked about education, revealing her own passion for children that's evolved over time.
Ballinger grew up in Montgomery County, and after studying theater at Virginia Tech, she said she "fiddled around" in plays, journalism and other creative endeavors.
She didn't begin teaching until age 30, after her sister, a music teacher, asked for Ballinger's help with some students. For 12 years, Ballinger taught English and drama and sponsored the literary magazine and the yearbook at Pulaski County High School.
She didn't even develop her interest in gifted programming until a summer seminar held at the University of Virginia several years ago. She said she was attracted to the teaching techniques used in gifted curriculums, because they could be valuable to all students.
Aside from overseeing gifted programs, Ballinger also directs the fine arts curriculum. She said she wants to join fine arts teachers together and speak out for their needs.
"I don't want them to be short-changed because I feel they're important to the school system," she said.
LENGTH: Medium: 57 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: (headshot) Ballingerby CNB