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(Reno,
Nev.)
– Governor
Kenny Guinn has appointed the final three members of the governing
board for The Davidson Academy of Nevada, the first public school for
profoundly gifted students of its kind in the nation, which will be
located on the University of Nevada, Reno campus.
The Davidson Academy’s governing board is comprised of nine
members:
Appointed
by the Governor
·
Richard
Bryan,
former U.S. Senator and an alumnus of the University
·
Bruce
James,
Public Printer of the United States
·
Annette
Whittemore,
co-founder of the National Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) Institute in
Nevada and an alumna of the University
Appointed
by the Operating Entity, the Davidson Institute for Talent Development
·
Bob
Davidson,
co-founder of The Davidson Academy of Nevada
·
Jan
Davidson,
co-founder of The Davidson Academy of Nevada
·
Brian
Krolicki,
State of Nevada Treasurer
·
Mark
Herron,
president of the Davidson Group
Ex-Officio
Members
·
Joe
Crowley, Interim
President of the University of Nevada, Reno
·
Keith
Rheault,
Superintendent of Public Instruction of the State of Nevada
“I
was pleased to sign Senate Bill 461 at the end of the 2005 Nevada State
Legislative Session, which established the criteria for this new public,
university school for profoundly gifted pupils,” said Guinn. “The
creation of The Davidson Academy gives the state of Nevada the
opportunity to be known nationwide as a place where students can develop
their intellect in a way that has never been offered before.”
The
Davidson Academy of Nevada (www.DavidsonAcademy.UNR.edu) will open
August 28, 2006 with more than 30 profoundly intelligent middle- and
high-school level students – many are moving to northern Nevada with
their families. Davidson
Academy students will be able to accelerate through the required middle-
and high-school curriculum at a pace appropriate to their abilities and
motivation until they become fully matriculated into the University
through accelerated course options. Many of them will then proceed
through undergraduate and graduate coursework at an advanced pace as
they meet the appropriate prerequisites.
“We
are very pleased with the Governor’s choices for The Davidson
Academy’s Governing Board,” said Jan Davidson.
“The members share our vision and will provide valuable
guidance to lead the Academy and its students.”
Approximately
half of the 3 million gifted students in the United States are
underachieving because they are not challenged by their school
curriculum, and up to 20 percent of high school dropouts test in the
gifted range, according to the Handbook of Gifted Education.
Based on these statistics, educational software entrepreneurs Bob
and Jan Davidson founded the Davidson Institute for Talent Development
and are continuing to fulfill their mission to serve the nation’s
brightest students by opening The Davidson Academy of Nevada.
Their former company, Davidson & Associates, was known for
the popular Math Blaster™ and Reading Blaster™ software series.
“Few
of our brightest students have access to an educational program
commensurate with their advanced abilities,” said Bob Davidson. “By
opening The Davidson Academy, Jan and I are doing what we can to
maintain and support our nation’s position in the global economy by
nurturing America’s brightest young minds – these students will be
key in moving our state and nation forward with their talents and
innovations.”
Based
in Reno, the Davidson Institute for Talent Development is a nonprofit
foundation founded in 1999 by Bob and Jan Davidson.
In 2004, the Davidsons co-authored Genius
Denied: How to Stop Wasting Our Brightest Young Minds, published by
Simon & Schuster. For
more information, please visit www.DavidsonGifted.org;
for information about Genius Denied, as well as federal and state gifted
education policies, please visit www.GeniusDenied.com.
The
Davidson Academy will be located on the second floor of the KNPB Channel
5 building on the UNR campus at 1670 North Virginia Street in Reno, Nev.
until a permanent facility is constructed on the campus within the next
few years.
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