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Ginny Burney Scholar Program

Dr. Virginia “Ginny” Burney was a lifelong advocate for gifted education whose leadership and persistence shaped the landscape of high ability services in Indiana for generations of students.

A member of the Indiana Association for the Gifted since the 1980s, Ginny served on the IAG Board of Directors for 27 years beginning in 1996, holding key leadership roles including Treasurer, Advocacy Chair, and President. She played a central role in advancing Indiana’s gifted education mandate, working closely with legislators and state education leaders to establish a statewide definition of high ability students, secure dedicated funding, and ensure districts were supported in developing meaningful programs. Her advocacy helped double state funding for high ability education and later protect those funds for their intended use, while also strengthening accountability and identification practices across the state.

In addition to her legislative impact, Ginny influenced gifted education through her work as an educator and mentor. She taught in the high ability licensure program at Ball State University, provided professional development to thousands of teachers, and consulted with or conducted program evaluations for more than 100 school corporations and charter schools throughout Indiana. Known for her “constant vigilance” in reviewing proposed legislation for unintended consequences affecting gifted learners, Ginny remained deeply committed to equity, access, and opportunity for all high ability students. The Ginny Burney Scholar Program honors her enduring legacy by supporting educators who reflect her passion for advocacy and her dedication to serving gifted students from historically underserved communities. 


Ginny Burney Scholar Program

The primary purpose of the Ginny Burney Scholar Program is to expand access to talent development opportunities for students from low-income backgrounds through high-quality educator training and leadership development. Scholarship recipients serve as catalysts for change by challenging long-held attitudes and practices that have limited the identification and full development of gifted potential in underserved students. Through this program, IAG seeks to build capacity within schools and communities to recognize, nurture, and advocate for talent in all learners.

IAG recognizes the critical role that teachers, high ability coordinators, counselors, and school psychologists play in identifying and developing gifts and talents within today’s diverse student population. Grounded in a commitment to equity and excellence, the Ginny Burney Scholar Program supports the preparation of educators who can lead, advocate, and implement effective practices in communities where students from low-income backgrounds are historically underrepresented in gifted programs. The program seeks passionate and innovative Indiana educators whose professional goals align with expanding access, strengthening identification, and improving services for high ability students.

Scholar Benefits Include:

  • Complimentary registration, hotel accommodations, and a travel stipend to attend the IAG Annual Conference 

  • One-year membership in the Indiana Association for the Gifted

  • Assignment of a professional mentor from IAG’s membership

Eligibility Criteria:

Applicants must be teachers, high ability coordinators, counselors, or school psychologists who:

  • Work in a school with a significant population of students eligible for free or reduced lunch (Title I or similar demographics);

  • Are new to the field of high ability education or in a new high ability role (fewer than five years of experience);

  • Demonstrate a commitment to increasing access to talent development opportunities for students from low-income backgrounds; and

  • Have professional goals aligned with the purpose of the program and that benefit their students, school, or community.

Applications will be available in July 2026

Past Ginny Burney Scholars

2025 - Callie R. Petty

Callie R. Petty, Advanced Program Coordinator for Greater Clark County Schools in Jeffersonville, was the 2025 Ginny Burney Scholar. With nineteen years in education, she has served as a classroom teacher and interventionist and now leads districtwide K–5 high ability programming, including teaching eight pull-out groups each week and supporting a team of retired teachers who provide services across the district. Serving many students from low-income households, Callie focuses on equitable identification, culturally responsive talent development, and creating rigorous learning experiences in English Language Arts, math, engineering, and the arts, even when resources are limited. She holds a master’s degree from Indiana University Bloomington, a Gifted and Talented Education license, and a bachelor’s degree from Butler University, and she is committed to using this opportunity to expand access and enrichment for advanced learners who might otherwise be overlooked. 

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