Congratulations to Dr. Casey Leone, the first student to defend her dissertation and graduate from the recently approved doctoral program in Curriculum and Instruction. Dr. Leone is an elementary science curriculum specialist in Clay County School District. Members of her dissertation committee are Dr. Hope (Bess) Wilson, Dr. David Hoppey, Dr. Amanda Kulp, and Dr. Melanie Sanders. In Dr. Leone's dissertation entitled "Educator Perceptions of Giftedness in Florida," the perceptions of educators towards gifted policy were explored through a series of survey items relating to the sentiment, awareness, and perceived impacts of gifted education policy. Her results revealed that Florida educators support redefining giftedness to include a broader conception of giftedness that is comprised of ability, creativity, and achievement. Dr. Leone’s research has implications for gifted teacher endorsement and principal preparation programs, in-service teacher professional learning, as well as the ...