Ep. 115 - Gifted Educator Denise Workman Shares Wisdom

The Main Thing Podcast

Welcome to the Main Thing Podcast, where every episode brings you a concise, high-impact wisdom lesson from one of the wisest people I know. Studying their wisdom and learning together, we all get just a little bit better at this thing called life.

Denise Workman's Journey in Nurturing Exceptional Minds

In this heartwarming episode, we sit down with Denise Workman, a passionate educator who has dedicated her life to advocating for— and nurturing the talents of — special needs students.

How can hope and humility transform the lives of gifted students?

Denise brings her wisdom, warmth and infectious positivity to our conversation, sharing her deep insights into the unique challenges and misconceptions surrounding giftedness. She reveals how she helps gifted students navigate their educational journeys and the complexities of growing up. Denise also shares her personal experiences and valuable life-lessons.

What if growing up in a small town was your biggest superpower?

This episode is a must-listen for educators, parents, and anyone interested in understanding the true essence of giftedness. Tune in to discover why Denise Workman is one of the wisest people we know and how her work is making a tremendous impact.

A Bit More About Our Wise Guest - Denise Workman

Denise Workman is a teacher for the gifted who specializes in student identification, advocacy, enrichment, and talent development. She is a past president and current member of the West Virginia Association for Gifted and Talented.

Denise is active in her community as a volunteer. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for West Virginia University Alumni Association and as a board member for the Charles and Mary Fayne Glotfelty Foundation. She’s also a devoted supporter of the Boone County WVU Alumni Chapter focusing on its annual pig roast fundraiser and student scholarships. Denise and her husband, Todd Mount, reside in Charleston.

Resources

Connect with Denise on LinkedIn

Our podcast website for additional wisdom resources

Credits

Editor + Technical Advisor Bob Hotchkiss

Brand + Strategy Advisor Andy Malinoski

PR + Partnerships Advisor Rachel Bell

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Episode Chapters

[0:03:35] - Identifying and working with gifted students; Denise’s calling

[0:06:18] - The superpower of growing up in a small town

[0:10:11] - Denise reveals her Main Thing wisdom lesson

[0:12:00] - Thieves of hope; challenges confronting children today

[0:13:16] - Scarcity mentality; difference between hopelessness and hope

[0:16:41] - Applying Denise’s main thing wisdom to your life

Keywords

Wisdom, Education, Volunteer, Small Town, Superpower, Hope, Humility, Gifted, Students, Educator, Special Needs, Talents, Challenges, Misconceptions, Identification, Advocacy, Talent, Educational, Journeys, Growing Up, Soft Skills, Community, Involvement, Impact, Extraordinary, Support, Meaning, WVU, Alumni, West Virginia