Andrew Wirtz is a champion and advocate for a more inclusive approach to advanced education.

Wirtz, a two-time University of Iowa College of Education alumnus with a Master of Arts in Teaching, Leadership, and Cultural Competency and a Doctor of Education in Educational Policy and Leadership Studies, was recently recognized at the Iowa Talented and Gifted Conference in Des Moines for his expertise, leadership, and contributions to the field of gifted education. Earlier this year, he also received the David Bills Outstanding Doctoral Dissertation Award from the Iowa Academy of Education for the work he presented. 

The award is presented annually to the author of an outstanding dissertation written by a student at an Iowa university that focuses on an issue of significant policy importance to education in Iowa. 

Bills was a sociology of education professor and Emma E. Holmes Faculty Research Fellow in the Department of Educational Policy and Leadership Studies, who passed away in 2021. Bills was serving as the UI Departmental Executive Officer of the Educational Policy and Leadership Studies Department at the time of his death.

Wirtz was nominated for the award by his advisor and UI Director of the Center for Evaluation and Assessment and Professor of Educational Leadership, Liz Hollingworth.

 "Andy’s research addresses a significant gap in how we identify and nurture gifted students,” Hollingworth says. “His work deserved recognition because he’s challenging the traditional view of giftedness and advocating for a more inclusive approach. His project could have a lasting impact on how we support talented students across the state.”

Wirtz praises his alma mater for the work that the nationally recognized Belin-Blank Center does for advanced education and talent development as well as the excellent education he received through the EdD program. 

“The Belin-Blank Center is a game-changer for gifted education," Wirtz says. "To have a resource like that right here in Iowa is incredible. It puts us at the forefront of research and practice in gifted education, and being able to collaborate with them isa dream come true for any educator dedicated to supporting diverse talents."

Wirtz, a Des Moines Public Schools’ advanced learning consultant, recently shared his dissertation research at the ITAG Conference, which calls for an expansion of advanced education programs to include talents in arts and music.

At the ITAG Conference, he presented his dissertation, which outlined several recommendations he believes should be implemented in the Iowa gifted education programs, including partnerships with local art institutions, collaboration with art and music teachers, acceleration opportunities, expanded definitions of giftedness and talent development, and multiple data points for identifying students’ talent domains.

Drawing from personal experience and research, Wirtz shares that gifted education has historically overlooked students with strengths outside of traditional academic areas such as reading and math, which can limit diversity and inclusivity.

Wirtz’s advocacy journey began years ago with a student named Cash, a talented young artist whose abilities went unrecognized in a system focused on academics. “He was average at math and struggled in reading,” Wirtz recalls, “but where he really stood out was in art. His drawings were off-the-charts good.”

Despite his obvious talent, Cash’s skills weren’t considered for him to participate in the gifted program since his district’s definition of giftedness did not encompass art. 

Reflecting on this missed opportunity, Wirtz shares, “The one thing in education that has always bothered me was Cash not having the ability to have advanced instruction in an area where he was clearly gifted.”

This experience inspired Wirtz’s doctoral research, which explores strategies for supporting advanced abilities in the arts.

“My goal with this was to try to make gifted education more diverse, equitable, and inclusive by casting a wider net,” he explains.

In one of his recommendations, Wirtz highlighted the importance of leveraging community resources.

“For us in the Des Moines public schools, we’re very lucky. We have the Art Center right there in the city, “ Wirtz says. “Rural communities might have a local working artist or colleges and universities within a drivable distance.”

His goal is to make advanced education more accessible for all students, particularly those in under-resourced areas who may lack exposure to the arts.

“A lot of the kids have never left their neighborhood, so to be able to get on a bus and go to the Art Center is life-changing,” Wirtz says.

Following his presentation, Iowa’s Director of Gifted Education, Molly McConnell, approached Wirtz with a proposal to develop a statewide framework for arts and music inclusion in advanced education programs.

She envisions a resource hub to help educators across Iowa recognize and support students with artistic and musical talents.

Wirtz says the initiative would be invaluable, explaining, “Part of the feedback we got from schools that don’t do this is that they just don’t know where to start.” 

Through his efforts, Wirtz aims to ensure that gifted education in Iowa evolves to be more inclusive, valuing a broad spectrum of talents across diverse student backgrounds.

Reflecting on the impact of his research, Wirtz says, “To have something that you’re very passionate about be something that other people find value in, that’s pretty cool.”