Northern Illinois University
Department of Special and Early Education
College of Education

Hope Elisabeth (Bess) Wilson, Ph.D.
Chair and Professor, Teacher Education

Department

Research Interests

Hope Elisabeth (Bess) Wilson’s primary area of specialty is an assessment of learners, including both standardized and classroom-based assessments. She is a founding member of the board of directors, and a research director, of the Innovation Collaborative. She is also a member of the American Educational Research Association and its Research on Giftedness, Creativity and Talent Special Interest Group, and has served in various roles for the National Association for Gifted Children.

Education

• Ph.D. University of Connecticut, Education Psychology: Gifted Education, 2009
  • Dissertation: "A Model of Academic Self-Concept: Perceived Difficulty, Social Comparison, and Achievement Among Academically Accelerated Secondary School Students." Advisor: Del Siegle.
• M.Ed. Hardin-Simmons University, Gifted Education, 2005
• M.A.T. Austin College, Education, 2002
• B.A. Austin College, Art (emphasis in painting), 2001

Recent Publications

Refereed Journals

• Wilson, H. E., Yendol-Hoppey, D., and Lastrapes, W. G. (2023). Teacher residents: Contributing to secondary student success. The New Educator.
• Wilson, H.E. (2022). Resolving the conflict in gifted education: The missing piece in discussions of inequity of identification, service, and achievement for advanced learners. Gifted Child Quarterly, 66(2), 134-135.
• Wilson, H. E., Song, H. H., Johnson, J., and Presley, L. (2021). Effects of transdisciplinary STEAM lessons on student critical and creative thinking. Journal of Educational Research, 114(5), 445-457.
• Wilson, H.E. (2021). Reflections on experiences at a residential science and math high school: An alumni survey. Journal for the Education of the Gifted, 44(4), 414-431.

Books

• Wilson, H. E. (2022). Building transformational kindness in schools: A guide for teachers and leaders. Routledge Press.
• Adelson, J. L., and Wilson, H. E. (2021). Letting go of perfect: A guide for families and educators (2nd Edition). Prufrock Press/ Routledge Press.
• Wilson, H. E. (2017, 2010). Instructors manual. In G. A. Davis, S. Rimm, and D. Siegle, Education of the gifted and talented (6th ed.). Prentice Hall.
• Adelson, J. L., and Wilson, H. E. (2009). Letting go of perfect: Overcoming perfectionism in kids. Prufrock Press.

Book Chapters

• Wilson, H. E. (2021). Motivation. In Miller-Morris, E. and Matthews, M. (Eds.). Development of the High Ability Child. Routledge Press.
• Wilson, H. E. (2020). Research-based essential basics in professional learning in the arts. In A. Novak and C. L. Weber (Eds.), Professional Learning Strategies for Teachers of the Gifted in the Content Areas (pp. 129-148). Prufrock Press.
• Adelson, J. L., Wilson, H. E., and Mehta, M. D. (2019, in press). Early entrance to kindergarten. In N. Hafenstein (Ed.), Perspectives in Gifted Education: Legal Issues (Vol. 7). University of Denver.
• Wilson, H. E., and Adelson, J. L. (2019, in press). Dual enrollment for gifted high school students. In N. Hafenstein (Ed.), Perspectives in Gifted Education: Legal Issues (Vol. 7). University of Denver.