Dr. Donna Y. Ford is one of the most influential scholars in the field of gifted education, particularly in the areas of equity, access, and culturally responsive practices. She is a Distinguished Professor of Education and Human Ecology at The Ohio State University and has dedicated her career to addressing the persistent underrepresentation of Black and Brown students in gifted programs.
Dr. Ford has authored hundreds of articles, book chapters, and books that span gifted education, multicultural education, and educational psychology. Her work consistently challenges deficit-based narratives and calls on educators to examine how bias and systemic inequities shape opportunity. Learn more about Dr. Ford’s work here. You can also listen to the National Association for Gifted Children’s (NAGC) Legacy Interview with Dr. Ford here.
Key Contribution: The Ford-Harris/Bloom-Banks Matrix
One of Dr. Ford’s most practical contributions is the Ford-Harris/Bloom-Banks Matrix, a curriculum framework that integrates Bloom’s Taxonomy with Banks’ Levels of Multicultural Content Integration. The matrix supports teachers in designing learning experiences that are both cognitively rigorous and culturally responsive. It is something that my school division hasn’t used yet, but will be exploring. You can see a sample of the matrix on Dr. Ford’s personal website.
Rather than treating multicultural content as an add-on, the matrix encourages educators to intentionally plan instruction that:
- Moves beyond surface-level representation or isolated cultural references
- Embeds multicultural perspectives across higher levels of thinking
- Engages students in analysis, evaluation, and creation through diverse cultural lenses
Impact on Underrepresented Gifted Students
When used intentionally, the Ford-Harris/Bloom-Banks Matrix can have a powerful impact on underrepresented gifted learners:
- It affirms students’ cultural identities while maintaining high academic expectations
- It reduces cultural mismatch between curriculum and learners’ lived experiences
- It expands access to advanced-level thinking tasks for a broader range of students
How Educators and Homeschool Families Can Apply This
Educators and homeschool parents can use the matrix as both a planning and reflection tool. Practical applications include:
- Auditing existing curriculum for both rigor and meaningful representation.
- Designing interdisciplinary units that integrate cultural perspectives at higher cognitive levels.
- Encouraging gifted learners to critique systems, narratives, and historical perspectives.
In Sum
The Ford-Harris/Bloom-Banks Matrix demonstrates that rigor and relevance are not competing priorities. When thoughtfully combined, they create learning experiences that are both challenging and affirming.
Your Turn Think about a recent unit or learning experience you provided. Where might there be opportunities to deepen both the level of thinking and the cultural perspectives represented? What ideas do you have for using the Ford-Harris/Bloom-Banks Matrix? Share them in the comments below! ~Ann
Teaching for Talent 