About CBK
The Center for Bright Kids has been in operation for 40 years, with a focus on academic talent development and above-level testing/assessment, accelerated weekend and day programs, an international travel program, and accelerated residential summer programs at the University of Colorado Boulder. CBK holds a strong national reputation for participation in discussions and research about gifted and talented students, and for programs that offer both academic rigor and rich socioemotional growth and connection no matter where our kids come from. CBK also now operates a secondary progressive school in the Denver metro area called Vector Progressive School. Vector is a small school environment for gifted and talented kids looking for people who truly “get” them, and emphasizes a full secondary learning trajectory from ages 11-18 with a focus in social justice pedagogy.
Mission Statement
Serving diverse communities of families and educators of gifted and talented youth since 1982, the mission of the Center for Bright Kids is to provide access and opportunities for K-12 students with high interest and/or high ability in quality enrichment and acceleration programming that encourage self-growth, social responsibility, and a positive view toward lifelong learning.
Our Vision
The vision of the Center for Bright Kids is to offer opportunities and experiences that enrich the whole child – intellectual, social, emotional, personal, and ethical.
We believe that it is essential to uphold an authentic commitment to reflect the broad diversity of our families, communities, and region within our programs and to engage community input in those efforts.
We will encourage imaginative thinking, a discovery of the world, a passion for thinking and playing, and a world view that emphasizes recognition of our role as members of a global community.
We promote student independence, confidence, empowerment and positive self-esteem through respectful, responsible, and accountable contributions in a community that is safe and responsive to the need for a sense of belonging.
The CBK Logo
The logo for the Center for Bright Kids communicates our emphasis on community and energy. As we hope that our programs offer “a bright spot for bright kids,” the CBK kid-designed logo embodies the movement, energy, and connections that CBK can offer, as well as the possibilities for moving forward and transcending layers or borders that often present obstacles to our bright students. We hope to bring kids together to learn, think, and live in an intellectual community that is safe, while still presenting the challenge, enthusiasm, and vigor that encourage kids to take their experiences with this community and apply them to the lifelong journey beyond CBK.
Meet Our Executive Director
Dr. Amy Rushneck spent over ten years with the Wisconsin Center for Academically Talented Youth, an affiliate center of Northwestern University’s Center for Talent Development, employed as a program assistant, residential assistant, teaching assistant, instructor, residential director, and program site coordinator.
Dr. Rushneck completed a Ph.D. at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in Curriculum Theory and Teacher Education with an M.S. in Literacy Education and Visual Culture, and was a licensed teacher with degrees in secondary education, English, and theater with emphases in gifted and talented education and linguistics.
Dr. Rushneck has also served as a professor and instructor of teacher education and curriculum policy, directing a Secondary Education Licensure Program and a Masters Program in Education, and been involved in various diversity education efforts at local and national levels.
More recently, Dr. Rushneck is involved with national research initiatives in talent development in work with the three other large talent development centers at Northwestern, Duke, and Johns Hopkins Universities. Dr. Rushneck has published various articles and presents regularly at state and national meetings and conferences. This is Dr. Rushneck’s 15th year directing CBK through an evolution as an Academic Talent Development Center, with over 25 years of experience with academic talent search and talent development summer programs.
Our Executive Council
Dr. Amy Rushneck, Executive Director/President/Head of School
Dr. Blanche Kapushion, Advocacy Director/Vice President
Melanie Eaton, Support Services Director/Secretary
Zach Boerner, Endowment Director/Treasurer
The Center for Bright Kids reserves the right to change without notice any statement on this website concerning but not limited to rules, policies, tuition, fees, curricula, courses, and faculty. It is the policy of the Center for Bright Kids not to discriminate against any individual on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, religion, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, or veteran status in matters of admissions, employment, housing, or services in the educational programs it operates.
In exceptional circumstances, the Center for Bright Kids reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to waive any documentation normally required for admission and to admit or deny a student’s admission whenever there may be sufficient evidence for the decision.