Teachers of gifted students must take on a wide range of challenges that include specialized knowledge and skills that are not often taught in college. The job often becomes more work than it's worth income-wise, leading many teachers to burn out or lose motivation when tasked with teaching exceptional children. Administrators may attempt to motivate teachers with gifts or other external rewards, but studies show that teachers are most motivated by intrinsic rewards such as a sense of accomplishment and self-esteem. More can be done by the school systems themselves to boost this motivation.

Give teachers of gifted students ownership of their program. Encourage them to fully plan and manage with administrators so they feel like an equal partner of the gifted education program, not just an employee with a job description to fulfill. Once a teacher is empowered and feels in control of a program, motivation will naturally follow.

Provide opportunities for specialized learning experiences related to gifted education. According to Tamara Fisher, president of the Montana Association of Gifted and Talented Education, "All teachers have the capacity to become great teachers for gifted kids." The problem she sees is that many teachers aren't taught the skills necessary to teach gifted children within teachers preparation classes currently available. With the proper skills and understanding of gifted students, teachers have a fresh vision for their careers and more motivation. Help realize this with in-service learning opportunities and promoting graduate courses in gifted education.

Develop teacher evaluations that are both supportive and systematic. A well-designed evaluation system allows teachers to fully understand their own personal growth within the gifted education field. At the same time, a mediocre system can lower a teacher's self-esteem and motivation. Get teachers involved to create an evaluation procedure that will objectively measure a teacher's skills and progress. Encourage teachers to make and track professional goals and assist them in reaching their goals.