I have a person who is a rocket scientist, but she is on level 4 and won't go any further. I'll sit her down, she'll type on the computer for a minute, then stand up and say "uh-uh". She doesn't progress while I'm away from the game, either. I made her have another baby as punishment, since she didn't want kids and already had 3.
Maybe she's not smart enough to be a rocket scientist?