RISD GT News 1.2
The Quarterly Newsletter for K-12 GT in RISD
Parent Brown Bags and Supper Clubs
Supper Club
Tuesday, December 11th
6:00 PM - 7:30 PM
Professional Development Center - A104
Topic: Revised Texas State Plan for the Gifted
Brown Bag
Tuesday, March 5th
11:30 AM - 1 PM
Professional Development Center - Auditorium
Supper Club
Tuesday, April 16th
6:00 PM - 7:30 PM
Professional Development Center - Auditorium
The Professional Development Center is located at 701 W Belt Line Rd .
GT Referrals
6th Grade student scores are available for your review in the Focus Parent Portal. Parents will be able to access an electronic copy of the score report letter through Focus by following these steps:
- Click My Child
- Click Child Info
- Click Assessment Rpt Cards
- Click CogAT Test Results
If you have not set up an account, you may request access to the Focus Parent Portal by following these instructions from the RISD webpage: http://www.risd.org/Group/Parents/Focus/focusforparents.html
Secondary GT https://goo.gl/forms/nYyylhTmGnbED1b53
The secondary referral window for students in grades 7-10 is open. The window will remain open thru January 30, 2019. (Students will test in February.)
6th-Grade Transitions
To help prepare 6th grade students and parents for the transition from elementary to junior high, the College and Career Readiness Office has generated a newsletter to help with these transitional activities. Please feel free to look through our November and December editions.
November
English – https://www.smore.com/7mzq9
Spanish- https://www.smore.com/v27s8
December
English – https://www.smore.com/axj9d
Spanish- https://www.smore.com/gvms9
Campus Spotlight
Pearce HS
Parkhill JH
Lake Highlands JH
Primary REACH
Primary GT
Primary REACH
"We hope for nonconformists among you, for your sake, for the sake of the nation, for the sake of humanity."
- Paul Tillich
JH Teacher Spotlight - Sydney Whitmore
Position/Campus: GT ELAR 7- LHJH
Years in Education: 5
Bio: I grew up in Dallas, so my husband and I are thrilled to be back! First year in RISD; previously taught GT ELAR 7 and Writing Pre-Ap in Wylie ISD.
Education: Oklahoma State University: B.S. in English Literature & Secondary Education
Birthday: 6/16/1991
Favorite Book: Present Over Perfect
Favorite Movie: Good Will Hunting, Pride & Prejudice
Favorite TV Show: The Office, Stranger Things
Favorite Musician/Band: The Local Natives, John Mayer
Favorite Food: Homemade Grain-Free Cinnamon Granola
Hobbies: Cooking, Yoga, Cycling, Travel, Reading
Favorite Thing About GT Kids: The questions! I love the unique way each student processes and sees the world through a different lens.
Teaching Philosophy: Be present. Listen and observe. Model thoughtful questioning about the world. Inspire students to create their own worldview using history and experience as their guide.
Inspirational Quote: “All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us.” - J.R.R. Tolkien
HS Teacher Spotlight - Forrest Livings
Position/Campus: GT PAP ENG I - PHS
Years in Education: 10
Bio: Born and raised in Arlington, TX. Spouse, female, resides in Richardson and also teaches in the district,
Education: B.L.A. Spanish (UT-Arlington)
Birthday: 12/19
Favorite Author(s): Stephen King, Ken Follett, Donald Westlake
Favorite Movie(s): The Natural, Good Movie and a third Good Movie
Favorite TV Show(s): 30 Rock, Breaking Bad, Twin Peaks
Favorite Musician/Band: Billy Joel, Christopher Parkening, J.S. Bach
Favorite Food: Edible
Hobbies: Hiking, Reading, Being outside, Soccer, Reading, Building Stuff
Favorite Thing About GT Kids: They remind me of me - often taken for peculiar and often misunderstood.
Teaching Philosophy: The principal philosophy which I hold myself to, as a teacher, is one which involves the integration of leveled and complex thought processes. Processes which facilitate growth and maturity of a student and enable them to recognize challenges and problems from multiple perspectives.
Inspirational Quote: “I will work harder.” - Boxer
Elementary Teacher Spotlight - Pam Bayless
Position/Campus: Kinder Team GT Specialist/Dartmouth
Years: 43 years in education/19 years in Gifted
Bio: I was born and raised in Dallas (Went to Dealey Elem, Franklin and Hillcrest). My husband, Bill and I are planning a wedding for our wonderful daughter, Christy. We have the sweetest pitbull named Tank.
Education: B.S. Elem Ed from University of Texas; M.Ed. Early Childhood from University of North Texas
Favorite Books: The Bible, Louis L’Amour books
Favorite Movie: I LOVE movies…anything from Legally Blonde to Shawshank Redemption
Favorite TV Show: Survivor, Shark Tank, The Last Kingdom
Favorite Musician: Michael Buble
Hobbies: Reading, Love the outdoors...hiking, flyfishing, beaching…
Favorite Thing about GT kids: I love to observe their extraordinary thinking and creativity especially in kindergarten.
Teaching Philosophy: I believe that all children have unique gifts and can be successful learners. I feel a teacher should provide a positive, stimulating environment where students feel free to share their ideas. I hope to promote problem solving skills and instill a sense of curiosity to encourage my students to be lifelong learners.
Inspirational Quote: The classic Golden Rule: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”
Celebrations
Emily Villamar-Robbins, chair of SAGE for RISD PTA Council, has been named this year's Texas Association for the Gifted and Talented (TAGT) Advocate for the Gifted.
Monica Simonds, Director of Advanced Academics, presented a session at this year's National Association for Gifted Children Conference.
Clint Rodriguez, Secondary Advanced Academics Specialist, presented four sessions at this year's TAGT conference.John Witter (RHS) and Matthew Smith (FMJH) were nominated by their campuses to compete for RISD STARS teacher honors.
Amanda McCollum (Primary REACH) was nominated by Advanced Academics to compete for RISD STARS teacher honors as well.
A Message From... Clint Rodriguez
This past week, with the assistance of a generous grant from Richardson Gifted, we were able to send fourteen secondary GT teachers to the annual Texas Association for the Gifted and Talented GifteED conference in Fort Worth. This is an annual gathering of the best and the brightest minds in gifted education in Texas and it affords teachers, administrators and parents an opportunity to learn from one another. The positive impact of this experience cannot be understated.
As one of our teachers who attended put it: "This was a great opportunity to get ideas and strategies that really work. I can bring what I've learned here straight back to my classroom." Another teacher expressed that TAGT felt like "finding my people", and another simply wanted to say that "this was by far and away the best professional development I have ever had." We extend our heartfelt thanks to all the parent members of Richardson Gifted and look forward to many more years of a productive and fulfilling relationship. If you are interested in joining this wonderful organization, please see their site at http://www.richardsongifted.org/.
On another note, as we approach final exams and the much-needed break afterward, please remember to take a moment to relax and enjoy the season. Gifted individuals are prone to high levels of perfectionism and the subsequent stress, so make a point of dedicating some time to the things that matter most: family, friends and fun.
Happy Holidays. See you in 2019.
Clint Rodriguez
Exec. Director of College & Career Readiness
Email: elizabeth.swaner@risd.org
Phone: 469-593-0248
Twitter: @RISDCCR
Director of Advanced Academic Studies
Email: monica.simonds@risd.org
Website: https://tinyurl.com/GTRISD
Location: 9479 Whitehurst Drive, Dallas, TX, USA
Phone: 469-593-2426
Twitter: @RISDGT
Advanced Academics Specialist - Secondary
GT/AP/PreAP
Email: clinton.rodriguez@risd.org
Website: https://tinyurl.com/GTRISD
Phone: 469.593.0784
Twitter: @ctrodgifted
Advanced Academics Specialist - Central
Email: jasmine.patel@risd.org
Website: https://tinyurl.com/GTRISD
Advanced Academics Specialist - Campus Support
Email: sara.mooney@risd.org
Website: https://tinyurl.com/GTRISD