RISD Secondary GT News
Fall 2017 3.0
For the previous newsletter, click here.
Second GT Parent Brown Bag
Event: GT Parent Brown Bag
Building: Professional Development Center
Room: Auditorium
Address: 701 W Belt Line Rd
Date: 01/08/2018
Start Time: 11:30 AM
End Time: 1:00 PM
If you would like to suggest topics or have questions for this event, please feel free to fill out this survey.
Referral Windows Open!
Additionally, if you are the parent of a sixth-grader who recently tested, you should be aware that the referral window for elementary students transitioning into secondary will be closing soon. Referrals can be made at: https://bit.ly/RISDGTReferral.
We Still Want to Hear From You! Parent Voice Survey Still Open.
Mentors Wanted. Third Call!
“Every student is a chance for greatness.” - John Hunter, Gifted Educator and Inventor of The World Peace Game
Enrichment and Scholarship Opportunities
Texas A&M Commerce - Mesquite is offering a free SAT/ACT practice session this Saturday. Sign up here.
The Texas Holocaust and Genocide Commission is looking for essay and video submissions...
The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation offers a number of scholarships that are worth exploring.
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Teacher Spotlight: Abby Goldfarb, Apollo STEM Academy
8th Grade American History/GT Humanities.
How long have you been in education?
12 years.
Where is your home town?
New York City.
Where did you attend college?
I have a BA in Political Science from McGill University (Montreal, Canada) and a MS Secondary Social Studies Education from State University of New York at Brockport.
What are your hobbies?
Snorkeling, sailing, anything to do with the ocean, water and/or beach; travelling wherever and whenever I can.
Favorite movies, TV shows, etc.?
The West Wing and Star Wars (original trilogy, thank you very much!)
What is you educational philosophy?
No significant learning occurs without a significant relationship.
What is your favorite thing about teaching gifted kids?
Their amazing perspectives on history, the way they challenge the 'norm', how they make me rethink my world view. But just as important, I love their ability to make me laugh everyday!
What else is interesting about you?
I studied in Canada for 4 years, met Richard Nixon in an elevator, and really hate apple pie.
Teacher Spotlight: Kellie Adams, West Junior High
7th-grade GT Science.
How long have you been in education?
11 years.
Where is your home town?
I grew up in College Station and now reside with my hubby in Plano.
Where did you attend college?
I went to Texas A&M and have a degree in interdisciplinary studies.
What are your hobbies?
Bike riding, traveling, going to the park, spending time with family.
Favorite movies, TV shows, etc.?
Remember the Titans and Downton Abby.
What is you educational philosophy?
Build and nurture a relationship with students, then learning and success will fall into place.
What is your favorite thing about teaching gifted kids?
There is never a dull moment! I love how there is something new everyday and they keep me on my toes. I also love how much I learn from them and how they teach each other new things daily!
What else is interesting about you?
I am married to my hubby, Chris, and we have a dog named Scout. I am left handed and proud of it! I love watching college football and am especially partial to my Aggies, whoop!
A Message From The GT Specialist
The final days of the fall semester are always a hectic time for teachers, administrators and, of course, students and parents. It's very easy to lose sight of what's important while preparing for finals, making travel plans and either braving the mall or making really good use of your Amazon Prime membership. For this message, I thought I'd slow down and do some reflecting on what is really important.
This past week, I was fortunate enough to attend and present at the 2017 GiftED Conference in Houston, sponsored by the Texas Association for the Gifted and Talented. The conference is always a great place to learn new things and connect with the GT "Tribe", but this year was uniquely special. I was privileged to have been on the steering committee for the conference's first annual Secondary Summit, a meeting of educators whose primary concern is the quality education of secondary students. I presented on teacher evaluation and teacher placement and also had the pleasure of hearing from Dr. Michael Postma, who is currently the CEO of SENG. His message was deeply impactful for a number of reasons, but one thing he said really stuck with me. He asked us if we "really know our who". That is: those we serve in GT education.
The fact of the matter is that we work with kids with incredibly unique needs and we must always be conscious of that as we design and implement services. Teachers are an incredibly important part of this formula. As one participant on our student panel said, GT kids want teachers who are "hilarious and treat learning as a two way street." I can confidently say that RISD has teachers such as these in abundant supply. As I have visited classrooms throughout the district, I have been truly inspired by watching teachers deploy both a sense of humor that our GT kids appreciate and also a sense of wonder at what these kids are capable of, a willingness to explore what they don't know right alongside the kids as lifelong learners.
This goes hand in hand with something else I heard at the conference. The legendary John Hunter, inventor or The World Peace Game, laid out the stakes of GT education when he said, "If we just teach knowledge, our kids don't have a chance." Hunter was talking about the fact that we're not just educating kids so that they can go to college and enter the work force, we're also trying to empower them to be leaders and dreamers.
That is the true work of GT education, to give our kids a shot at making the world a better place. It is a mission that I and every teacher of the gifted in RISD stand one hundred percent behind.
Happy Holidays,
CR
Clint Rodriguez
Career and College Readiness
Email: clinton.bland@risd.org
Website: http://bit.ly/2zhlnUa
Phone: 469.593.0784