TAGT giftED19: Full Schedule

9:00am CST

How to Develop Curriculum Units Using the TEKS and the State Plan

Would you like to implement cross-curricular learning experiences that lead to advanced-level products in your ELEMENTARY G/T pull-out program? Join us to learn how we have used TEKS, district data, and outside resources to create a curriculum that engages and challenges gifted learners. We’ll share both our successes and challenges.

Speakers

Dewawn Wiest

GT Teacher, Wylie ISD

Dewawn Wiest is in her 16th year in education and second year as a K-4 GT teacher. Previous to her current role, she taught fourth graders. She holds a Master’s Degree from Dallas Baptist University (2016) and a Bachelor’s Degree from University of Texas at Dallas (2003). Dewawn... Read More →

Kristi Williams

GT Teacher, Wylie ISD

Kristi Williams is in her 15th year of education and her fourth year as a GT teacher in a pull-out program. She serves two K-4 campuses and is part of a district team that writes curriculum for the elementary GT program. Previously, she taught GT students in a first grade classroom... Read More →

Heather Buckley

Elementary Advanced Academics & GT Specialist, Wylie ISD

Heather Buckley is in her 16th year as an educator in Wylie ISD. While her primary role is to serve as the Advanced Academics Instruction Specialist, she has 5 years experience teaching K-4 GT students in the classroom and 3 years teaching in a pull-out program. She leads a district... Read More →

Jessica Travis

Early Childhood Literacy Specialist, Wylie ISD

TAGT 2019 Presentation pdf

Wednesday December 4, 2019 9:00am - 10:00am CST
Cibolo 7 JW Marriott Hill Country Hotel

Breakout, Program Options and Design

Core Area Program Options and Design
Audience Program coordinators, Campus specialists
Session Level Foundational
Keywords ELA/Reading, Social Studies, STEM/STEAM, State Plan Track, Grades K-5

9:00am CST

Equitably Identifying and Serving Minority Students in Gifted Education: Lessons Learned From Illinois District U-46

Equity in identification of gifted and talented students remains a challenge for many districts—and has led to multiple court cases across the nation. The revised Texas State Plan for the Education of Gifted/Talented Students calls for all student populations to have access to identification for G/T services (Section 2.24) and for the population of G/T students to closely reflect the population of the total district and/or campus (Section 2.25). This session looks at the example of Illinois District U-46, the court case against this district’s identification process and program models for minority students, and what lessons have been learned about building more equitable programs from this district’s work since the case occurred. Moderated by Crystal Wilson, Ford Bend ISD.

Speakers

Crystal Wilson

GT Program Manager-Elementary, Fort Bend ISD

Crystal Wilson has 28 years of personal and professional experience with gifted education. Crystal is currently employed as a GT Program Manager-Elementary for Fort Bend ISD. She enjoys serving as a volunteer for TAGT. Her interests away from work include cycling, traveling, and... Read More →

Donna Y Ford

Ohio State University, Distinguished Professor

Donna Y. Ford is an expert on gifted education and urban education. She returned to The Ohio State University in August 2019 as a Distinguished Professor in the College of Education and Human Ecology. She is also a Faculty Affiliate with the Kirwan Institute. Dr. Ford conducts research... Read More →

April Wells

Gifted Coordinator, Illinois School District U-46

April Wells is the Gifted Coordinator in Illinois School District U-46, where she facilitated the redesign of the District’s gifted program in 2012-2013. April serves on the Board of Directors for the Illinois Association for Gifted Children.

Wednesday December 4, 2019 9:00am - 12:00pm CST
Grand Oaks NO JW Marriott Hill Country Hotel

Deep Dives, Law and Policy

Core Area Law and Policy
Audience Program coordinators, School or district administrators, Campus specialists
Session Level Strategic
Keywords Identification & Assessment, Equity/Diversity, State Plan Track, Gifted+Equity Track

10:15am CST

Building Bridges: Finding Common Goals to Advance Your Goals

With HB3 and the new Texas State Plan, it is more important than ever to find common ground with district goals. Let's discuss how we can work WITH resistant districts so we are pulling in the same direction.

Speakers

Monica Simonds

Director of Advanced Learning Programs and Services, Richardson ISD

Monica Simonds received her M.Ed., from the University of Southwestern Louisiana, currently the University of Louisiana-Lafayette. After teaching for almost ten years in Louisiana, she moved to Texas where she spent ten years as a high school debate coach and is now in her 12th year... Read More →

Wednesday December 4, 2019 10:15am - 11:15am CST
Cibolo 7 JW Marriott Hill Country Hotel

Breakout, Law and Policy

Core Area Law and Policy
Audience All
Session Level Applied
Keywords Equity/Diversity, Advocacy, Professional Development, State Plan Track

11:30am CST

Top Ten Things You Should Know About the New State Plan

Just when you thought you understood the last one, a New State Plan comes along. The original State Plan was published in 1990. Since that time, there have been three revisions, This session will focus on ten of the biggest concepts and/or changes in the New State Plan.

Speakers

Todd Kettler, Ph.D.

Professor, Baylor University

Todd Kettler is associate professor of educational psychology at Baylor University and an affiliated faculty member of the Baylor Center for Gifted Education and Talent Development. Dr. Kettler serves as the coordinator of the graduate programs in gifted education at Baylor University... Read More →

Top Ten Things State Plan TAGT 2019 pdf

Wednesday December 4, 2019 11:30am - 12:30pm CST
Cibolo 7 JW Marriott Hill Country Hotel

Breakout, Program Options and Design

Core Area Program Options and Design
Audience All
Session Level Foundational
Keywords Advocacy, State Plan Track

11:00am CST

Guiding Development: The Social-Emotional Needs of Gifted Learners

Many students who are gifted have low self-concepts after starting school. Explore the unique social emotional needs of the gifted learner, discover how to support those needs in the educational environment, and apply what you learn to advocate for gifted learners.

Speakers

Randi Rasco

District Gifted and Talented Education Instructional Specialist, San Antonio ISD

Randi Rasco received her B.S. degree in Psychology from Southwestern Oklahoma State University in 2002, and her M.A. degree in Community Counseling from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor on 2007. She has an EC-12 Special Education Certification and has worked as a GT facilitator... Read More →

TAGT Guiding SE Development pdf

Imposter Syndrome Test pdf

Thursday December 5, 2019 11:00am - 12:00pm CST
Cibolo 7 JW Marriott Hill Country Hotel

Breakout, Social and Emotional Needs of the Gifted

Core Area Social and Emotional Needs of the Gifted
Audience Program coordinators, Campus specialists
Session Level Foundational
Keywords Advocacy, Professional Development, State Plan Track

11:00am CST

Texas State Plan Work Session: Building a Program Guide

Come to collaborate with peers to develop a gifted and talented program guide for your district. The new state plan requires districts to have a guide describing all gifted/talented programs, services, assessments, and communication. Leave giftED with a start to one of your projects and connections with other leaders!

Speakers

Rolando Ruvalcaba M.Ed.

Educational Consultant, ESC, Region 20

Rolando Ruvalcaba has had experience facilitating G/T workshops at various levels for 16 years. Rolando is known for his interactive sessions that bring out the best of his participants. As a classroom teacher, Rolando has established himself as an effective educator for gifted students... Read More →

Kelsey Karcher

District Coordinator, Allen ISD

Kelsey Karcher, M.Ed., is the District Coordinator for Advanced Academics & Gifted and Talented in Allen ISD. Throughout her career, her goal has been to ensure all gifted students have equitable access to an education that challenges and supports them. She earned a B.A. in Broadcast... Read More →

Kristin Graham

Gifted & Talented Facilitator, Spring Branch ISD

Kristin Graham, M.Ed is in her 12th year in education with K-12 teaching and leadership experience in rural, suburban, and urban areas in Texas and China. She enjoys working strategically with others to leverage meaningful learning opportunities for our students. She currently provides... Read More →

Thursday December 5, 2019 11:00am - 12:00pm CST
Goldenrod JW Marriott Hill Country Hotel

Breakout, Program Options and Design

Core Area Program Options and Design
Audience Program coordinators, School or district administrators, Campus-Level Specialists
Session Level Applied
Keywords State Plan Track

1:15pm CST

TEA Gifted/Talented Education Update

Hear the latest information pertaining gifted/talented education in Texas, including the new Texas State Plan for the Education of Gifted and Talented Students. TEA divisions will also share other highlights related to G/T.

Speakers

Monica Brewer

Gifted/Talented Education Statewide Coordinator, Texas Education Agency

Monica Brewer is a Statewide Coordinator, Gifted/Talented (G/T) Education with the Texas Education Agency. In this role, Monica coordinates all aspects of G/T education and the Commissioner’s Advisory Council for Gifted/Talented Education. Monica is a qualified leader and holds... Read More →

TEA Update 2019 pdf

Thursday December 5, 2019 1:15pm - 2:15pm CST
Cibolo 7 JW Marriott Hill Country Hotel

Breakout, Law and Policy

Core Area Law and Policy
Audience Campus specialists, Program coordinators, School or district administrators
Session Level Foundational
Keywords State Plan Track, Coordinator Track

2:30pm CST

Beyond Talent Pools: Overcoming Barriers to Diversity in Gifted Programs

This session will offer an in-depth look at some of the latest research on the diversity gap as well as solutions-oriented approaches used by a large suburban district. Part of the State Plan track, this session will explore solutions for identifying and serving all students as noted in the new Texas State Plan.

Speakers

Crystal Wilson

GT Program Manager-Elementary, Fort Bend ISD

Thursday December 5, 2019 2:30pm - 3:30pm CST
Cibolo 3-4 JW Marriott Hill Country Hotel

Breakout, Program Options and Design

Core Area Program Options and Design
Audience Program coordinators, School or district administrators
Session Level Strategic
Keywords Equity/Diversity, Identification, State Plan Track

2:30pm CST

Discussing Practical Solutions for the New State Plan

The revised state plan takes us to the next level of G/T services by focusing on student outcomes, social-emotional learning, and equity for all gifted learners. The plan is well-intentioned, but without support, can appear daunting. Come gather resources that help you meet and exceed the newly revised State Plan.

Speakers

Justin Vawter

CEO, NuMinds Enrichment

Justin Vawter lives on the fringe of education, a creative spark working tirelessly to redefine the educational narrative and make the learning experience more impactful and meaningful. He holds a Masters degree in Curriculum Design and Instruction from the University of North Texas... Read More →

Ben Koch

Co-Founder, NuMinds

Ben Koch is driven to unite people to a greater vision and cause in education and self-development. Through coaching, teaching, and delivering progressive workshops and talks he seeks to expand horizons in education, leadership, and personal development. Driven to make a broader impact... Read More →

Thursday December 5, 2019 2:30pm - 3:30pm CST
Cibolo 7 JW Marriott Hill Country Hotel

Breakout, Law and Policy

Core Area Law and Policy
Audience Program coordinators, School or district administrators
Session Level Strategic
Keywords Equity/Diversity, Identification & Assessment, State Plan Track

4:30pm CST

TEA Town Hall: Building G/T Certification, Part II

G/T stakeholders will provide input for the next phase of gifted/talented program certification to TEA in this interactive town hall session, offering suggestions for what the framework for certification of gifted programs might look like in the future.

This session will cover the following sections of the State Plan: Student Assessment, Service Design, and Families.

Speakers

Monica Brewer

Gifted/Talented Education Statewide Coordinator, Texas Education Agency

Certification Session 1 pdf

Thursday December 5, 2019 4:30pm - 5:30pm CST
Grand Oaks EF JW Marriott Hill Country Hotel

Breakout, Law and Policy

Core Area Law and Policy
Audience Program coordinators, School or district administrators, Campus specialists
Session Level Strategic
Keywords State Plan Track

7:30am CST

TEA Gifted/Talented Education Update (Repeat Session)

Hear the latest information pertaining to gifted/talented education in Texas, including the new Texas State Plan for the Education of Gifted and Talented Students. TEA divisions will also share other highlights related to G/T.

Speakers

Monica Brewer

Gifted/Talented Education Statewide Coordinator, Texas Education Agency

TEA Update 2019 pdf

Friday December 6, 2019 7:30am - 8:30am CST
Indian Paintbrush/Lakespar JW Marriott Hill Country Hotel

Breakout, Law and Policy

Core Area Law and Policy
Audience Program coordinators, Campus specialists, School or district administrators
Session Level Foundational
Keywords Coordinator Track, State Plan Track

7:30am CST

Texas State Plan Work Session: Creating an Action Plan

The new Texas State Plan requires that for every area a district does not meet the level of compliance there is a plan to correct it with a timeline. Come work together with other district coordinators to get a jump start on this work.

Speakers

Monica Simonds

Director of Advanced Learning Programs and Services, Richardson ISD

Friday December 6, 2019 7:30am - 8:30am CST
Cibolo 6 JW Marriott Hill Country Hotel

Breakout, Law and Policy

Core Area Law and Policy
Audience Program coordinators, School or district administrators
Session Level Applied
Keywords State Plan Track

9:00am CST

TAGT Legislative Update

Now that the 86th Legislative Session is over and House Bill 3 is underway, TAGT Policy Consultant Marty DeLeon will let you know what HB3 and other education bills mean for gifted education, what comes next, and how you can help advocate for gifted education in the future.

Speakers

Marty DeLeon

Policy Consultant, TAGT

TAGT Dec 2019 pptx

Friday December 6, 2019 9:00am - 10:00am CST
Cibolo 7 JW Marriott Hill Country Hotel

Breakout, Law and Policy

Core Area Law and Policy
Audience Teachers
Session Level Foundational
Keywords Advocacy, State Plan Track