Page 10 - FDLRS Focus 2019

Gifted

"I raise up my voice, not so I can shout, but so those without a voice can be heard...
we cannot succeed when half of us are held back."
-- Malala Yousafzai

Strategic Theme #1 of the Palm Beach School District’s Strategic Plan expresses the importance of addressing
the instructional needs of its students. The goal of “Effective and relevant instruction to meet the needs of all
students” is inclusive of our top performing students. Gifted and high achieving students demonstrate a need
for a challenging academic experience; presented in a creative and differentiated format with support for the
unique social/emotional needs of this special population of students. This is achieved through the opportunity
of gifted services being provided for students that demonstrate a need for rigor and depth beyond the scope of
the traditional instructional program.

As a District, we realize the importance of challenge and rigor in the gifted classroom and presenting the
standards with greater depth and creativity than would be found in the general education setting. To support
this philosophy, professional development and teacher support has been enhanced.
This year, with restructuring of the Gifted department, we have added yet another
dynamic support person to the team. It is with great honor that I introduce,
Theresa Thomas, as Palm Beach County’s Instructional Specialist for Gifted. Her
background includes over twenty years of classroom instruction working with gifted
students, parents, and colleagues. Theresa’s approach to teaching and learning is
simple; the sky's the limit! She received her bachelor’s degree in Social Studies
education and African American Studies from Syracuse University. From there,
she went on to teach in three school districts in Georgia as a high school Social
Studies teacher. It was in Georgia than she pursued her Gifted Teacher Certification
and a Master’s degree in Secondary Education from Central Michigan University.
Theresa made the move to Florida in 2000, continued to teach, but made a change
to middle school. She believes her greatest accomplishment happened two years ago when she was awarded
Social Studies Teacher of the Year for middle schools in Palm Beach County. Theresa is a phenomenal asset to
the team and is looking forward to making amazing strides for Gifted in the district. One additional change in
the Gifted Education department is the shift for Michelle R. Martin from District Gifted Resource Teacher to
Gifted Program Planner.

An essential component of building a strong gifted program is
increasing the applicant pool of teachers with the state mandated
Gifted Endorsement. The opportunity for public school teachers
to obtain their Gifted Endorsement at no cost has been a great
incentive for teachers to register for these classes. The Gifted
Endorsement helps to enhance the marketability of a teacher.
The Florida Department of Education requires fifteen additional
semester hours of course credit to add an Endorsement in Gifted
Education to a teaching certificate. Palm Beach County offers
the necessary courses for endorsement to teachers employed by
the district free of charge and for a fee of $300 per course for
charter school employees seeking to earn the credits toward the
Gifted (continued on page 11)

Page 10 FDLRS Focus