1855 Calhoun Road Greenwood, SC 29649 chalmersc@gwd50.org

1. The Journey:How one district started the journey to change gifted and talented services in their district 1855 Calhoun Road Greenwood, SC 29649 chalmersc@gwd50.org Pam Brown, Cathy Chalmers, and Leeann Dickey

2. Journey - the act of traveling from one place to another

3. TEACHER:  Winnie, name one important thing we have today that we didn't have ten years ago. WINNIE:     Me!

4. Greenwood District 50 STATS • Greenwood County approximately 65,000 people. • Considered rural. • Largest of three school districts in Greenwood County. • Approximately 9,300 students

5. Greenwood District 50 STATS • 1 Early Childhood Center, 8 Elementary Schools, 3 Middle Schools, 2 High Schools, 1 Alternative School, 2 Magnet Schools, and 1 Career Center • Eligible for gifted and talented 15.1%. • Eligible for Free/Reduced lunch 54%. • Minority 52% (A=1%, AA=42%, Hispanic=8%, Other=1%)

6. “Our primary focus continues to be on learning - learning by our students as they prepare for the 21st century, learning by our staff as they help our students become prepared, and learning throughout our community as we continue to ask for support for our schools and our children.” Darrell Johnson, Ed.D. Superintendent

7. Prior to 2007-2008 • Elementary gifted and talented services were delivered in a pull-out model. • Middle School gifted and talented services were delivered in a special class, non-graded academy time. • High School gifted and talented services were delivered in a Science content, special class model.

8. Discussions/Questions Among GT Stakeholders • Why aren’t more GT identified students scoring proficient/advanced on PACT? • Why aren’t more GT identified students taking AP courses? • Are we using the best model to deliver services? • Do we have enough GT endorsed teachers?

9. Who needs to be on the bus if we are going to make a change that truly impacts gifted education for our students? School Level Administrators Students School Board Teachers District Level Administrators Parents Guidance Counselors SC Department of Education

10. Key to getting ALL stakeholders on the Bus GOOD COMMUNICATION GOOD COMMUNICATION GOOD COMMUNICATION GOOD COMMUNICAITON

11. Timeline 2004-2005 • District Strategic Plan 2005-2010. • Phase 1, Year 1 of state mandated GT Plan. • Worked with SCDE and Converse to schedule GT courses offerings in Greenwood via Summer Institutes • Send GT Teacher Team to Center for Gifted Education, College of William and Mary

12. Timeline 2005-2006 • Worked with SCDE and Converse to schedule GT courses offerings in Greenwood via Summer Institutes • Send GT Teacher Team to Center for Gifted Education, College of William and Mary • Provide Professional Development via GT Regions

13. Timeline 2006-2007 • Worked with WPEC and Converse to schedule GT courses offerings in Greenwood • Provided professional development for William and Mary ELA Units and Jacob’s Ladder • Algebra in the Classroom • Purchased graphing calculators

14. Timeline 2007-2008 • Elementary – focus on stems, critical and creative thinking, piloted M3 • Middle school – changed model from academy to special class with content focus, English 1, Algebra 1, stems, research • High school – content change from Science to ELA and mathematics, stems • Audit

15. District 50 PACT GT Proficient/Advanced PerformanceELAMathematics Green district met or exceeded state

16. Contacts and Resources • Template for jeopardy http://www.hardin.k12.ky.us/res_techn/countyjeopardygames.htm • Summer Institute at College of William and Mary, http://cfge.wm.edu/ • Greenwood School District 50 www.gwd50.org • brownp@gwd50.org, dickeyl@gwd50.org, chalmersc@gwd50.org