Gifted Specialists fill broad needs of 20% of students
The work and contributions of gifted specialists in Madison City Schools were acknowledged during “Gifted Education Month.” CONTRIBUTED
Discovery Middle School, Liberty Middle School, Madison, Madison County Record, News, Schools, Z - News Main
 By  GreggParker Published 
10:44 pm Monday, January 30, 2023

Gifted Specialists fill broad needs of 20% of students

MADISON – “A high achieving child knows the answers. A gifted child asks more questions.” — Janice Szabos, “Challenge” magazine

That quote, maybe simplistic, does define the need that gifted specialists fill in Madison City Schools. During Gifted Education Month in January, the spotlight panned to 13 MCS specialists who challenge and mentor children in all elementary and middle schools.

The predominant difference in instruction shows that students ‘LEARN’ in a regular classroom while gifted students ‘APPLY’ knowledge from the facts.

“For example, students may learn about angle measurement in math class, and then apply that knowledge when coding a robot to turn 45 degrees,” Amber Merrill said.

In a regular classroom, a teacher groups standards by subject, such as math and science. “Our standards (for gifted) are grouped by competency, such as . . . creative thinking,” Merrill said.

“We use ‘Essential Understandings’ to create units. For example, students may learn about the moon landing in history. We would extend that learning to answer, ‘How could Artemis missions result in new findings?’” Merrill said.

All elementary and middle schools have at least one, full-time gifted teacher: Beth Bero, Horizon; Emily Boshers, Columbia; Misty Farmer, Columbia; Sharon Harris, Mill Creek; Ashley Herron, Mill Creek and Midtown; Stacye Lester, Heritage; Amber Merrill, Heritage; Jessica Schmauch, Horizon and Rainbow; Terry Schmidt, Liberty; Kerri Scroggins, Rainbow; Wendy Tibbs, Midtown; Rhonda Williams, Discovery; and Beth Woodard, Madison elementary.

MCS teachers are certified in grades K-12 and take graduate-level courses to satisfy state requirements, Bero said.

Alabama students can participate in gifted ‘pull-out programs’ in grades 3-5. “In grade 6, identified students may select ‘Innovations’ as an elective course,” Bero said. “After sixth grade, electives, honors and advanced-placement classes serve our gifted population.”

Approximately 20 percent of MCS students participate in the gifted program, Bero said.

“Teachers do not get to choose who enters the gifted program,” Misty Farmer said. “All second-grade students participate in the Second Grade Child Find process as outlined by Alabama State Department of Education. When a student is referred, many factors determine whether they qualify (for gifted), including, but not limited to, academic aptitude, work samples and classroom behaviors of creativity and leadership.”

Gifted teachers often ask area experts to visit and enhance students’ understanding. “We have speakers from the FBI when students are learning about Crime Scene Investigation,” Wendy Tibbs said. When students are involved with a stock market game simulation, a University of Alabama in Huntsville professor discusses research corporations before students invest in the stock market.

Before 2013, gifted education was unfunded. “The number of both service hours and gifted students or ‘caseload’ per teacher was recommended by the state, but no funding existed to provide those teaching units,” Tibbs said. “Consequently, each school system determined how much time gifted students were served and how many teachers were allocated,” Tibbs said.

Since then, Alabama Association for Gifted Children has been instrumental in getting funding for gifted students across the state, Tibbs said. The association implemented “Gifted Education Month” for gifted teachers to explain the need for gifted programming, its allocation and its benefits to the state.

For more information, visit your school’s website, contact the gifted specialist at your school and review National Association for Gifted Children’s website, nagc.org, Farmer said.

Also on The Madison Record
Rocket City Marching Invitational set for Saturday, Sept. 20 at stadium
Bob Jones High School, Madison, Madison County Record, ...
Gregg Parker 
September 17, 2025
MADISON – Bob Jones High School Bands, in collaboration with title sponsor KODA Technologies, will present the third annual Rocket City Marching Invit...
Mayor Paul Finley bids farewell, reflects on accomplishments at 2025 Madison Update
A: Main, Madison County Record, News, ...
Maria Rakoczy 
September 17, 2025
MADISON - Madison Mayor Paul Finley will be leaving the office of mayor this Nov. after sitting out the Aug. 26 election. Finley addressed the busines...
District 6 seat to be decided Tuesday in runoff election
A: Main, Madison County Record, News, ...
Maria Rakoczy 
September 17, 2025
MADISON - There is one final race to be decided from Madison’s municipal Aug. 26 election. The representative for District 6 on the Madison City Counc...
Heart of the Valley YMCA exits Chapter 11 bankruptcy, renews mission focus
A: Main, Business, Madison County Record, ...
Gregg Parker 
September 17, 2025
HUNTSVILLE – On Sept. 8, Heart of the Valley YMCA announced its successful emergence from Chapter 11 bankruptcy. This development marks a new chapter ...
MCDAB presents check to Parks and Recreation, chairperson steps down
Madison County Record, News, The Madison Recor, ...
Maria Rakoczy 
September 17, 2025
MADISON - After serving as the chairperson for the Madison City Disability Advocacy Board (MCDAB) for nine years, Janessa Crosswy is moving and steppi...
State lawmakers, local city leaders meet with Space Command leader to discuss transition
Madison County Record, News, The Madison Recor, ...
By ALEX ANGLE Alabama Daily News 
September 17, 2025
WASHINGTON — Space Command is moving quickly to bring the headquarters to Huntsville through meetings with members of the state’s congressional delega...
Best-Selling Author Jen Hatmaker to share memoir on Oct. 21
Events, Madison County Record, News, ...
Gregg Parker 
September 17, 2025
MADISON – Jean Hatmaker, “New York Times” Best-Selling Author, speaker and podcaster, will share thoughts from her memoir, “Awake,” at Blue Apple Book...

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *