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Gifted and Talented

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Gifted and Talented Coordinator

Carrie Hefner

chefner@chisddevils.com

903-572-8096 ext. 6110

Mission Statement – 

The mission of Chapel Hill ISD’s Gifted and Talented and Destination Imagination programs is to recognize and cultivate the unique strengths of every gifted learner through rigorous inquiry, creative problem-solving, collaboration, and authentic real-world experiences. We empower students to think deeply, take responsible risks, persevere through challenges, lead with integrity, and transform their ideas into meaningful action—preparing them not only to achieve, but to imagine, design, and create a better future.

 

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PROGRAM OBJECTIVES

The Chapel Hill ISD Gifted and Talented and Destination Imagination programs will:

  1. Identify and develop students’ unique academic, creative, leadership, and problem-solving strengths.
  2. Provide rigorous learning experiences that extend beyond the standard curriculum and promote depth, complexity, and advanced thinking.
  3. Engage students in inquiry, research, design, experimentation, and authentic real-world problem-solving.
  4. Develop creativity by encouraging students to generate original ideas, explore multiple possibilities, and transform their ideas into meaningful products, performances, and solutions.
  5. Strengthen critical thinking by teaching students to analyze information, evaluate evidence, recognize relationships, and make well-supported decisions.
  6. Build effective collaboration skills through shared responsibility, respectful communication, constructive disagreement, and appreciation of each team member’s contributions.
  7. Promote student ownership by ensuring that students make decisions, complete meaningful work, solve problems, and take responsibility for the outcomes of their learning.
  8. Cultivate perseverance, adaptability, and responsible risk-taking by teaching students to view challenges, mistakes, and unsuccessful attempts as opportunities for learning and improvement.
  9. Develop confident, ethical leaders who demonstrate integrity, empathy, accountability, and respect for others.
  10. Provide opportunities for students to communicate their thinking through presentations, performances, competitions, exhibitions, portfolios, and other authentic audiences.
  11. Connect classroom learning to communities, careers, cultures, and real-world experiences through field studies, mentorships, competitions, and community-based projects.
  12. Support the academic, social, and emotional needs of gifted and highly creative learners while maintaining high expectations for behavior, participation, and personal growth.
  13. Encourage students to use their abilities in service to others and to create solutions that make a positive difference in their school, community, and world.
  14. Prepare students to become independent, innovative, and lifelong learners who are equipped to imagine, design, lead, and create a better future.

Service for Gifted Students

K-3 

Students in kindergarten through third grade are served through a push-in, differentiated general education model, as well as a once-weekly pull-out program focused on creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving.

4-5 

 Students in grades four and five are served through a push-in, differentiated general education model and a once-weekly pull-out program incorporating Destination Imagination to develop creativity, collaboration, critical thinking, and problem-solving. Destination Imagination experiences are extended through additional after-school practices and activities.

6-8

Students in grades six through eight are served through ELAR and math based honors classes and a weekly pull-out program incorporating Destination Imagination to develop creativity, collaboration, critical thinking, and problem-solving. Destination Imagination experiences are extended through additional after-school practices and activities.  

9-10

Students in grades nine through twelve are served through dual-credit coursework and have opportunities to participate in Destination Imagination. The program also provides authentic, real-world learning experiences designed to develop creativity, collaboration, critical thinking, problem-solving, and college and career readiness.