2022-2024

Goal: SAGE supports all GT students.

  • Advocated for a form in Skyward allowing parents to opt-in to allow students access to above grade level books in the library
  • Advocated for additional higher-level literature to be incorporated into GT, ASPIRE and Advanced Placement courses. View updated list here.
  • Advocated for a sustainable plan for post-AP math courses, district plan pending
  • Advocated for vacated positions to be replaced instead of absorbed – View Momentum and Roadblocks visual chart
    • ASPIRE and GT LEAD teachers – ongoing hiring process in discussion
    • GT coordinator – filled
    • ASPIRE Liaison – filled
    • Advanced Academics Director – filled, but is split responsibility with ELA
    • AP Instructional Coach continues to be outstanding need – no progress
  • Grants to educators across the district 2023-2024 ($3,657):
    • $393 for classroom materials
    • $300 for innovative lesson, bringing professional dance instructors to AP English students
    • $379 for an educator to participate in a TAGT book study on serving gifted learners in the AP classroom
    • $998 for digital science labs
    • $1587 to send three educators to the TAGT conference
  • Grants to educators across the district 2022-2023 ($1,948):
    • $450 to print posters for ASPIRE Symposium
    • $500 for innovative lesson, bringing professional dance instructors to AP English students
    • $998 for digital science labs
  • Promoted GT Teachers’ Amazon Wish Lists

Goal: SAGE educates our community about giftedness.

  • SAGE Evening Program – The Young GT Brain: Vicki Hinesley and Colleen Patton
  • SAGE Coffee Chat – Getting to know the new Advanced Academics Team: Michael Crow, Angela Harris, Jennifer Edwards
  • SAGE Lunch & Learn – Technology and the GT Brain: Angela Harris, Louisa Hilton, William Boykin
  • ASPIRE HS coffee chats
  • ASPIRE MS coffee chats

Goal: SAGE promotes “well-being” in addition to academic achievement … 

  • SAGE Lunch & Learn – Parenting the Secondary GT Child: Angela Harris and a parent panel
  • Recruited for our SENG Parent Discussion Group

… and aims to help gifted & talented (GT) students learn to self-advocate.

  • SAGE Evening Program – College Advising with Baylor TIP
  • SAGE Evening Program – Ice Cream Social Skills

We also recognize the unique needs of particular segments of our gifted population: 

  • twice-exceptional (2e)
    • Participated in the Exceptional Children Committee of the GCISD Council of PTAs, a partnership of individuals and groups supporting students with learning differences
  • highly gifted
    • Advocated for a dedicated K-12 ASPIRE Counselor – discussions ongoing
    • Supported update of informational handouts about ASPIRE
    • Frequent discussions with admin, parents and students about ASPIRE. 
    • Provided information about ASPIRE to parents considering moving to GCISD
    • Provided snacks for teachers on ASPIRE HS Curriculum Design Days
    • Celebrated ASPIRE Academy’s 10th Year

SAGE recognizes outstanding students …

…. and educators in our gifted community.

  • Awarded the Sherry Hamilton Memorial GT Educator Award for $500 to Dr. Cheryl Taliaferro, ASPIRE Liaison
  • Regular Teacher Appreciation gifts/treats

SAGE continues to build our solid network of involved and informed GT advocates.

  • Campus Representative Meetings brought parents from across the district together
  • Monthly Executive Board Meetings
  • Exec Board members had meetings with top administrators, principals, counselors, teachers
  • President had monthly meetings with top administrators
  • Hosted our annual GCISD Board of Trustees Conversations with the Candidates Event
  • Supported the GCISD Council of PTAs’ Exceptional Children Committee
  • Supported the Gifted Education Family Network of Texas and participated in monthly GEFN Parent Leader meetings
  • Teacher and Parent Membership Drive
  • Family Socials – Back to School Pool Party, Tacos and Trivia Night
  • Family Fundraiser & Adult Social at Hop & Sting Brewery, Downtown Grapevine 
  • Earth Day Service Project and Celebration – cleaned up the outdoor classroom at CTMS
  • Elementary Park Playdates – some include GT specialists

Operational Accomplishments

  • Streamlined our membership, financial, and communications into Membership Toolkit
  • Fully converted our organization to Google Suites for NonProfits
  • Sent a monthly email newsletter and news briefs to SAGE Members and subscribers
  • Successfully partnered with North Texas Giving Day

2019-2022

Goal: SAGE educates our community about giftedness.

  • SAGE was recognized by the GCISD Board of Trustees in Sept. 2019 for our contributions and partnership
  • Gifted Pathways 2019 mini-conference: Keynote “Developing Talent from Childhood into Early Adulthood” and breakouts about Gifted 101; guiding your gifted adolescent; 2e students; GT and House Bill 3; and panels of students.
  • SAGE Coffee Chat – Partnership for your gifted student’s success: Mrs. Julie Leslie, Director of Advanced Academics, and Dr. Cheryl Taliaferro, ASPIRE District Liaison
  • SAGE Lunch & Learn: Advanced opportunities in the Humanities at GCISD, Jaqui Van Horn, Director of Humanities
  • SAGE Evening Program: Lessons from a College Admissions Road Trip, Brian Holland
  • SAGE Campus Representatives supported GT LEAD Curriculum Nights
  • Colleyville Elementary meetup & playdate and coffee
  • Dove Elementary meetup & playdate
  • Facebook followers increased from 974 to 1,135
  • Twitter followers increased from 359 to 517
  • Instagram followers increased from 110 to 126

Goal: SAGE promotes “well-being” in addition to academic achievement … 

  • Support during school closures: Featured a video with Dr. Stephanie Cook, GCISD mom and licensed professional therapist, about parenting a GT student; shared many resources about supporting & enriching gifted students at home; launched a new “Virtual Meetup” series where kids & parents can socialize over common topics
  • Coffee Chat focused on the importance of play, featuring Mrs. Angela Harris, GT Specialist at Glenhope, for families of elementary students
  • Hosted seven restaurant socials & fundraisers, attended by families and educators
  • Promoted our Parent Discussion Group in the fall and spring
  • “Supporting Gifted Adolescents” session at Gifted Pathways by Dr. Cheryl Taliaferro
  • Planning to reschedule our speakers for our canceled “Gifted Spotlight” mini-conference: Dr. Anne Rinn, Director of the Office of Giftedness, Talent Development and Creativity at the University of North Texas; Comparison, Perfectionism & Self-Talk — Dr. Stephanie Cook, LPC; Window Into a Gifted & Talented Classroom— GCISD GT Specialist Angie Connell, M.Ed.; and Mindfulness Strategies — Dr. James Bishop, LPC, NCC

… and aims to help gifted & talented (GT) students learn to self-advocate.

  • Sessions at Gifted Pathways: Julie Leslie, conversations for college and career; panels of high school and middle school students
  • SAGE Meeting: Choosing GT/AP High School Classes

Goal: SAGE supports all GT students.

  • Grants to educators across the district:
    • Dinner’s on Us Gift cards for ASPIRE and GT Lead teachers to restaurants of their choosing.
    • Recognized 9 educators with Educator of the Month awards
    • Fulfilled more than $1,500 in teacher grants
    • Awarded two grants to cover $199 registration for 2 elementary educators to attend the J Taylor Depth and Complexity Conference.
    • Awarded $2000 grant for registration and travel to NAGC for GCISD educators to present a session and to attend the National Association for Gifted Children 2019 Conference in Albuquerque.
    • Awarded grants for classroom materials to 15 educators (5 summer, 3 early fall, 7 winter)
    • Awarded grants totaling $200 for registration and travel to Baylor GT Educator Conference to 2 educators
    • Awarded a $400 grant to Stephenie Miller, pre-AP/GT teacher at Colleyville Heritage High School, who is awarded a SAGE GT Educator Grant to attend Texas Association for the Gifted & Talented’s Leadership & Gifted+Equity Conference
    • Awarded grant for $1000 to the Grapevine-Colleyville ISD Department of Advanced Academics to attend the Harvard Summer Conference on College Admissions
  • Through Programs:
    • Choosing Gifted and Advanced Placement high school classes, featuring all counselors from each middle school and high school
    • Argument-Driven Inquiry (ADI) instructional model demonstration, Dr. Tony Zahn, Director of Science, and Wendi Howe, Science Instructional Coach
  • And funding Member activties:
    • Teacher grant for Kathleen Weidler, English teacher at GHS, allowing her AP English Literature students the opportunity to explore rhythm and meter in poetry through dance. The students thoroughly enjoyed their experience learning from the professional dancers that joined them! This hands-on (or feet-on) experience cemented the lessons on poetry analysis in a unique way!
  • Your Future, Your Path: Career Conversations with People Who Found the Right Fit.
    Last year, we hosted 2 speakers giving students and families a chance to hear from individuals who work in a variety of fields.
    • Patrick Hudson, co-founder and CEO of Robot Entertainment, spoke about career opportunities  in the video game industry.
    • Carolyn Wolfman-Estrada, an iPhone Engineering Program Manager at Apple, spoke about careers in engineering program management, and shared about her time at CHHS, college, and in various internships.
  • Promoted GT Teachers’ Amazon Wish Lists
  • Invited GT students with a family financial need to request financial support to participate in school field trips or activities

We also recognize the unique needs of three particular segments of our gifted population: 

  • twice-exceptional (2e)
    • Participated in the planning for and formation of the new Exceptional Children Committee of the GCISD Council of PTAs, a partnership of individuals and groups supporting students with learning differences
    • Began a monthly 2e Chat, an informal evening meetup for families & educators 
    • Gifted Pathways breakout on 2e 
    • Showed “2e: The Movie” in July, and twice in October; now loaning the DVD 
  • under-identified populations
    • Awarded an educator grant for the Gifted Plus Equity Conference 
    • SAGE President presented about giftedness and underserved populations at the GCISD Council of PTAs Diversity Action Committee meeting
  • highly gifted
    • Celebrated the recognition of ASPIRE Academy as “one of the best in Texas” by an outside reviewer
    • Coordinated ASPIRE Academy t-shirt sales for 3 campuses
    • Supported creation of informational handouts about ASPIRE
    • Frequent discussions with admin, parents and students about ASPIRE. 
    • Provided information about ASPIRE to parents considering moving to GCISD
    • Provided lunch for teachers on ASPIRE HS Curriculum Design Days
    • Provided lunch for principals during ASPIRE external review session 
    •  The ASPIRE Program Review Report by Dr. Todd Kettler, co-hosted by SAGE and GCISD, will be rescheduled for a later date.

SAGE recognizes outstanding students …

  • Awarded our 5th annual $1000 GT Senior Scholarship to Colin Means, Class of 2020, alumnus of Grapevine High, Cross Timbers Middle, and Colleyville Elementary
  • Created a new SAGE award for gifted students serving the community, the “Giving It Forward Together” award

…. and educators in our gifted community.

  • Awarded the 2nd annual Sherry Hamilton Memorial GT Educator Award for $500 to  Sterling Bristow, ASPIRE Mathematics, Cross Timbers Middle
  • Honored GT Educators of the Month, including our Instructional Technology Department, our ASPIRE Elementary Bus Driver, iUniversity Prep educator, ASPIRE educator, traditional classroom educator.
  • Honored retiring GT Specialists Lori Kirkhuff, Bransford; Kim Gale, Dove
  • Back to School Teacher Appreciation
  • Fall Principal Appreciation

SAGE continues to build our solid network of involved and informed GT advocates.

  • 9 Campus Representative Meetings brought parents from across the district together each month
  • 9 Executive Board Meetings
  • Exec Board had meetings with top administrators, principals, counselors, teachers
  • Planned our annual GCISD Board of Trustees Candidate Forum (election postponed, forum to be rescheduled for fall 2020)
  • Supported the formation of the GCISD Council of PTAs’ Exceptional Children Committee
  • Supported the formation of the Gifted Education Family Network of Texas
  • Networked at the first GT Parent Conference at Baylor University
  • Networked at at TAGT giftED19 Conference, San Antonio
  • Attended the January 2020 public forum of candidates running for Texas State Representatives in the Tarrant County-area; pre-submitted a question about gifted education legislation funding that was asked & answered during the forum
  • Teacher and Parent Membership Drive
  • Summer Fundraiser & Family Social at Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt, Glade Parks
  • Fall Family Fundraiser & Adult Social at Hop & Sting Brewery, Downtown Grapevine 
  • Winter Adult Fundraiser & Social at Sloan and Williams, Grapevine
  • February Family Fundraiser/Socials in February — Menchie’s Colleyville, Menchie’s Glade Parks, Torchy’s Tacos in Southlake, and Jason’s Deli in Grapevine
  • North Texas Giving Day, raised $1,945 last year.

Operational Accomplishments

  • Streamlined our membership, financial, and communications into Membership Toolkit
  • Fully converted our organization to Google Suites for NonProfits
  • Sent a monthly email newsletter and news briefs to SAGE Members and subscribers 
  • Reviewed and updated our bylaws
  • Summer Executive Board Planning Retreat

2018-2019

Goal 1: SAGE educates our community about giftedness.

  • SAGE won 2018 State Parent Group of the Year from the Texas Association for the Gifted and Talented. We were recognized at the TAGT state conference and at a GCISD school board meeting.
  • SAGE Campus Representatives attended Campus GT LEAD Curriculum Nights
  • SAGE Campus Representatives and Board attended “Java with Julie” meetings and connected with principals, GT Specialists, parents
  • SAGE Member Coffee Chat – SAGE kick-off and discussion
  • Gifted Pathways Event breakout sessions:
    • panel featuring GT parents and students
    • Gifted 101, Cindy Garcia
    • Perfectionism, Lisa Van Gemert
    • NuMinds, helping kids find their element
  • Continued our strong Facebook presence
    • Followers:
      • August 2018 – 858
      • January 2019 – 974
      • June 2019 – 1074
    • Average Daily Reach (people who viewed any content):
      • 2018 January to July: 175
      • 2018 July to December: 238
      • 2019 January to June: 340
  • Continued our Twitter presence
    • Followers increased
      • 293 in July 2018
      • 359 in December 2018
      • 408 in June 2019
    • Impressions increased
      • June to December 2017 = 23,760
      • June to December 2018 = 94,000
      • January to June 2019 = 100,600
  • Summer Spotlight event featured local camps and classes offering challenging summer activities

Goal 2: SAGE promotes “well-being” in addition to academic achievement …

  • Evening Program: Julie Leslie “Slaying the Giants Within”
  • Previewed social-emotional support Parent Discussion Groups 4 times
  • Hosted Aphelion Craft for a Cause art workshop
  • Advocated for sending counselors to TAGT giftED18 conference
  • Facilitated Spring Understanding Social/Emotional Parent Discussion Group
  • Summer Spotlight

… and aims to help gifted & talented (GT) students learn to self-advocate.

  • Gifted Pathways:
    • Gifted Guru, Lisa Van Gemert on underachievement
    • Julie Leslie, conversations for college and career
    • Panel of high school students
    • KD College Prep – preparing for SAT/ACT
  • SAGE Meeting: Choosing GT/AP High School Classes – Jan. 30

Goal 3: SAGE supports all GT students …

  • SAGE provided $2700 for 10 teachers’ TAGT conference registrations
  • Funded training for 60 educators in Summer Training Workshops: Clint Rodriguez and NuMinds
  • Promoted GT Teachers’ Wish Lists for classroom materials
  • SAGE Member Meeting: Evening Program: Get Ready for College – Ducerus
  • SAGE Member Meeting: Choosing GT/AP High School Classes (with counselors)
  • SAGE Java with Julie at OCT, GES (with BCES & HES), SLES (with DES), CES
  • SAGE Member Meeting: Coffee Chat: Dept. of Science Argument Driven Inquiry demo
  • Crowdfunded $2000 to purchase Sphero Bolt robots for GT LEAD elementary gifted classes
  • Coordinated volunteers for GT LEAD’s LIVE19 conference for 5th graders
  • Supported GHS “Make it Memorable” event
  • Individually supported GCISD Education Foundation “Celebrating Our Stars” event
  • Advocated for additional district-level support for gifted students

… We also recognize the unique needs of three particular segments of our gifted population:

  • twice-exceptional (2e)
    • Named a parent Representative for “2e Special Interest Group” Gifted Pathways breakout on 2e
    • Purchased “2e: The Movie” for the SAGE lending library
    • Hosted a movie night and discussion facilitated by Gypsy Mishoe
  • under-identified populations
    • Named a Parent Representative for “GT & Spanish Speaking Special Interest Group”
    • Met with 2 GT Specialists, Assistant Principal, Community Liaison
    • Attended Silver Lake “Java with Julie” with live Spanish translator and met Spanish-speaking GT parents
    • Created a WhatsApp chat group for GT Parents who speak Spanish
    • Granted $400 to attend TAGT Gifted Equity Plus Conference to Cindy Garcia, GCISD Advanced Academics Instructional Coach
  • highly gifted
    • Frequent discussions with admin, parents and students about ASPIRE
    • Met with Administrators
    • Java with Julie/Coffee with Principal – hosted at all 3 ASPIRE Campuses
    • Provided lunch for teachers on ASPIRE High School Curriculum Design Days
    • Advocated for dedicated ASPIRE HS counselor
    • Supported ASPIRE HS presentation at GHS Mustang Nation Night
    • Participated in GTAC’s creation of ASPIRE Teacher Profile to be used in hiring
    • Advocated for hiring and announcing ASPIRE HS teachers as soon as possible
    • Advocated to the School Board and Administrators for ASPIRE
    • Hosted ASPIRE Middle fundraiser/social in March – Pi Day Pizza Party
    • Hosted ASPIRE High School family social and meet the teachers in May
    • Hosted ASPIRE Elementary Q&A and Coffee with the Principal
    • Coordinating ASPIRE HS t-shirt orders
    • Supported “Make It Memorable” GHS event through marketing and finding subject-matter experts
    • Awarded SAGE GT Educator Grants for classroom materials to: Christina Hayes, ASPIRE 5th; Kimberly Lackey, Debra Graves, Dawn LeBleu, Amanda Guthrie, ASPIRE High School.
    • Received a $1000 donation for ASPIRE High School

Goal 4: SAGE recognizes outstanding students …

  • 2019 Senior Scholarship to Ruth Schlenker for $1000
  • Supported GHS “Make it Memorable” event
  • SAGE members personally individually supported and attended GCISD Education Foundation “Celebrating Our Stars” event

…. and educators in our gifted community.

  • Awarded the Inaugural Sherry Hamilton Memorial GT Educator Award for $500 to Allyson Dickinson, Glenhope ASPIRE
  • Received a $500 donation from the Hamilton Family for next year’s award
  • Honored 8 GT Educators of the Month
  • Back to School Teacher Appreciation – pop cans “You’re going to Crush this year”
  • Winter School Board Appreciation – candy and thank you notes
  • Spring GT Specialist Appreciation – light bulb cookies
  • Thank you & birthday recognitions for Advanced Academics Director

Goal 5: SAGE continues to build our solid network of involved and informed GT advocates.

  • Teacher and Parent Membership Drive
  • Hosted Facebook Groups for every school; SAGE membership not required
  • Summer 2018 Social – Popsicles and Popcorn at Parr Park
  • Hosted Family Fun Night and Fundraiser at Dave & Buster’s
  • Connected with 60+ GCISD teachers and counselors at TAGT giftED18
  • Hosted networking reception for teachers attending TAGT conference
  • Hosted SAGE Moms’ Social at Sloan and Williams Winery; raised $
  • Hosted GT Kids playdate at Central Market for elementary families
  • Hosted Appreciation Reception for all GCISD Ad Building staff

Advocacy and Planning Accomplishments

  • Hosted GCISD Board of Trustees candidate panel
  • Sent two GCISD gifted students to Austin to advocate for GT funding by testifying before the Senate Education Committee, April 2019
  • Raised awareness about GT funding with elected officials (Stickland, Powell, Capriglione, Nelson) at PTA Rally Day, emails, phone calls, tweets
  • Conference call with Rep. Capriglione post-session
  • Networked and built relationships with DFW-area parent group leaders
  • SAGE President served on a panel in Northwest ISD about forming a parent group
  • 8 Campus Rep Meetings
  • 8 Executive Board Meetings
  • Exec Board had meetings with top administrators, principals, counselors, teachers
  • Actively participated in TAGT’s Parent Support Group phone calls and planning
  • Participants from SAGE and the GT community served on GCISD’s LEAD 2.0 planning
  • Streamlined membership, financial, and communications with MySchoolAnywhere app
  • Summer Exec Board Planning Retreat
  • Annual Member Satisfaction Survey

SAGE Accomplishments 2017-2018

  • SAGE funded training for more than 60 educators and provided grants for classroom materials.
  • SAGE’s campus-level fundraising provided needed classroom resources and assessment materials for teachers and administrators. We also began featuring GT educators’ online classroom wishlists on our website.
  • SAGE honored one outstanding GT Educator per month, nominated by parents or students.
  • SAGE funded our third $1000 scholarship for a graduating GT senior’s college tuition.
  • SAGE’s monthly Coffee Chats and Brown Bags featured key district personnel, including GCISD’s Director of Advanced Academics, Director of Math, Director of Testing, Exec Director of Learning.
  • SAGE’s campus-level events featured district personnel including our Deputy Superintendent, Principals, Counselors, GT Specialists, and Educators. Events included Coffee + Q&As (OCT, GES, GHES, CTMS), Dessert & Discussion (CMS), pool parties (GHES ASPIRE, CTMS GT/ASPIRE); a spaghetti dinner (CTMS), and a district-wide GT playdate (hosted by OCT).
  • SAGE’s second annual “Gifted Pathways” event featured a keynote about “Best Practices in Gifted Advocacy,” and two breakout tracks for elementary and secondary families featuring Gifted 101, insights from National Merit Scholars, KD College Prep, and a dozen district counselors answering specific questions. Attendees could sign up for a time slot to chat with a GT expert.
  • SAGE partnered with Southlake’s gifted parents for a “Digital Learning” event featuring a globally known, young entrepreneur Travis Allen giving three keynote speeches plus a fun family escape room learning experience.
  • SAGE facilitated a 6-week parent discussion group during which participants read and discussed a book about supporting our children’s social and emotional needs.
  • SAGE has a new advocacy partner for our twice-exceptional (2e) learners, with the group BOLD. We presented about gifted learning differences in a session at BOLD’s inaugural event.
  • SAGE hosted a reception honoring GCISD’s retiring and incoming Directors of Advanced Academics.
  • SAGE hosted a forum for school board trustee candidates that focused specifically on gifted education.
  • SAGE was present at the Rachel’s Challenge event in support of spreading kindness in our district.
  • SAGE’s “top tier colleges” session featured the Counseling Department once again giving their first-hand reports of college visits.
  • SAGE hosted a vendor fair of camps and classes that would be challenging and enriching for gifted students, and included a Q&A panel of diverse GT parents.
  • SAGE hosted a fundraising social at Dave and Buster’s and are hosting a playground social in late July.

SAGE Achievements prior to 2018

  • Provided input into the ASPIRE Academy expansion to middle school
  • Served on GTAC for ASPIRE HS expansion in 2018
  • Built relationship with the Advanced Academics Director
  • Advanced Academics is a top district goal for the last 8 years
  • Representation on the Gifted and Talented Advisory Committee which meets several times a year
  • Enlisted SAGE teacher and parent representatives for each of our 19 campuses
  • Enlisted the support of principals and held several campus meetings
  • Increase in teachers with GT certification
  • Over 150 teachers are SAGE members
  • General SAGE membership has more than tripled
  • Helped to gain more visibility and accessibility to the district telescoping program
  • Provided input into the development and growth of the ASPIRE Academy for highly gifted kids
  • Assisted in the implementation of several programs in the students’ regular classrooms (such as E2) to ensure that they can be challenged all of the time, not just when they are pulled out
  • Provided input into the deeper clustering of GT kids in the classroom so that they can benefit from socially interacting and learning with each other
  • Helped to ensure that curriculum changes were not detrimental to GT kids
  • Provided over $10,000 in scholarships for classroom teachers to attend GT specific training as well as student scholarships for seniors
  • Have hosted multiple showcases, nationally recognized authors, speakers, vendor fairs and parent events to educate and support our GT parents
  • Collaborate with other GT parent groups around the state to bring in speakers and share best practices
  • Host Lunch and Learns with district personnel
  • Advocated for above level testing GT students
  • Advocated for flexible scheduling and modes of learning at the secondary level to facilitate personalized learning