Gifted and Talented

The Gifted & Talented (GT) Teachers at Cherry Creek Academy hold the belief that what helps one child be successful, helps all children be successful. We believe that every student deserves access to academically rigorous content that meets them at their current level, and for our GT students who are exceeding their grade-level expectations, this content can vary greatly from student to student. Our goal is to ensure that every Gifted & Talented student is not only met where they’re at, but challenged to achieve even greater academic success.

To ensure that every GT student is receiving the best possible support, GT teachers co-teach a variety of academic courses to work directly with these students in their core classes. This allows us to see the students in action, identify areas of strength and areas of need, and collaborate with core-content teachers to ensure that assignments are challenging and engaging for even our most advanced students.

In addition to pushing-in to core classes, Middle School GT also hosts a Gifted & Talented advisory for grades 5/6 to meet directly with our students and check in with them about all of their classes. For grades 7/8, students are invited to meet with their GT teacher during tutorial.

GT teachers do not only meet with GT and Talent Pool students, but work with many of our other students as well. We believe that every child deserves access to the level of content they have proven they’re ready for, and this includes students who are not gifted but find themselves needing an extra challenge.

Jacob Epel
Elementary Gifted and Talented Teacher

Savannah Johnson
Middle School Gifted and Talented Teacher

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between Gifted and Talent Pool?

If your student is considered GT, this means they have a formal Gifted identification that has been recognized by the district and state. This requires a Body of Evidence (BOE) wherein the student has scored significantly above grade level on multiple standardized tests. Should a student successfully be identified as Gifted, the GT teachers will write them an Advanced Learning Plan (ALP). This document legally states their identification, needs, and goals.

If your student has successfully attained one or more standardized scores significantly above grade level, but has not attained enough to create a complete Body of Evidence, they are moved into Talent Pool for further monitoring and testing. Talent Pool is not a permanent location for advanced students. It is intended to get students what they need while it is being determined if they will move into GT or out of Talent Pool.

My student is in Talent Pool. What do I need to do as a parent to get them moved into GT?

Keep an eye on your email, and make sure they’re present for standardized testing! GT teachers take responsibility for analyzing the scores of our standardized tests and determining which students are eligible for a Gifted identification. If your student is in Talent Pool, they are already on our radar and we will be keeping a close eye on their test scores. Should your student move into a GT identification or out of Talent Pool, you will be receiving an email from one of the GT teachers with all of the information you need. If your child needs additional testing with one of our GT teachers, you would also receive an email from us requesting permission to proceed with that testing. After updating our current ALPs in the months of August and September, we begin reviewing the data for all other students in October and continue through December. Apart from encouraging your student and making sure they’re present with us, there is nothing else needed!

My student has an ALP. When will it be updated each school year?

All ALPs will be updated by September 30th every school year. Within the month of August, you will receive an email inviting you to complete a survey with some information about your student. In addition to this, GT Teachers will touch base with ALP students to allow them to discuss their needs and goals for the year. With these two components, GT teachers will update your child’s ALP and email you a draft as soon as it is completed. Once you have approved this draft, we will send home a physical copy for you to sign.

My 8th grader is about to go to high school. What do I need to know about getting their ALP transferred?

The Middle School GT Teacher will take care of this for you! Starting in April, Mrs. Johnson will be reaching out to guardians about where their child plans to attend high school. For local schools, she will be meeting with high school counselors directly to discuss transition plans. No matter where your child is going, Mrs. Johnson will ensure their most recent ALP goes with them.

My child has scored above grade-level on a standardized test, but is not in Talent Pool. Why?

Congratulations! This is one piece of evidence we can use to begin moving your child towards an identification. Depending on which test they achieved this score, there are different thresholds for what does and does not qualify as evidence for Talent Pool eligibility. In the months of November and December this year, we will begin reviewing information for high-testing students to determine whether or not their scores meet the threshold to move into Talent Pool. If your child is eligible, you will receive an email from us around that time.

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