Professional Learning Opportunities

Gifted Bootcamp is designed to support new and veteran gifted teachers with understanding who gifted students are, how to manage the documentation, and what strategies to use to write and implement GIEPS. Topics will include an overview of PA's definition of gifted education, Chapter 16 and a review of the forms that support gifted education.

These half-day job-alike gatherings will be facilitated by IU13 and open to any staff invested in supporting the academic growth of gifted/advanced learners and complying with Chapter 16 regulations. A key component of each meeting will be time set aside for collaboration with grade-level, job-alike colleagues. District/school staff will also have the option to plan as a team during a portion of the meeting. Communication for the Gifted Network will primarily take place through Schoology, and anyone interested may join this Group for updates, resources, and discussions. The access code is FBGZM-ZHCMD. Registration will be required for each meeting for planning and Act 48 purposes. There is NO COST for IU13 district and nonpublic school staff to participate in network meetings.

We often hear that "gifted students will be fine on their own," but the reality is that high potential can remain hidden behind cultural differences, language barriers, or learning disabilities. We cannot refer what we don't recognize-and we can't recognize what students haven't had the opportunity to show. This session shifts the lens from "identifying giftedness" to "scouting for talent." We will move beyond traditional definitions to explore the nuances of asynchronous development and masking, specifically focusing on how giftedness manifests within often-overlooked subgroups, including Low-SES, BIPOC, 2E (Twice-Exceptional), and Multilingual Learners. Participants will engage in a collaborative deep dive into the characteristics of giftedness and the essential scaffolds needed to reveal student potential. The session culminates in a hands-on Design Time, where you will synthesize your learning to create a user-friendly Talent-Scouting Guide. This practical resource is designed for you to take back to your campus, empowering regular education teachers to see the brilliance in every learner and provide meaningful enrichment opportunities for all. Lunch on your own