Dear Pine Grove Families,
Hello! My name is Jillian Holtz, and I am absolutely thrilled to be serving as your Gifted and Talented (GT) Facilitator here at Pine Grove. Teaching is my true passion, and I am excited to partner with you, your student, and their classroom teachers to enrich, stretch, and support our advanced learners in meaningful ways.
I believe learning should be approached with a sense of joy, curiosity, and humility. Growth isn’t always a linear path. What matters most is progress over perfection. My goal is to create a space where students feel safe to take risks, think deeply, and learn from one another with patience and compassion.
Educational Background & Experience: I bring 20 years of classroom experience spanning 1st, 2nd, 4th, 5th, and 7th grades, along with recent experience as a GT Facilitator and RTI Intervention Specialist at Pine Lane Elementary.
B.S. in Elementary Education (Science emphasis) – University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
Master’s Degree in Reading and Literacy – Walden University
Administrative License – Regis University
Life Outside the Classroom: I am a proud wife and mother of a freshman and a junior at Mountain Vista High School. Our home is full of beloved pets, including our two golden retrievers—Randall (named after UW-Madison’s stadium—GO BADGERS!) and Roxy (GO ROCKIES!)—and our adopted cat, Whiskers.
Interests: Beyond cheering on the Badgers and Rockies, our family loves the Colorado Avalanche, and I am a HUGE Green Bay Packers fan (GO PACK GO!). In my free time, you can usually find me hiking, biking, visiting the dog park, gardening, tackling home improvement projects, or cheering on my kids in their own passions.
As the GT Facilitator, I create and maintain systems for the equitable identification of gifted students and build collaborative systems to create, revise, implement, and progress-monitor ALPs (Advanced Learning Plans).
Pine Grove utilizes the Douglas County School District (DCSD) Response to Intervention (RTI) and Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) frameworks to guide instructional decisions and offer a full continuum of programming for GT learners, including:
Accelerated & Differentiated Content: Tailored learning within the general classroom setting.
Flexible Groupings: Collaborative learning opportunities based on abilities and interests.
Targeted Sessions: Push-in or pull-out sessions with like-minded peers.
Independent Projects: Opportunities for deeper exploration and independent study.
For more information about programming for gifted learners, feel free to visit the DCSD Gifted Education Website or reach out to me directly (jnholtz@dcsdk12.org).
I’m truly looking forward to a fantastic school year and all that your students will explore and accomplish!
Warmly,
Jillian Holtz
Gifted & Talented Facilitator | Pine Grove Elementary