My name is Corrie Suhr, and I'm thrilled to introduce myself as the new High Ability Learner Education (HALE) Coordinator for all three Elkhorn Public High Schools. I'm so excited to start the school year and have already had the pleasure of meeting a few students.

This is my 23rd year in education, but my first with Elkhorn Public Schools. For the past 13 years, I was a HAL facilitator at Ralston Public Schools. I can already tell that this is a special community, and I'm looking forward to getting to know everyone as we work together to support our high-ability learners.

I have a K-12 endorsement in High Ability Learner Education, as well as a master's degree in Curriculum and Instruction. My goal is to use my experience and expertise to create a challenging and enriching experience for all of our HALE students.

The HALE Program at the High School Level

The high school HALE program is designed to provide challenging and enriching experiences for gifted students. Unlike the middle school program which includes pull out services and seminars, the high school program shifts the focus to more student-driven opportunities. Students have access to a variety of advanced coursework in their daily schedules, including honors classes, Advanced Placement (AP) courses, and independent study. These academic opportunities are complemented by extracurricular activities like academic teams, competitions, and tests in fields such as math, science, and engineering.

My role as the HALE Coordinator is to support students in navigating these opportunities and providing individualized guidance. I will be available to help students with college and career planning and to address issues of underachievement. Additionally, I will be supporting our academic clubs and contests, such as Robotics, Quiz Bowl, and Math Club, by offering practice sessions before/after school and during lunch. I'll also be attending as many competitions as I can. Ultimately, the goal is to empower high school students to take ownership of their academic journey and to ensure they have the resources needed to reach their full potential.

Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions at csuhr@epsne.org.  I'm looking forward to a fantastic school year!