VISIT OUR WEBSITE: https://www.loraincountyesc.org/GiftedandTalented1.aspx
GIFTED SUPERVISORS: Jennifer Detmar | Cathy Fischer | Alice Ogonek
ASSISTANT: Pam Sykes
Target Audience: Gifted specialists, Classroom Teachers, and Instructional Leaders
Join Jen Detmar and Alice Ogonek for a hybrid book study exploring The Depth Advantage: Deeper Learning in a Distracted World by Dr. John Spencer, a practical and inspiring guide for bringing deep thinking, creativity, and purpose into today’s classrooms. This professional development and learning opportunity is designed for educators passionate about challenging and supporting gifted learners through meaningful, depth-oriented instruction.
This book study includes four interactive Zoom sessions, offering time for reflection, collaboration, and application of key concepts. Participants may also choose to earn one graduate credit through Ashland University.
Whether you're a classroom teacher, intervention specialist, or administrator, this study will empower you with strategies to deepen learning in ways that engage and inspire.
Details:
Format: Hybrid (Select Mondays, 4:00 - 5:00 pm)
Zoom sessions:
January 12, 2026
January 26, 2026
February 9, 2026
March 2, 2026 (Note: March 2nd Zoom session will be from 4 - 5:30 to allow for presentation of action plans.)
Graduate Credit: 1 credit available through Ashland University
The Depth Advantage: Deeper Learning in a Distracted World by John Spencer can be purchased on Amazon.
Date: Jan 12, 2026
Location: Hybrid (Online via Zoom, Google Classroom)
Facilitators: ESC Coordinators Jen Detmar and Alice Ogonek
Event Fee: Gifted Consortium District Members - FREE | Non-Member Districts - $75.00
*Member Districts: Amherst, Avon, Avon Lake, Clearview, Columbia, Elyria, North Ridgeville, Oberlin, Sheffield-Sheffield Lake, Wellington
Registration Assistance: Pam Sykes - sykes@esclc.org or 440.324.5777 x1110
Target Audience: Teachers of Gifted Students
Vertical Differentiation for Gifted, Advanced, and High-Potential Students outlines 25 engaging tools and strategies to stretch student thinking, promote deep learning, and provide layers of challenge in the classroom and beyond. It is essential reading for educators looking to support and extend student thinking across content areas and grade levels.
Each strategy is expertly designed to foster deep inquiry and conceptual understanding by guiding students to justify conclusions, apply critical and creative thinking, develop solutions to real-world problems, and transfer learning across contexts. Packed with both "tried and true" thinking models and new, innovative ideas with concrete examples, this resource ensures that no matter where students are in their learning journey, they’ll find themselves challenged and engaged.
Participants must provide their own book, which can be purchased through AMAZON.
(This Book Study is also eligible for graduate credit at Ashland University, follow this link to register for Ashland Credit: Vertical Differentiation : EDU 6230 C1 : Ashland Grad Credit Registration Link
Date: March 13, 2026
Location: Online via Google Classroom
Facilitator: ESC Gifted Supervisor, Cathy Fischer
Event Fee: Gifted Consortium District Members - FREE | Non-Member Districts - $75.00
*Member Districts: Amherst, Avon, Avon Lake, Clearview, Columbia, Elyria, North Ridgeville, Oberlin, Sheffield-Sheffield Lake, Wellington
Registration Assistance: Pam Sykes - sykes@esclc.org or 440.324.5777 x1110
Target Audience: Teachers of Gifted Students
An excellent writer can memorize a formula for writing and run with it for years. It is time to break the cycle! This workshop will present a variety of forms and genres to use in the classroom to break the 5 paragraph essay stagnation, with an eye to challenging students to read, revise, collaborate, and use evidence on their way to becoming even better writers. Come ready to write – this workshop will be hands-on so teachers feel confident applying their new learning immediately!
Dr. Lori G. Wilfong is a former middle school language arts teacher, current Associate Professor in Middle Childhood Education at Kent State University, frequent conference presenter, and forever supporter of teachers working to weave literacy into their classrooms.
Date: March 11, 2026
Time: 8:30 am - 3:30 pm
Location: ESC of Lorain County
Presenter: Dr. Lori Wilfong
Event Fee: Gifted Consortium District Members - FREE | Non-Member Districts - $75.00
*Member Districts: Amherst, Avon, Avon Lake, Clearview, Columbia, Elyria, North Ridgeville, Oberlin, Sheffield-Sheffield Lake, Wellington
Registration Assistance: Pam Sykes - sykes@esclc.org or 440.324.5777 x1110
Target Audience: Educators, Administrators and Parents of Gifted Students
Enjoy learning and discussing various topics toward understanding and educating gifted students at home and in the classroom. Each ZOOM session lasts for one hour; professional development credit will be provided.
Date: Oct 9, 2025
Time: 4:00 - 5:00 pm
Location: Virtual via Zoom
Facilitators: ESC Gifted Supervisors
Event Fee: Gifted Consortium District Members - FREE | Non-Member Districts - $75.00
*Member Districts: Amherst, Avon, Avon Lake, Clearview, Columbia, Elyria, North Ridgeville, Oberlin, Sheffield-Sheffield Lake, Wellington
Registration Assistance: Pam Sykes, sykes@esclc.org, 440-324-5777 x1100
Target Audience: Educators, Administrators and Parents of Gifted Students
Enjoy learning and discussing various topics toward understanding and educating gifted students at home and in the classroom. Each ZOOM session lasts for one hour; professional development credit will be provided.
Date: Oct 9, 2025
Time: 4:00 - 5:00 pm
Location: Virtual via Zoom
Facilitators: ESC Gifted Supervisors
Event Fee: Gifted Consortium District Members - FREE | Non-Member Districts - $75.00
*Member Districts: Amherst, Avon, Avon Lake, Clearview, Columbia, Elyria, North Ridgeville, Oberlin, Sheffield-Sheffield Lake, Wellington
Registration Assistance: Pam Sykes, sykes@esclc.org, 440-324-5777 x1100