According to the Texas Administrative Code §89.2., (1) prior to assignment in the program or within one semester of assignment, teachers who provide instruction and services that are a part of the program for gifted/talented students have a minimum of 30 hours of professional learning that includes nature and needs of gifted/talented students, assessing student needs, and curriculum and instruction for gifted/talented students; (2) teachers who provide instruction and services that are a part of the program for gifted/talented students receive a minimum of six hours annually of professional learning in gifted/talented education; and (3) administrators and counselors who have authority for program decisions have a minimum of six hours of professional learning that includes nature and needs of gifted/talented students and program options with an update after legislative sessions.  In Jarrell ISD this includes classroom teachers who provide services for gifted learners, STEM, AP, and Dual Credit teachers. 

The 30 clock hours required by the State of Texas include 6 hours of each of the following topics:   

• Nature and Needs of the Gifted & Talented Learner  

• Identification and Assessment of the Gifted & Talented Learner  

• Social and Emotional Needs of the Gifted & Talented Learner  

• Differentiated Curriculum for the Gifted & Talented Learner  

• Creativity & Instructional Strategies for the Gifted & Talented Learner 

Pennie DeAugustineo will reach out to teachers at the beginning of the school year if our records show you have not completed the 30-hour Initial GT Training. You will have one semester (fall) to complete the training. 

To sign up for your 2025-2026 GT Update Hours, please register in Eduphoria here. This link includes the Podcast and Book Study. 

For the 2025-2026 school year, JISD teachers will have the opportunity to listen to 12 episodes of The Neurodiversity Podcast with Emily Kircher-Morris OR 12 episodes of A Meaningful Mess Podcast with Andi McNair. 

For each episode listened to, teachers will reflect using a Google Form. Verification of reflections and the number of episodes will be conducted through Pennie DeAugustineo.

• If you would like to use the podcast option as your 6 Hour GT Update, please use this Google Form for EACH reflection/episode completed (12 reflections total).

To sign up for your 2025-2026 GT Update Hours, please register in Eduphoria here. This link includes the Podcast and Book Study. 

Questions? Reach out to Pennie DeAugustineo or Dr. Tiffany Weiss.