Reagan Mauk, Gifted Education Specialist

This website is mostly dedicated to general information.  AIG newsletters keep you up to date on the latest opportunities.  Past newsletters are posted on the individual school's page linked above if you missed it.  

• EMAIL: reagan.mauk@nhcs.net (best method of contact)

• Click here to book an appointment

• LANEY OFFICE: My office is located in the media center: 401

• NHHS OFFICE: 214

• phone: 910-350-2089 (Laney) 910-251-6100 (NHHS) - not the best way to reach me because it may be days before I get the message

• I spend 50% of my time at Laney High School and the other 50% at New Hanover High School. 

AIG Nomination Process 2025-26

High school students who are not currently identified for the AIG program may be self-nominated or nominated by a peer, parent, teacher, counselor, or school administrator for the gifted program. Once nominated the student will have the opportunity to proceed with the nomination process and be considered for identification in the high school gifted program.  To nominate a student for the high school gifted program, complete the AIG Nomination Form.

Nominations are accepted at any time. However, the nomination process is completed January through March of each year in order to take advantage of 1st semester grades and work samples.

Students and staff will receive a nomination packet for n in January to complete and return to Reagan Mauk at reagan.mauk@nhcs.net. This nomination packet includes:

• Home Checklist

• Student Self Assessment Checklist

• Student Work Samples

• Teacher Classroom Data Form (student is not responsible for this; it is completed by the teacher)

In February/March, a Match Team composed of the AIG Specialist, a school counselor, Teacher, and an administrator will meet to review the nomination packet. A determination will then be made about the next step. The possible outcomes of this meeting include:

• Placement in the high school AIG program

• Need for further testing

• Placement on a "watch" list with the potential to be re-evaluated

• Does not receive placement in the AIG program

Any necessary testing will be completed in time for a determination to be made about placement within a few weeks of the initial match team meeting whenever possible.

Once a student is identified a High School Academic Blueprint will be created for the student to be reviewed by both the student and parents before it is finalized. This blueprint will be maintained on a yearly basis throughout the student's high school career.

Parent Advocacy for Gifted Students

NHCS Gifted Advisory Council

The establishment of this NHCS Gifted Advisory Council is a requirement of the school board and state-approved New Hanover County Schools Gifted Education Improvement Plan. Specifically, the Council monitors the timely and accurate implementation of all components of AIG, advocates, communicates and liaises with business and the community at large with respect to AIG, and presents, advises, and makes recommendations to the New Hanover Board of Education with respect to the improvement of the overall AIG program at the district level in a NHCS AIG Program Annual Report. Please refer to the NHCS Gifted Advisory Council Bylaws for additional information about the role of the GAC member.

The NHCS Gifted Advisory Council also requests that each school select a liaison to attend GAC meetings. A liaison can be a teacher, parent, or community member. The role and attendance of the liaison may be shared by two people at the school. The liaison’s responsibilities include: meeting attendance, sharing meeting notes and relevant issues with the school, as well as advocating for gifted education. If you are interested in serving as a school GAC liaison please reach out to the Gifted Education Specialist at the school you are interested in representing.

Listed below are additional websites for Parents.

NHCS AIG Website

Nat'l Association for Gifted Children - SEL resources

DPI Division of Advanced Learning and Gifted Education

Institute for Educational Advancement

Hoagie’s Gifted Education Page

Hoagies' Blog for underachieving gifted

National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC) 

NAGC Parent Tip Sheet

North Carolina Association for Gifted and Talented (NCAGT) 

TAGFAM – Families of the Gifted and Talented

Supporting the Emotional Needs of the Gifted (SENG)

AIG Local Plan for New Hanover County School

The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction has mandated six AIG Standards in NC. Each school district writes an AIG Plan that addresses how the district will address each AIG standard. The AIG Plan must be updated/revised/rewritten every three years. Our current AIG plan is for 2025-2028. Every Gifted Education Specialist, along with the school administration, creates a plan on how the school will address the six standards and the current AIG Plan to meet the needs of advanced learners. The AIG Plan is approved by the NHCS Board of Education and is board policy. It is also approved by the North Carolina State Board of Education. You may access our current Local AIG Plan for 2025-2028 by clicking this link.