The staff member demonstrates leadership in expanding/improving programs and services for gifted and talented students, including efforts to assure both equity and excellence in programs and services, bringing in additional resources and opportunities, and expanding the program to include children from traditionally underserved groups.

Considerations: 

• Identify and explain demonstrable actions taken to enhance gifted and talented (gifted and talented) programming, including professional development, events/competitions for gifted and talented learners, and resource allocation (e.g., time, staff, funding, or grants).

• Provide artifacts or detailed descriptions of initiatives such as dedicated physical spaces, curricular priorities, and budgetary or hiring commitments made to support and expand gifted and talented education.

• Highlight additional steps or initiatives implemented by E-GATE schools beyond the standard requirements.

Possible Evidence:

• Provide 2-3 specific examples of how the nominee has expanded/improved gifted and talented programs and services.

The nominee pursues continual learning in the field of gifted and talented education and the needs of the gifted, talented, and advanced learners. This might look like participation in conferences, workshops, graduate courses, or educating others via presentations, lectures, or other speaking engagements.

Considerations:

• Identify and explain how the nominee has worked to improve their knowledge of gifted and talented children and programming either through taking classes, attending conferences, or reading and implementing new approaches

• Identify and explain how the nominee  has participated in classes, professional development, or other training to improve her or his leadership and coaching abilities

Possible Evidence:

• Provide 2-3 specific examples of how the nominee has demonstrated a commitment to personal or professional learning which has impacted their ability to improve gifted and talented opportunities for the local school.

* Consider reaching out to the nominee for examples or artifacts to support their nomination.

Considerations:

• Describe how the nominee consistently exceeds job expectations — for example, by dedicating personal time to student success or securing grant funding to enhance gifted education programs.

• Explain how the nominee helps grow or improve partnerships with families, community organizations, and/or businesses that directly support gifted and talented students.

• Highlight efforts to increase understanding of gifted education processes among families, educators, and the broader school community.

• Describe how the nominee has established meaningful opportunities such as sponsorships, mentorships, or internships for gifted and talented learners.

• Share additional actions or initiatives the nominee has led to strengthen connections between gifted programs and the wider community.

Possible Evidence:

• Artifacts of any award(s) the student has received with specific details about the student’s participation.  

• Describe any award-winning team(s) the student(s) participated in with specific details about the student’s participation. 

• Describe or provide examples of the unique research or creative production the student has presented to an authentic audience. This may include competitions where the student was not given an award or no awards were given, but the student's presentation was noteworthy in their area(s) of giftedness.

• Describe special programs or events that the student has participated in beyond what is available in the local school gifted program.