"CAG Gifted Kids' Hero" Recognition Program
Do you know someone who has advocated on behalf of gifted education and/or helped to create a positive experience for gifted children in his or her classroom, school, district, home or community? As a way to thank him or her, please consider recognizing this individual as a “CAG Gifted Kids’ Hero.” This recognition provides a special opportunity to give credit to an educator, parent, psychologist, or community member who has demonstrated commitment to helping a gifted child or children. These special people are pivotal in the lives of gifted children and we would like to help recognize their contributions.
Your nominee will receive a letter of recognition from the CAG Board, a listing on the CAG website, a one-year CAG membership, and a formal certificate of recognition which you may choose to present to him or her at a Board of Education meeting, school assembly, or PTA meeting. The person you recognize will also be automatically nominated for the two CAG Annual Awards – the Friend of the Gifted Award and, if applicable, the CAG Administrator of the Year Award.
The cost of nominating an individual for this recognition is $20.00. You may consider sharing this cost with others, such as parents who also wish to recognize the same educator. This fee will be considered a tax-deductible contribution to CAG, which is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization.
Click here to access the nomination form.
2009 Honorees
Julie Benson |
West Rocks Middle School |
Norwalk |
| Nominated by: |
Phoebe Harris and Michale Francefort,
AT students (Academically Talented Program) |
Mrs. Benson is a very devoted and nice teacher. She is always extremely organized. For example, she has a website that showed all of our assignments that had already been completed and the ones that were coming up. Along with this, she had math games and fun puzzles on the site. When I had her as my AT teacher, she introduced me to many new concepts - too many to count! She made learning fun, but challenging, and I cannot wait to have her as my teacher for this year. |
Priscilla Jones |
Kings Highway School and
Coleytown Elementary School |
Westport |
| Nominated By: |
Leah Nash, parent of children in Ms. Jones' class |
| Priscilla Jones is a warm, engaging and creative teacher of gifted children. She looks to the social and emotional sides of her students as well as their academic needs. Her classroom provides a safe haven for children to stretch their minds and explore new passions. In this supportive environment, her students learn to recognize and appreciate their similarities and differences, and to cheer one another on as they share ideas. Her enthusiasm for learning is infectious and the children all feel it. Priscilla's students' lives and educations have been enriched by their experiences in her classroom. KHS and CES are lucky to have such a valuable resource. Thank you, Priscilla, for all you do. You are a hero to gifted children and their grateful parents! |
| Priscilla Scanlon |
Weston Intermediate School |
Weston |
| Nominated By: |
Jessica Spector, parent of student in Ms. Scanlon's class |
Patrica Scanlon's special skill as a teacher, and the magic of her classroom, is that she strips away everything except what is best for students' learning. She protects her students' natural joy in learning from the onslaught of pressure to homogenize the classroom experience, and all the traditional measures of high achievement flow from it, so students come out of her class with that most fragile of combinations: love of school and a respect for rigor.
Ms. Scanlon provides the individualized attention - and individualized expectations - children need to develop their potential. She is attuned to the differences among her students and the various ways each child needs to be encouraged, challenged, or simply let loose to pursue his or her interests. In her class, children with exceptional abilities feel welcome, safe, and recognized. She does not allow traditional structures or administrative restraints to obstruct children's learning. Instead, she focuses on what enables her students to get the most out of school.
As a result, exceptionally talented students work harder than they would otherwise, and enjoy doing it. Rather than perceiving their talents as a burden or flaw (something that too often happens to especially talented, inquisitive students in school), they learn from Ms. Scanlon that learning is actually fun.
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