TAGT Teacher of the Gifted Awards

TAGT is seeking nominations for the 2013 TAGT Teacher of the Gifted Awards.
Potential honorees can be self-nominated or nominated by others. Contributions to the gifted community can only be recognized if we have nominations, so nominate a colleague or yourself! The nomination deadline is May 24.

Nomination Form

About the TAGT Teacher of the Gifted Award
The TAGT Teacher of the Gifted Award is presented to one teacher from each of five geographic areas in recognition of outstanding service, contribution and commitment to gifted education. The five Area winners will be considered for the TAGT State Teacher for the Gifted Award. Members of the TAGT Membership Involvement Committee will review the nomination materials of Area Award winners. From that pool, TAGT selects the State Teacher of the Gifted.

The TAGT State Teacher of the Gifted is honored at the TAGT Annual Conference. He/she receives a plaque, a two-day complementary registration, two nights of hotel accommodations, and a check for $1,000.

Required Information

• Completed two page nomination form.
• A brief resume (no longer than two pages).
• A written personal philosophy of education for the gifted (no longer than one page).

Optional Information (used to strengthen the nomination)

• Up to three additional letters of recommendation (recommended: one from a student, a parent and an educator).

Criteria
The TAGT Teacher of the Gifted demonstrates a commitment to gifted education by:

• Demonstrating an ongoing commitment to professional growth;
• Developing a personal philosophy of education for the gifted that matches the characteristics of gifted and talented students;
• Impacting gifted education at the local, regional and state levels;
• Developing and implementing differentiated curriculum for gifted students; and
• Serving needs of gifted students in both the cognitive and affective domains.

Area Winners
Area winners will be announced by July 15 and will be presented with an award at the TAGT Award Program held during the Annual Conference, December 4-6 in Houston. All area winners are encouraged to attend the TAGT Annual Conference but attendance is not required. Please note that TAGT does not cover area winner registration or related travel expenses.

If you have questions or comments, please contact Lisa Varner at lvarner@txgifted.org.  

TAGT Geographic Areas
TAGT has designated five Geographic Areas based on the Texas Education Agency’s service regions.

2012 TAGT State Teacher of the Gifted
TAGT has selected Amy McNamara of Midway ISD as the 2012 TAGT State Teacher of the Gifted for her outstanding efforts as a leader in the field of gifted education. Amy received her BSE from Baylor University and is currently working on a Master’s degree in Educational Psychology with an emphasis in Gifted and Talented.

Ms. McNamara is beginning her 13th year in education having taught 3rd, 4th and 5th grade general education classrooms before working in the GT pull-program. Amy is an Elementary Gifted and Talented Specialist with Midway ISD, and works with identified GT students in 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades from 8 campuses. During the summer she is an instructor with Baylor’s University for Young People’s (UYP) Creative Problem Solving & Perspectives camps. The past three years she has worked with Camp Invention as an instructor, assistant director and director.

Each semester Amy mentors Baylor interns who are working on certification in gifted and talented. Amy enjoys working with technology and learning new and innovative ways to incorporate it into her classroom. In her time away from work Amy enjoys spending time with her three children: Ellis, 5; Lottie, 3; and Tom, 2. TAGT is honored to recognize Amy McNamara’s hard work and dedication to meeting the unique needs of gifted & talented individuals.

In 2012, the TAGT State Teacher of the Gifted Award was sponsored by H-E-B.

2012 TAGT Area Teacher of the Gifted Awardees

TAGT congratulates each of our awardees and recognizes their outstanding work and dedication to meeting the unique needs of gifted and talented individuals.

Past Recipients

Other Categories:

• TAGT Administrator of the Gifted
• TAGT Advocate of the Gifted
• TAGT Parent of the Gifted
• TAGT Rising Star Teacher of the Gifted