McAuliffe International School is a high achieving Innovation School within DPS and part of the Northeast Denver Innovation Zone. With a high percentage of identified students and a high number in the Talent Pool, teachers at McAuliffe teach to higher levels of rigor and scaffold down for students as necessary. Math classes use cross-grade grouping where appropriate and most classes offer extensions for a deeper conceptual dive. Teachers use ALP information to differentiate in their classrooms using a variety of rigorous academic strategies. Service learning trips will return this year, as well as academic enrichments. We have grade level counselors, two social workers and a school psychologist to help with students’ social/emotional health as well as a yoga and mindfulness enrichment for additional SEL support. Communication will be sent out in the school newsletter. Parents will receive a welcome letter and additional communication and instructions for students to complete ALP goals and for parents to provide input into their student’s ALP. The GT teacher will have office hours during which time students can come to get help with their ALPs and progress monitoring. There will be a GT folder on grade level homeroom pages on Schoology for information and forms around GT programming.
August 25, 2022
Dear Students and Families at McAuliffe International School,
I would like to introduce myself as the teacher/point of contact for gifted education services at McAuliffe
International School. I am excited to be starting my 10th year here at McAuliffe and wanted to reach out
to let you know my responsibilities for Gifted and Talented (GT), my availability, and where to find more
information about GT services in Denver Public Schools.
As you may or may not know, a large percentage of our students at McAuliffe have been identified as GT
and HGT. Therefore, we do not use a traditional “pull out” or “push in” model. Instead, the Advanced
Learning Plan, or ALP, informs the classroom teachers of each student’s strengths so that the teacher can
differentiate through in-class flexible grouping, content extensions, or whatever strategy teachers deem
appropriate. This model works very well for our students. The way for students to get involved with the GT
program is to participate in one or more of the GT academic enrichment activities that are happening
before school. Participation is optional and fun. This year, I would like to challenge all students identified
as GT or HGT to participate in at least one academic enrichment activity per trimester. Academic
enrichments include Night of the Notables, Passion Project, Math Team, and Chess. Please follow this
LINK to see what other before school enrichments are being offered.
Destination Imagination (DI) is back in full swing this year and we are looking for interested students to
participate and parents who are interested in acting as Team Managers. Please reach out if you or your
child is interested. We are hoping to have one team per grade level this year. Follow this LINK to learn
more.
As the GT teacher, my responsibilities this year will include:
● Supporting the administration of cognitive testing, including the district-wide Universal Screening
(for kindergarten, 2nd, and 6th grade), as well as students nominated in other grade levels.
● Continually reviewing students’ body of evidence and communicating with teachers to ensure
identification of referred students. This may include administering assessments or observational
scales.
● Creating a school wide plan with leadership on how gifted services will be provided within the
building (all plans available on the http://gt.dpsk12.org website by mid-fall).
● Participating in professional learning training within the GT department, district, and other
organizations, and implementing/providing the knowledge gained into practice with our school
staff as appropriate. This includes culturally responsive education and equity in gifted education.
● Advocating for new opportunities in the classroom and community to promote equal access for
enrichment and GT services.
● Leading academic enrichments throughout the year.
● Developing and/or collaborating on Advanced Learning Plans (ALP) for formally identified (H)GT
students.
● Communicating through the newsletter and email blasts.
● Adding extended office hours to facilitate student support in writing ALP goals and progress
monitoring.
In the next couple of weeks you will be receiving more information about the ALP process and how to
help your student write their goals in their strength areas for the year.
Do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or want to learn more about the program for
gifted students at our school. I look forward to working with students, teachers and families. For additional
information about gifted and talented services in DPS, please visit: http://gt.dpsk12.org.
Sincerely,
Becky
Becky Middleton/GT Coordinator
Email: Becky_middleton@dpsk12.net
Office Hours: 10:40-2:00 M-F