Gifted Education

Toni Viscounte

Superintendent

How does Sebring Local Schools spend their Gifted Educational Funding Dollars?

  • During the 2022-2023 school year, the district received $72,044.62. The following is the breakdown of how the dollars are spent:

  • $3,132.53 was spent on gifted identification.  The district purchased i-Ready for  K-12 reading and math gifted screening/identification.  The district purchases InView for superior cognitive testing which was administered in the 2nd and 5th grades.  

  • $634.82 is used for referral/testing

  • $2,541.60 for professional development

  • $29,994.29 is to be allocated for Gifted Coordination. Toni Viscounte is the district's Gifted Coordinator.  

  • $35,741.38 is to be allocated toward a Gifted Intervention Specialist, The district purchase a gifted intervention specialist (gifted teacher) through the Columbiana County Educational Service Center.

District Policy for Identification and Service

Philosophy

It is believed that all students have varying potentials for achievement and that each student should be given opportunities for intellectual growth. In keeping with this belief, the Sebring Local School District has provided a gifted program for those students whose intellectual abilities and potential for achievement are outstanding.

The gifted program will include the same goals found in the regular classroom, but in a broader capacity. Emphasis will be placed on the intellectual growth of each student. Each student will be afforded the opportunities to find his/her own abilities and areas of interest, to experience the problems of these chosen areas, and to develop real solutions to these problems.

Definition

Giftedness consists of an interaction among four basic clusters of human traits - superior cognitive ability, specific academic ability, creative thinking, and visual and performing arts. Gifted children are those possessing or capable of developing this composite set of traits and applying them to any potentially valuable area of human performance.

Children who manifest or are capable of developing an interaction among the clusters require a wide variety of educational opportunities and services that are not typically provided through regular instructional programs.

Gifted and Talented Program Goals

Gifted students need to experience success at a level reflecting their abilities, as well as opportunities and encouragement to perceive and attain their potential for excellence. The following are the goals and objectives for the gifted:

To provide an advanced educational program that is flexible, diverse, comprehensive, and appropriate to enable the student to develop his/her abilities to the fullest potential.

To provide each student with opportunities to explore ideas and issues at his/her own pace and level.

To develop the skills of critical thinking, creative and productive thinking, research, problem-solving, decision-making, and leadership.

To promote self-motivation, self-direction, independence, task commitment, and responsibility in learning and project activities.

To utilize the larger community by permitting each student to use community resources, select and pursue topics of interest, and demonstrate expertise at a level beyond his/her chronological age.

To provide an educational program that will enhance the emotional and psychological well-being of each student.

To help each student develop into an intellectually and creatively capable, productive, and compassionate member of society.

To develop an understanding of the importance of diligence and perseverance for the achievement of a productive life.

To help each child gain a realistic and healthy concept of himself/herself - strengths, weaknesses, and potentials.

To strengthen each student's group dynamic skills by fostering cooperation, leadership, decision-making, and problem-solving.

To develop the research and organizational abilities of each student to enable him/her to become an independent and self-motivated learner.

To refine skills in utilizing and resources efficiently and effectively.

To provide opportunities and encouragement for the development of study skills.

To provide a positive atmosphere for the development of self-motivation.

To provide enrichment opportunities for all students.

To provide materials for exploration at a variety of cognitive levels.

To use enrichment experiences as springboards for more in-depth investigations for students who exhibit interest.

Toni Viscounte, Superintendent, Gifted Coordinator

Email Toni Viscounte