GCISD Educators Shine at GiftED25 Conference (with students, too)

12/9/2025 12:00 am

A huge shout out to the great mix of teachers, administrators, and students, who all worked together to present at the annual state conference for gifted education this December.

They had a highly successful trip to GiftED25 (at the Gaylord Hotel in Grapevine), gaining fresh strategies and showcasing the incredible innovation happening in our district's Advanced Academics programs.

We are incredibly proud of our teachers, students, and the innovation they bring to learning! The insights from this conference will directly inform our program development and advocacy moving forward.

GT Identification Meeting for K-4 Parents

11/8/2025 4:00 pm

Open Info Session hosted by GCISD Advanced Academics team for any parents with questions.

SAGE hosts Andi McNair for Parent Education Session, Dec 2, Lunch Included

11/8/2025 2:46 pm

Through a specialized framework, families gain practical insight into how to support gifted learners in building balance, purpose, and confidence—transforming potential into progress.

Preparing GT Learners for Growth and Resilience: An intro to gifted onboarding (for parents)

10/1/2025 12:00 am

As parents and educators of gifted learners, we know their unique way of thinking requires specialized support. But what exactly should that support look like? It may start with something as simple as setting clear expectations for students, and their families, about what their GT services will be and why they are designed to serve their learning needs with depth and complexity—not through just more work or higher test scores.

This December, SAGE has invited Andi McNair, the host of The A Meaningful Messpodcast, to expand our knowledge as parents so we can better understand the full meaning of being identified for gifted and talented services. Andi will be talking to us about Gifted Onboarding from the parent perspective.

Andi McNair, Dec 2 Guest Speaker DOWNLOAD

Parent to Parent Panel ‘Sharing Insights’: Sept 30

9/1/2025 10:48 am

Join us for a free parent info session hosted by GC-SAGE

President Carrie Mamantov will moderate a panel of experienced parents who will share stories, strategies, and practical tips for raising and supporting gifted learners.

Year in Review: 2024-25 Accomplishments

8/26/2025 5:00 pm

SAGE SCHOOL YEAR RECAP (2024-2025)

At SAGE, we believe it's important to share what we've been working on to support the GT community. The Grapevine-Colleyville SAGE (Supporting and Advocating for Gifted Education) group had a really busy and successful school year. We focused on bringing our community together, speaking up for gifted education, and giving a helping hand to our students and teachers. We accomplish all of this through dedicated volunteers and donors. Last year, we raised over $3,000 just during North Texas Giving Day.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM THE GT COMMUNITY

What do you feel are priorities and concerns for the GT Community this school year? You are welcome to email info@gc-sage.org or as a Member, you should have a survey in your Inbox that asks more specific questions about priorities and program ideas.

And of course, if you're connected to any of the SAGE Board members, we would love to hear from you. Check out the NEW 2025-26 SAGE Board here.

An Update for Parents: Gifted & Talented (GT) Education in GCISD

8/18/2025 8:45 am

We know summer is a time for family, and it's easy to disconnect from school-year conversations. If you're just catching up, a few things happened since May, especially regarding the GT community and how our district budgets for its programs. To help you get up to speed, we've put together some answers to the most common questions we're hearing from parents.

FOR REFERENCE, CHECK THESE PREVIOUS POSTS

GCISD Program & Policy Updates Archive

11/10/2024 4:50 pm

2024 GT IDENTIFICATION TESTING & TIMELINE UPDATE

Publication Date: January 5, 2024

GCISD announced updates to the timeline and process for GT Identification testing. The district shifted the main testing window earlier to late fall, allowing for placement decisions to be finalized by the end of the school year. The change aimed to reduce parental anxiety and provide families with more notice regarding placement in specialized programs. The primary tools used for assessment remained the CogAT (Cognitive Abilities Test) and the Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking (TTCT).

Understanding Testing for GT Learners

9/29/2024 11:20 am

Why read this article?

You are a parent with questions about dates and details for the GT identification process.
You are a parent trying to understand more about the different tests and how a child is assessed throughout the school year.

SAGE Speaker Series & Parent Education Archive

4/25/2024 12:00 am

2024 Spring Speaker Series — Dr. Matt Zakreski: Perfectionism & Anxiety

Publication Date: April 2, 2024

SAGE hosted nationally recognized child psychologist Dr. Matt Zakreski for a talk titled “The Perfectionist Trap: Understanding and Managing Anxiety and Perfectionism in Gifted Kids.” Dr. Zakreski is co-founder of the Gifted, Bright, and Twice-Exceptional Consulting Practice and specializes in work with gifted and 2e individuals. The event provided strategies for parents to help their children cope with the stress of high expectations and manage the emotional fallout of mistakes.

2023 Fall Workshop: Understanding the ASPIRE Program

Publication Date: September 15, 2023

SAGE hosted a focused parent workshop led by GCISD Advanced Academics Director, Dr. Cheryl Taliaferro, covering the structure and curriculum of the ASPIRE Academy. Topics included the differences between ASPIRE and Pre-AP/AP, the identification process, and how to support highly gifted learners in the specialized program. This event was highly attended, indicating strong community interest in the program’s details.

2022 Speaker Series — Dr. Gail Post: Motivation & Resilience

Publication Date: October 25, 2022

Psychotherapist and author Dr. Gail Post was the featured speaker, presenting on "Helping Gifted Kids Find Motivation, Resilience, and Their Best Selves." Dr. Post addressed common issues like underachievement, fear of failure, and the need for intrinsic motivation over external rewards. The presentation emphasized the importance of a growth mindset in gifted education.

2021 Virtual Speaker Series: College Admissions for Gifted Students

Publication Date: November 1, 2021

SAGE partnered with GCISD College and Career Readiness to host a virtual panel discussion focusing on the specialized college application landscape for highly gifted students. Topics included:

The role of the ASPIRE profile in college applications.
How to leverage research and independent projects.
Writing the college essay to showcase intellectual curiosity over mere achievement.
Understanding selective admissions trends.

2020 Speaker Series — Carol Bainbridge: Asynchronous Development

Publication Date: September 8, 2020

SAGE hosted gifted education specialist Carol Bainbridge, known for her site Giftedness Handout, for a presentation on “Asynchronous Development: The Gifted Child’s Internal Challenge.” The session focused on the uneven intellectual, emotional, and physical development often seen in gifted children, providing parents with tools to navigate the resulting social and emotional challenges.

2019 Fall Speaker Series — Dr. Jim DeLisle: Parenting Gifted Kids

Publication Date: October 10, 2019

Nationally renowned author and speaker Dr. Jim DeLisle presented “The Best and the Worst of Parenting Gifted Kids: A Look at the Rollercoaster Ride.” Dr. DeLisle is a former university professor and has authored several foundational books on gifted education. His talk covered the unique joys and challenges of raising gifted children, including perfectionism, intensity, and communication.