Services for gifted students and identification of individual needs is a priority for the New Albany Plain Local School District. Partnering with the Educational Service Center (ESC) of Central Ohio, the district has selected Pat Farrenkopf to be the new Coordinator of Gifted Education for the district.
“We are very fortunate to have identified an individual with such an incredible amount of experience and knowledge regarding gifted education services,” said Superintendent April Domine. “Pat Farrenkopf’s qualifications and diverse experience will be a tremendous asset to us as we continue to enhance the services offered to our students.”
Farrenkopf brings to the district over 38 years of experience working in education, having served as an elementary principal, gifted services coordinator, gifted and elementary teacher. She has taught as an adjunct professor at both The Ohio State University and currently at Ashland University. During her career she has served as the President of the Ohio Association for Gifted Children, President of Gifted Coordinators of Central Ohio and is currently the Co-Director of the Martin W. Essex School for the Gifted and Talented™ at Otterbein University.
Farrenkopf will be working with the district’s five gifted intervention specialists, three working in the 2-5 Elementary and two providing services to New Albany Middle School. The position is a part time ESC position and is partially paid by State Gifted funding received at the ESC for Coordinator services. Farrenkopf will also lead the district’s efforts on a survey of gifted education services to be conducted by Vanderbilt University. Key objectives of the project include:
- Identifying the current climate of gifted services offered by the district as measured by the perceptions of involved stakeholders (teachers, administrators, students and parents);
- Assessment of the appropriate rigor of curriculum to meet the needs of gifted students across all grade levels;
- District alignment with professional and evidence-based practices for gifted services;
- Identification and service to underrepresented groups within the gifted program; and
- Identification of action steps for improvement.
Marilyn Troyer, Chief of Innovation, Improvement and Human Capital, said “With the Vanderbilt University study of our gifted education services and the addition of Pat Farrenkopf as our Coordinator of Gifted Education, I am optimistic that we can increase the number of students participating in accelerated learning opportunities throughout the district. Our goal is to provide rigorous programs that meet the unique needs and interests of every student.”