Meet Our Gifted and Talented Team!

Angelina Barela

My name is Angelina Barela. I was born and raised right here in Colorado Springs. I received my Bachelor's Degree from the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs in Psychology with a minor in Ethnic Studies. I went to Regis University for my Master's Degree in Elementary Education.

This school year will be my tenth year at Roosevelt Charter Academy. Each year I am here I grow to love the school, staff, students, parents, and the whole community more and more. I have also taught first grade and second grade here at RCA.

I am a BIG DENVER BRONCOS fan. I have gone to a few of their games, but whether I see them on television or in person they are my FAVORITE team.

If you cannot find me at work, you might find me at home relaxing, watching television, cooking new foods, or learning something new. These are some of the ways I like to relax. My favorite way to relax, though, is to go to kickboxing, this gives me a great workout-both physically and mentally.

I am very excited for this year and cannot wait to get to know you more.

If you have any questions and/or concerns, I am always available by phone or appointment.

Brochure

Resources:

Great information about giftedness can be found at the Colorado Association of Gifted and Talented and the National Association for Gifted Children. The best resource for terms and definitions can be found through the Colorado Department of Education.

Students with gifts and talents perform - or have the capability to perform - at higher levels compared to others of the same age, experience, and environment in one or more domains. They require modification(s) to their educational experience(s) to learn and realize their potential. Student with gifts and talents: Come from all racial, ethnic, and cultural populations, as well as all economic strata. Require sufficient access to appropriate learning opportunities to realize their potential. Can have learning and processing disorders that require specialized intervention and accommodation. Need support and guidance to develop socially and emotionally as well as in their areas of talent. Require varied services based on their changing needs."

National Association of Gifted Children

https://www.nagc.org/

Identification Process:

Gifted and Talented Identification Process Overview

(RCA follows District 11's Policy for Identification Reviews)

1. A gifted and talented referral is initiated.

2. The Gifted Resource Teacher (Ms. Barela) obtains parent permission to review data

and/or test a student.

3. Ms. Barela initiates a Gifted Review Plan in Powerschool and notifies the Gifted Programs Specialist (Mark Hess at District 11) when all data has been collected.

4. The Gifted Review Plan is reviewed by an identification team.

5. The next steps for identification are determined—which may include further testing, gathering data, or an identification determination; Ms. Barela will notify parents of the progress of the review plan.

5a. If necessary, the Gifted Review Plan is edited with further testing and gathering of data; the GRT notifies the Gifted Programs Specialist the plan is ready to be reviewed again.

5b. Based on the edited review, a Gifted Identification recommendation is made by the Gifted Programs Specialist and is reviewed and finalized by the Gifted Facilitator.

6. RCA and the District Gifted and Talented office will send a decision letter to the student’s parents.

7. The GRT places the decision letter in the student’s cumulative folder along with a copy of the Gifted Review Plan containing the pertinent data.

8. For Tier 3 identified Gifted Students, Advanced Learning Plans are completed within 30 days.

(The District has a Spanish version we can add.)

Definitions of Gifted:

Colorado Department of Education:

Those persons between the ages of four and twenty-one whose aptitude or competence in abilities, talents, and potential for accomplishment in one or more domains are so exceptional or developmentally advanced that they require special provisions to meet their educational programming needs. Gifted children are hereafter referred to as gifted students. Children under five who are gifted may also be provided with early childhood special educational services. Gifted students include gifted students with disabilities (i.e. twice exceptional) and students with exceptional abilities or potential from all socio-economic, ethnic, and cultural populations. Gifted students are capable of high performance, exceptional production, or exceptional learning behavior by virtue of any or a combination of these areas of giftedness:

· General or specific intellectual ability

· Specific academic aptitude

· Creative or productive thinking

· Leadership abilities

· Visual arts, performing arts, musical or psychomotor abilities 12.01(16)

Roosevelt's Definition of Gifted:

Students between the ages of five and eleven whose aptitude or competence in abilities, talents, and potential for accomplishment in one or more domains are so exceptional or developmentally advanced that they require special provisions to meet their educational programming needs including support and guidance to develop emotionally and socially. Gifted students include gifted students with disabilities (i.e. twice exceptional) and students with exceptional abilities or potential from all socio-economic, ethnic, and cultural populations. Gifted students are capable of high performance, exceptional production, or exceptional learning behavior by virtue of any or a combination of these areas of giftedness:

· General or Specific Intellectual Ability

· Specific Academic Aptitude

· Creative or Productive Thinking

· Leadership Abilities

· Visual Arts, Musical, or Psychomotor Abilities

https://www.hoagiesgifted.org/parents.htm

https://www.davidsongifted.org/