Rachel Stohler

I am a teacher at Lafayette Jefferson High School and Tecumseh Middle School. I have taught two G/T classes: AP English and Humanities Excel (grade 6). Currently, I have completed all my G/T endorsement courses except for my practicum. I also team teach a special education inclusion class (English 11-OTP). You can contact me at rstohler@lsc.k12.in.us.

I have always been interested in G/T education because I attended G/T schools in Racine, Wisconsin. (Jefferson Lighthouse and McKinley Middle). My memories of those years (grades 4-8) are extremely positive. My teachers were extremely innovative, enthusiastic, and creative. I have always hoped to pass on some of what they taught me about great teaching to my students.

I hope this website is an easy-to-use, informative tool for teachers and parents. It boils down the information from two G/T courses (EDPS 540 and 541) and puts it into a user-friendly format for anyone to enjoy. I think it will result in more informed decisions about G/T identification procedures.

Melissa George

I am a science teacher at Tecumseh Middle School. I have taught science to G/T learners at a variety of grade levels. Currently, I teach a Challenge Science class to a group of highly-able 7th and 8th graders. Like Rachel, I have completed all my G/T endorsement classes except for my practicum.

I became interested in G/T education during my first teaching assignment in Omaha, Nebraska in 1987. I taught 7th and 8th grade science in a small school with a number of intelligent underachievers. Being a bored underachiever myself for the majority of my elementary school career, I wondered how I could possibly learn to "tweak" my lesson plans to somehow inspire such students. Reflecting back on my own education, I realized that I became interested in school when classes challenged me to think and thus, I began to try to inspire children to think in my classroom. Although, as an adult I am technically a science teacher, I feel as if I am still a science student as I try to think about and translate science concepts in new ways. My love for learning has been rekindled through many different experiences, primarily watching my three children learn.

Rachel and my reason for creating this website was to learn more about G/T identification as well as to educate parents and teachers about G/T learners and the many disguises they wear in the classroom. We are also interested in successful teaching methods to use with G/T learners. If you have any ideas to add to this website, please contact either Rachel at the above address or myself at mgeorge@lsc.k12.in.us