Conway AGATE annual meeting

Hopefully you have already recieved a flyer about this, but if not we would love to see you there!

Conway AGATE
Spring Meeting
Thursday, April 3rd
St. Peter’s Episcopal Church Parish Hall
(Corner of Prince & Mitchell Sts., across the street from C.H.S. East)
Reception at 6:30 pm • Meeting begins at 7:00 pm

The Conway chapter of Arkansans for Gifted and Talented Education (AGATE) offers parents and educators a chance to discuss and support educational issues that are important to gifted students.

This will be our spring business meeting to elect officers and to plan for the 2008-09 school year. This is a great chance for you to get more information about Conway AGATE.

Our guest speakers will include
• Mrs. Tommie Sue Anthony, President of the Arkansas Advanced Initiative for Math and Science
• Mrs. Donna Whiting, Director of Gifted and Talented Education for Conway Public Schools

You will have a chance to learn more about programs like Quiz Bowl, Faulkner County Spelling Bee, Destination ImagiNation, History Day and the Chess Tournament.

Those interested in gifted and talented education are encouraged to attend. If you have any questions about the meeting please use the "Email the blog editor" link on the right.

Come help us become a booster club for the gifted and talented programs in Conway!

Local students compete in History Day

TheCabin.net ·· Local students compete in History Day 03/21/08

Students from Conway High School and Carl Stuart Middle School participated in the regional History Day competition recently.

Gifted toddler who can read!

Whiting receives AGATE award

From today's Log Cabin

Stephen B. Whiting, resident of Conway and an attorney with the H. Chris Christy Law Firm in Little Rock, received the prestigious Presidential Award from Dr. Ann Robinson, President of AGATE (Arkansans for Gifted and Talented Education) at the recent AGATE State Conference in Little Rock.

Whiting was presented the award for volunteering his time to provide advice and analysis on the impact of proposed and current legislation upon students, teachers and administrators involved in Gifted and Talented education in Arkansas.

During the recent special session of the Legislature, Whiting discovered that the funding language for gifted education in Arkansas had been omitted from statutory language. Due to this discovery, sections of the Arkansas code were re-written and with the help of Rep. Jodie Mahoney and Sen. Shane Broadway, the language was restored to mandate funding for gifted and talented education.

Barbara Prichard, director of Gifted Programs for the Fayetteville Public Schools said, "Were it not for the skill and support of Steve Whiting there probably no longer would be any gifted services in Arkansas."

Whiting recently accompanied his wife, Donna, to Washington, D.C. to lobby for gifted education on the national level. As a result of his work there, key signatures were obtained for the Javits bill for national funding of gifted programs. Donna Whiting is director of Gifted Programs for the Conway Public Schools.

Summer enrichment programs

It is about time to begin looking for summer enrichment programs for our kids. So far this year I have gotten flyers from UALR's SLUFY and from Advance which is run by Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, Louisiana.

Do you have a favorite summer program?

Local GT educators win awards at state conference

From the Log Cabin

Arkansans For Gifted and Talented Education's 29th annual Conference on Gifted Education was held Feb. 19-22, 2008 at the Peabody Hotel in Little Rock. This year's theme was "Building Bridges to the Future." Bill Waskom, program director for Gifted Education for the Benton School District was the conference chairperson. The annual AGATE Awards were presented throughout the conference to students, educators, parents and professionals who have worked for gifted education in Arkansas. Local G.T. Teachers and administrators were recognized. Greenbrier's Gifted and Talented Program received an ACT 56 Award for Outstanding G.T. Program. Robin Clark, Greenbrier, G.T. coordinator was elected Agate President Elect, Tommie Sue Anthony, Conway, received the Martha Ann Jones Norton Service Award. Local G.T. educators who spoke included: Polly Bakker, Arch Ford Education Cooperative; Sally Stuart, Mayflower G.T. coordinator, Starla Gresham, G.T. specialist, Conway; Betsy Hays, G.T. coordinator at Atkins; Abby Dragland, G.T. specialist, Conway; and a group of administrators from Greenbrier schools presented, "Catch The Energy and Release The Potential."