Gifted and Talented Endorsement
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Online courses for the K-12 Gifted and Talented Endorsement (TAG) comply with the 12-hour Iowa Department of Education requirement for preparation of teachers, consultants and coordinators in gifted education programs. We have graduate students in our online GT program from 18 states and 6 countries including Japan, England, Italy, Canada, New Zealand and the United States. Drake University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Schools and Colleges and the endorsement is fully approved by the Iowa Department of Education. There are 12 hours required in four content areas that include psychology, programming, administration and practicum. For the GT endorsement, students can choose from the 19 hours offered at Drake University with up to 6 transfer hours. Contact Marcy Sparks for advisement on GT transfer credits. Bonus: Students can complete an MSE degree with core courses offered on campus and transfer in the 12 endorsement hours toward the 32-hour masters degree program. Contact Thalya Hanson for information on the Master of Science in Education in Teacher Effectiveness and Professional Development. GT Content Courses:Students must have coursework from each of these areas and a total of 12 hours for this endorsement. All courses are offered in an online format. Transfer credits require advisor approval.
Faculty:Sally Beisser, Ph.D., is a Professor at Drake University. She taught gifted students in Ames Community Schools and West Des Moines Community Schools for 13 years. She has been honored with the ITAG Research Award, AERA Research Award, the NAGC Doctoral Student Award, and the ITAG Distinguished Service Award. Her doctoral dissertation focus was on gifted females and use of technology. She has been a career leader in gifted education in public education and university research and teaching. Sally is the instructor for EDUC 293 Creativity. Arlene DeVries, M.S. served 25 years as a Gifted/Talented Community Resource Consultant for the Des Moines Public Schools and is currently a private consultant in Gifted Education. She has served on the national boards of both Supporting Emotional Needs of Gifted, SENG and NAGC and is past president of Iowa Talented and Gifted, ITAG. Her awards include the Distinguished Service Award from ITAG, Exceptional Leadership Award from SENG and Drake University School of Education Outstanding Alumnae Award. She has attended and presented at more than 80 Gifted and Talented Conferences, facilitated 70 ten-week series of guided discussion groups for parents of gifted students and trained facilitators throughout the world to lead SENG model parent groups. Arlene is the instructor for EDUC 292 Social Emotional Needs of the Gifted. Jean Hansen, M.S.E., obtained her masters degree at Drake University in Adult Learning Performance and Development. She is the Online Instructional Designer for the School of Education and was involved in the design and implementation of the award winning online Talented and Gifted Endorsement, as well as working with numerous other online courses in the Middle School, Reading, and Business Education Endorsements. She has also been involved in the design and implementation of online courses such as Human Relations and Anti-bullying. Jean recently concluded her year as President of the Iowa Distance Learning Association. Prior to joining Drake, Jean taught at the elementary level for 10 years and also worked in the business world for a number of years. Marian Houseman, M.Ed. has thirty-three years of experience in education, including work as a K-12 Director of Curriculum, K-12 TAG teacher, K-6 Assistant Principal, Remedial Reading teacher and classroom teacher for third, forth and fifth grades as well as an eighth grade Social Studies teacher. She has been trained in the Autonomous Learner Model for gifted education and has attended workshops given by Renzulli, Reis, Treffinger, Betts, Tomlinson, Rogers and Winebrenner. She was also a Belin Fellowship Program participant for both elementary and secondary education. Marian is the instructor for EDUC 291 Introduction to Gifted Education and EDUC 210 Practicum in Gifted Education. Kathy Paul, M.S. is the Extended Learning Program coordinator for Johnston Community Schools. She has served the Johnston Community Schools for 25 years. She has taught every grade level and currently works with the middle level in addition to coordination duties. She received a certificate for Professional Achievement from NAGC and has instructed many classes in gifted education across Iowa and presented at national conferences. She is also the recipient of the ITAG Distinguished Service Award. Kathy is the instructor for EDUC 295 Curriculum & Assessment of Giftedness and EDUC 290 Administration of Gifted Programs. Matt Robie, M.S. is a middle school Extended Learning Program teacher for the Ankeny Community School District, teaching gifted sixth and seventh grade students. He has served on the ITAG board of directors since 2007 and is editor of the ITAG News Magazine. Matt has 12 years of experience teaching gifted elementary and middle school students and was a 2010 recipient of the Yager Exemplary Teaching and Learning Recognition Award. Professional areas of interest include problem-based learning, academic acceleration and the integration of science and technology into elementary and middle school gifted education. Matt is the instructor for EDUC 296 Differentiated Instruction for Gifted Learners and EDUC 298 Gifted Learners: Math Strategies. Jean Saveraid, MSE, has 37 years of experience in education with 28 of those years being the only GT instructor in a growing school district. She built the GT program in the Gilbert and United Community School Districts with great understanding of the socio-emotional needs and curriculum programming. She involved her students in providing service at the Iowa State Special Olympic summer games and competing at the Iowa State Science Olympiads. Jean was the recipient of the 2003 ITAG Distinguished Service award and the 2003 Belin-Blank Excellence in Education award. She is recently retired but still involved in education as a director of the Ballard Community School Board and is the instructor for EDUC 297 Gifted Readers: Literacy Strategies. Marcy M. Sparks, MSE, Ed.S. has extensive experience in education including work as an elementary classroom teacher, a Pre K-6 Assistant Principal, a K-5 Principal, as well as a Coordinator of the Effective Teaching MSE program at Drake University. She serves on the AEA 11 Board of Directors and is currently the Gifted and Talented Endorsement Program Advisor for Drake University. Lynn Roth Taylor, M.S. is currently an Adjunct Professor at the University of Virginia and a Gifted and Talented specialist for the Norfolk Public Schools. Her research interests include giftedness and autism. Lynn is the instructor for EDUC 294 Special Populations of Gifted. |
Key Program Contacts:Sally Beisser, Ph.D. Marcy Sparks, MSE, Ed.S.
More InformationClick on the links below for specific information about the program. |
