Gifted & Talented

Program Overview

Each school district must incorporate gifted and talented programming into its comprehensive school improvement plan as required by Iowa Code section 257.42. The Iowa Code also defines gifted and talented students as “those identified as possessing outstanding abilities who are capable of high performance. Gifted and talented children are children who require appropriate instruction and educational services commensurate with their abilities and needs beyond those provided by the regular school program.”

Areas of Support

Heartland AEA provides services specifically tied to improving Gifted Education (TAG, G/T) programming. Services include:

  • Professional learning for educators
  • Assistance in meeting Iowa Code requirements for gifted education
  • Guidance on the development and implementation of comprehensive gifted and talented program plans in schools and districts
  • Data support for districts with gifted and talented program identification

Read our latest newsletter!

Gifted & Talented Newsletter

Important Contacts

Expand Close All
Kate Boonstra

Kate Boonstra

  • Professional Learning & Leadership Consultant

Education: Bachelor’s degree, music education; Master’s degree, curriculum & instruction in gifted education

Experience: Elementary vocal music teacher, Family-school liaison in special education (Family & Educator Partnership Coordinator), Secondary talented and gifted teacher, Gifted & talented/Professional learning consultant
Joined Heartland AEA in 2021

Expertise: Curriculum and strategies for gifted students; serving advanced learners within an MTSS structure; instructional framework implementation

Professional affiliations: National Association for Gifted Children, Iowa Talented & Gifted

How I’ve made an impact: I’ve had the privilege of helping districts large and small improve what they offer for gifted/advanced learners by facilitating a program review based on Iowa Code requirements and current research in gifted education.

Kyra Wilcox-Conley

Kyra Wilcox-Conley

  • Gifted & Talented Consultant

Education: Bachelor’s degree, art education; Master’s degree, art and design; Master’s degree, educational leadership; Gifted & talented endorsement

Experience: Art teacher, Gifted & talented teacher/coordinator, Central office administrator, Assessment consultant, Gifted & talented consultant
Joined Heartland AEA in 2013

Expertise: Gifted & talented program review; strategic planning and implementation; gifted & talented identification data and analysis systems; acceleration support

Professional affiliations: Iowa Talented & Gifted Association, National Association for Gifted Children

How I’ve made an impact: In a district I served, we did an extensive Extended Learning Program program review, using Heartland AEA’s Gifted & Talented Self-Audit and Planner Tool, which helped the district to target very specific areas for program improvement. This program review has led to two years of continuous support for the implementation of many program improvements, including a revised subject-specific identification plan in ELA and math, increased identification and services to K-2 students and professional development for teachers and administrators.

Gifted & Talented