Through the sponsorship of District 60, District 70 and Canon City Schools, a nationally renowned expert in gifted education visited Pueblo to work with students and speak to their family members.
Andi McNair of Waco was named as one of the Top People in Education to Watch in 2016 by the Academy of Education Arts and Sciences. She has spent years speaking at conferences and education service centers and has worked with numerous districts to explore new learning experiences for students.
In workshops at Rawlings Library, Ms. McNair spoke with nearly 400 gifted students in grades four through 10th on approaches to learning as well as the necessity of seeking out challenges with an adventure mindset in order to stay excited about learning.
Ms. McNair also addressed the importance of passion projects and choosing an appropriate one:
- Mastery projects: learn how to do something well or better
- Kindness projects: take an opportunity to positively impact someone
- Innovation projects: create something new or make something better
- Perspective projects: take an opportunity to change your or someone else's perspective about something
At East, Ms. McNair spoke with family members of gifted students on how best to support and guide them. She also encouraged the pursuing of passion projects as a family to build connections and a love of learning.
"We are so fortunate to be able to bring a national expert like Andi McNair to support our gifted children and their families," said Cindy Smith, the District's Gifted and Talented Coordinator.
