Learn More about FISD’s Gifted and Talented Program (QUEST)
About the Program (QUEST)
The special qualities and abilities of gifted children create special needs. QUEST recognizes these qualities and attempts to meet the unique needs of gifted learners and is designed to enhance their social, intellectual, and personal needs. Strategies appropriate and essential for the gifted are implemented in each class in order to provide learners with the opportunity to reach their academic potential.
Gifted learners on the elementary campuses are served in cluster classrooms with a teacher trained in gifted and talented, as well as by a pull-out QUEST facilitator. Middle school students participate in QUEST Pre-AP ILA (Integrated Language Arts) classes. The high school campuses provide trained teachers for their advanced placement/honors/GT courses. Freshmen and sophomores have
the option to enroll in the GT Communications Applications course taught by the campus GT/ISM Facilitator. Juniors and seniors are eligible to participate in the Independent Study Mentorship program (ISM).
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Testing Schedule
Currently, there are three testing windows during the school year. The first testing window is in September for newly enrolled students who meet the following criteria:
- previously identified as GT,
- home-schooled, or
- private-schooled.
The second window is from mid-November to mid-December (Phase I) for Kindergarten. Phase II is in January. The last window is our open nomination for students in grades 1-11 who have either never been tested or who have not been tested by FISD’s gifted program within the last two years. The last window begins in March (Phase I) and ends in April (Phase II).
Fall
September 6: Phase I testing (Grades 1-11)
September 20: Phase II testing (Grades 1 – 11)
October 9: Kindergarten flyers go home in Thursday folders
October 22: District-wide Kindergarten parent meeting
October 22 – November 7: Kindergarten nomination window
November 17 – December 12: Phase I testing (Kindergarten)
Winter/Spring
January 12 – 29: Kindergarten Phase II testing
February 5: District-wide nomination flyer sent
February 6 –20: Nomination window (Grades 1-11)
March 7: Phase I testing (Grades 2-11)
April 25: Phase II testing (Grades 2-11)
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Gifted/Talented Testing Dates for Kindergarten
Kindergarten students may be nominated October 22 through November 7. There will be an informational parent meeting on October 22, 2008, at Frisco High School. For those unable to attend this meeting, please contact Jennifer Adams or your campus GT Facilitator.
Parents may nominate their child(ren) each year for the program, but they may only be tested every two years. The facilitators at each campus are available to answer specific questions.
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Gifted/Talented Testing Dates for Grades 1-11
Students currently enrolled in Frisco ISD in grade 1-11 may be nominated by parents, teachers, counselors, community members or peers, for Phase I formal testing. Information about specific dates is provided on the Frisco ISD website.
Students may be nominated each year, but the prior testing may be considered valid for two years. QUEST/GT Facilitators are available on each campus and may be contacted for answers to questions.
Please visit the Frequently Asked Questions about the Gifted/Talented Program section of our website to gain more specific information.
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Testing Information Flowchart
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QUEST/GT Facilitators by Campus
Elementary Facilitators
Anderson/Borchardt – Mickey George: georgem@friscoisd.org
Bright/District Testing Contact – Jennifer Adams: adamsj@friscoisd.org
Smith/Ogle – Carla Brown: brownca@friscoisd.org
Fisher/Boals – Bronwyn Overstreet: overstrb@friscoisd.org
Gunstream/Christie – Gail Hoogendoorn: hoogendg@friscoisd.org
Curtsinger/Bledsoe – Kelly Starnes: starnesk@friscoisd.org
Shawnee Trail/Pink – Melinda Manley: manleym@friscoisd.org
Riddle/Isbell – Linda Winkenhofer: winkenhl@friscoisd.org
Spears/Sparks – Donna Gamble: gambled@friscoisd.org
Sem/Rogers – Melissa Dinger: dingerm@friscoisd.org
Corbell/Robertson – Stacie Bentley: bentleys@friscoisd.org
Mooneyham/Carroll – Amy Smith: smitha@friscoisd.org
Ashley/Tadlock – Kathy Thom: thomk@friscoisd.org
Taylor/Elliott – Lynn Price: pricel@friscoisd.org
Middle School Facilitators
Clark – Eydie Simpson: simpsone@friscoisd.org
Fowler – Terry Noles: nolest@friscoisd.org (6th-7th); Reyna Arndorfer: arndorfr@friscoisd.org (7th-8th)
Griffin – Ben Lyda: lydab@friscoisd.org
Pioneer – Carri Parchman: parchmac@friscoisd.org
Roach – Paige French: frenchpa@friscoisd.org
Staley – Brooklyn Murray: murraybr@friscoisd.org
Wester – Kathryn Anderson-Uhrik: andersok@friscoisd.org
Scoggins – Katie Resetich: resetick@friscoisd.org
Stafford – Lacey Cole: colel@friscoisd.org
High School Facilitators
Centennial – DiAnn Hill: hilld@friscoisd.org
Frisco – Laura Simpson: simpsonl@friscoisd.org
Liberty – Julie Martin: martinju@friscoisd.org
Wakeland – Patrice Hesselbein: hesselbp@friscoisd.org
Heritage – TBD
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Frequently Asked Questions
I am new to Frisco, and my child was identified as being gifted in another state/district in Texas. Is he/she automatically placed into your gifted program?
Because each district/state establishes its own guidelines for identification of gifted students, they are not automatically placed in our gifted and talented program (QUEST). Previously identified students are assessed using FISD’s criteria, and we strive to complete this assessment within the first six weeks of enrollment.
What kind of documentation do I need to provide to assist with the testing process?
It is always helpful for parents to share any documentation with the campus QUEST Facilitator. The facilitator will verify that your child was served in a gifted program before proceeding with assessment. National, state, and district testing information, report cards that show gifted placement, and letters of acceptance into a gifted program expedite the testing process.
I am new to the district, and I want my child tested for the gifted program. What should I do?
District testing for the gifted/talented program is done annually. Watch for information to come home and check the district website. View Testing Calendar
How many students are accepted each year?
Identification does not involve a quota. We take all who qualify under the district guidelines.
Does my child have to re-qualify as he/she moves from elementary school to middle school?
In Frisco ISD, he/she remains in the gifted program from one grade to the next and from one school to the next unless the program is not meeting the needs of an identified learner.
My child was identified for the gifted program in Frisco, and we moved away five years ago. Now we are back, and I wonder if my child is automatically placed in the gifted program?
Identified gifted students who move away from Frisco and later return may or may not need to be re-assessed. They are not automatically placed back into the gifted program. If they have been gone less than two (2) years or their original testing is less than two years old, the student will be readmitted to the program. Otherwise, the student must be assessed and qualify again before being placed in the program.
How are elementary gifted students served?
Gifted learners on the elementary campuses are served in cluster classrooms with a teacher trained in gifted and talented, as well as by a pull-out QUEST facilitator. These teachers work to individualize differentiated curriculum, instruction, and assessment for the students when it is appropriate or deemed necessary.
If I need information about how to nominate my child for testing, who do I contact?
The QUEST/GT Facilitator on each campus may be reached by calling the school office or through email. Because all facilitators are teaching classes during the day, your phone calls and emails will be returned as soon as time is available. Please refer to a listing of all the GT Facilitators on this website.
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See What's Happening in the QUEST Classrooms
Coming soon...
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Resources for Parents of Gifted Learners
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