Gifted and Talented programs, which have been around since the seventies, are designed to offer gifted and talented students with high abilities opportunities for enrichment and potential acceleration.

The G/T program at Marietta Public Schools has been around a while, but this year it is getting a face lift of sorts.

Tammy Sherfield, in her first year with the school district, has been named as the G/T coordinator, with Erin Hansen serving G/T students in the high school, Alyson Stokes in the middle school, and Jennifer Davis in both elementary schools.

These ladies have some big ideas about what they’d like to do to provide opportunities for the district’s students with high abilities.

Some groups meet monthly, while others meet bi-monthly – for now. They would eventually like to increase the frequency of those meetings. As Hansen, Stokes, and Davis are full-time classroom teachers, there is a school day to be planned around.

There’s a schedule for activities at the meetings, including everything from presentors to activities, botball (robotics) to building working gears from paper, to pi day.

Stokes has lined up a schedule for the middle school meetings, planning to address multiple intelligences with the activities.

Her October meeting featured a photographer. In November, students will hear from Jim Gore, a local veteran. In January, it’ll be a visit from one of the KXII meteorologists. Then a guy who meshes music and technology, a local artist, and even a dancer/choreographer.

“Our goal is to move our G/T program out of the classroom and into the real world,” said Sherfield. “We want to challenge our kids to explore, experiment, and push themselves to become self-directed learners.”