ACPS Talented and Gifted Coordinator, Donna Brearley, has been named 2017 Virginia Leader of the Year for the Gifted by the Virginia Association for the Gifted.
The award honors Brearley for her dedication and outstanding contribution to the field of gifted education, particularly in the area of the Young Scholars Program. She was nominated by teachers and colleagues and was selected from among educators throughout Virginia.
“I was both surprised and humbled by this recognition. I appreciate all the teachers who were behind it. The talent we have in these teachers is my greatest pride. They are truly amazing people who work extremely hard and handle a lot of different tasks and projects — flawlessly,” said Brearley.
Brearley joined ACPS in 2011 and has worked in talented and gifted programs for over 14 years. Brearley was at the helm of two new programs that have expanded the reach of talented and gifted education: the Young Scholars program, which serves talented students who excel in creative and out-of-the box thinking and are sometimes underrepresented in talented and gifted programs, and a program that helps to identify students in kindergarten through grade three for General Intellectual Aptitude services.
“Donna’s leadership and expertise in the area of gifted education is commendable and widely recognized in the Commonwealth. We are always impressed by her depth of knowledge about the field of gifted education and the needs of our gifted students. Donna is well-deserving of this distinguished award and ACPS is proud of her accomplishment,” said Chief Academic Officer, Terri Mozingo.
Brearley has seen an immense change in the way students approach school after they have gone through the Young Scholars Program, explaining that they have passion about learning and are extremely positive about what they can accomplish. Brearley’s work on these programs has given students a chance to go canoeing on the Potomac River, explore ecosystems in the Chesapeake Bay, and learn about insects at Kenilworth Gardens. She credits her drive and passion for the program to her own children and her fellow talented and gifted colleagues.
“Working through gifted programs, I have learned a lot about what it takes to support children along their life’s journey, and it doesn’t just end at school. Don’t let the resistance that you run into stop you from advocating for the kids. Plan for their best interest and support their goals. While the kids may talk to adults like adults, interact at an adult level and even think at an adult level, they’re still kids and need to be nurtured,” said Brearley.