Designed for experienced teachers, this professional development course invites participants to reflect on current instructional practices and reexamine how cognitive demand is intentionally embedded in gifted learning experiences. Teachers will explore the Continuum of Complexity as a framework for elevating thinking, planning for depth, to appropriately challenging advanced learners. Through discussion and practical application, participants will identify opportunities to refine existing strategies and leave with new, classroom-ready approaches to strengthen rigor and cognitive demand for gifted students.
Upon successful completion of the class, four credit hours will be given, and these hours may be used toward a gifted endorsement if needed.
A stipend of $25/hour will be given for each hour of this course; a total of 4 hours.
Dates: June 17, 18, 2026
Time: 2:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Location: Pima County School Superintendent's Office 200 N. Stone Avenue
Cost: $30
Facilitator:
Amanda Chavez is currently a STEAM middle school teacher in the Santa Cruz County Unified School District. She has 20 years experience in education which includes eight years as an elementary general education teacher, four years as a special education teacher and for the past eight years, the Gifted Coordinator and teacher in Sahuarita Unified School District. As the Gifted Coordinator Amanda created the program design and curriculum to meet the needs of the 2-5th grade identified gifted population. Along with creating lessons and curriculum for the pull-out gifted classroom, she partnered with gifted cluster teachers to support the needs of these students in their general education classrooms. As a former gifted student in the S.U.N. Program in Sunnyside Unified School District, and a parent of two gifted sons, Amanda is well informed on the academic and social/emotional needs of gifted learners, and the support needed for them to to reach their potential. Amanda is a member of the Arizona Association of Gifted and Talented and the National Association of Gifted Children.
© 2017 Pima County School Superintendent's Office
