Designing a Districtwide Gifted & Talented Initial Certification Program

Project Context

As Director of Digital Learning & Innovation for Copperas Cove ISD, I designed and developed a comprehensive district-owned professional learning ecosystem to meet Texas Gifted and Talented (GT) certification requirements. The project began as the redesign of a 6-hour GT Update course for educators maintaining their certification. Recognizing the opportunity to maximize the value of the content, I expanded the curriculum into a complete 30-hour GT Initial Certification Program for educators earning their initial state-required certification.

Initially developed in Schoology, both courses were later migrated to Google Classroom as part of the district’s transition to Google Workspace. This created a sustainable, district-owned professional learning system that will continue serving educators for years while significantly reducing reliance on external training providers.

My Role

I served as the:

  • Project Manager
  • Instructional Designer
  • Curriculum Developer
  • LMS Course Designer
  • Assessment Designer
  • Professional Learning Strategist
  • AI Learning Designer

I managed the project from initial planning and curriculum development through instructional design, LMS development, migration, multimedia creation, assessment design, implementation planning, and quality assurance.

The Challenge

Texas requires educators serving identified Gifted and Talented students to complete two distinct professional learning pathways:

  • 30-hour Initial Certification for educators beginning GT instruction.
  • 6-hour Update Training for educators maintaining certification.

Historically, districts often rely on outside providers for these required courses. My goal was to create a high-quality, research-based, district-owned certification program that would:

  • Meet all Texas state requirements.
  • Reduce recurring professional learning costs.
  • Provide flexible, self-paced learning.
  • Create a consistent learning experience for educators.
  • Establish a sustainable program that could be updated and expanded internally.

The project evolved from redesigning a single 6-hour update course into building a complete professional learning ecosystem supporting educators throughout their GT certification journey.

Instructional Design Approach

The course was intentionally designed using adult learning principles and evidence-based instructional design strategies.

The 30-hour certification program included six modules:

  1. Nature & Needs of Gifted Students
  2. Identification & Assessment
  3. Curriculum & Instruction
  4. Social-Emotional Needs
  5. Program Design & Support
  6. Reflection & Course Wrap-Up

Each module included:

  • Instructional videos
  • Curated online resources
  • Interactive discussions
  • AI-generated learning games
  • Formative quizzes
  • Authentic classroom artifact assignments
  • Reflection activities

Rather than relying on passive learning, participants demonstrated understanding through job-embedded assignments that could be immediately implemented in their own classrooms.

Innovative Features

To increase engagement and reinforce learning, I incorporated AI-assisted instructional design by creating interactive review games using Google Gemini through vibe coding.

Each module included:

  • Interactive learning game
  • Knowledge check quiz
  • Classroom artifact assignment
  • Multimedia learning resources
  • Discussion opportunities

These elements created an engaging, learner-centered experience while providing educators with multiple opportunities to practice and apply new knowledge.

Technology Implementation

The original course was developed in Schoology. Following the district’s transition to Google Workspace, I migrated the entire learning experience into Google Classroom, redesigning activities and workflows while maintaining instructional integrity and learner engagement.

This migration ensured long-term sustainability within the district’s new technology ecosystem while creating a seamless experience for educators.

Project Impact

This project resulted in the creation of a district-owned professional learning ecosystem that:

  • Developed both a 6-hour GT Update course and a 30-hour GT Initial Certification Program aligned to Texas requirements.
  • Repurposed and expanded instructional content into multiple learning pathways, maximizing the long-term value of course development.
  • Eliminated recurring costs associated with external GT certification providers.
  • Is projected to save the district thousands of dollars over time by reducing reliance on outside training vendors.
  • Provides flexible, self-paced professional learning that educators can complete around their schedules.
  • Standardizes GT certification across the district.
  • Creates a sustainable program that can be updated and maintained internally as requirements evolve.

Reflection

One of the most rewarding aspects of this project was recognizing that a single professional learning course could become something much larger. By expanding the original 6-hour update into a complete certification ecosystem, I created a sustainable solution that supports educators throughout their Gifted and Talented professional learning journey while reducing long-term costs for the district.

This project reflects my passion for designing scalable, engaging learning experiences that combine thoughtful instructional design, emerging technologies, and practical application to create meaningful outcomes for both educators and organizations.