The mission of the Hattiesburg Public Schools REACH Gifted Program is to address the needs of intellectually gifted children. This program serves students in second through sixth grade and provides necessary instructional modifications to increase student skills in Autonomous learning, creative, productive thinking, metacognition, Developing and maintaining healthy, enriching relationships.
These instructional modifications include an environment that allows intellectually gifted children to learn from one another, a curriculum that addresses the unique characteristics and needs of the gifted by balancing cognitive and affective instruction/experiences, and a delivery system that employs multiple instructional strategies to accommodate individual learning differences.
Who Do We Serve?
The REACH Program serves intellectually gifted students in 2nd through 6th grade.
Our Program Goals
- Thinking Skills
- Creativity
- Decision Making Skills
- Communication
- Information Literacy Skills
- Problem-Solving Skills
Program Benefits
- Learners focus on interests, strengths/weaknesses, and develop social-emotional skills.
- Learners develop communication skills and explore various career options.
- Learners receive more challenging tasks (higher-order thinking skills).
Referral To Placement Process
- Referral Form: Students may be referred by a parent, counselor, administrator, teacher, peer, self, or anyone having reason to believe that the student may be intellectually gifted.
- Checklist of Giftedness, Creativity, and Leadership.
- Local Survey Committee (LSC) determines if a student qualifies to move on to the Assessment Phase.
- Parental consent for testing.
- Assessment Phase: Individual IQ Test Administered.
- District Team determines if the student meets the criteria to be ruled eligible for the gifted program.
- Parental consent for placement.
Gifted Options
- The REACH Program is offered for eligible students in 2nd-6th grades.
- Advanced Placement Courses offer a more rigorous and
challenging curriculum for our high school students. Current course offerings include English Literature (11th Grade), English Literature (12th grade), Art: Studio Art, World History, U.S. History.
- Hattiesburg High School Dual Enrollment Program where Hattiesburg High School students can enroll and earn credits with the following institutions: Pearl River Community College, University of Southern Mississippi, and William Carey University.
- Middle College Program advances Hattiesburg High School students in grades 11-12 through a partnership with Pearl River Community College, where students can simultaneously earn a high school diploma and an Associate's Degree.
For more information regarding our program, please refer to this document: Identifying Gifted Traits
Gifted Policy Handbook
Gifted Policy
HPS Reach IMP
OUR TEAM
Keonna Howard, Executive Director of Exceptional Children and Health Services
Email: Keonna.howard@hattiesburgpsd.com
Tocarra Causey, District Psychometrist
Email: Tocarra.causey@hattiesburgpsd.com
Kim Miller-Andrews, District Psychometrist
Email: Kim.miller@hattiesburgpsd.com
Elvira Deyamport, Gifted Department Chair, and Teacher
Email: Elvira.deyamport@hattiesburgpsd.com
Schools: Thames, Woodley
Amy Lister, Teacher
Email: Amy.Lister@Hattiesburgpsd.com
Schools: STEAM Academy, Grace Christian
Jerice Williams, Teacher
Email: Jerice.williams@hattiesburgpsd.com
Schools: Hawkins and Rowan
