New GATES Teacher Ready For An Exceptional Year

By Susan Coney

Newtown resident Nancy Millard is a busy lady. Not only is she the mother of  15-month-old Shayna, but Ms Millard is also in the midst of obtaining her sixth year certificate in educational leadership from Sacred Heart, and is undertaking the role as the new GATES (Gifted and Talented Educational Services) teacher for Newtown Public Schools.

Ms Millard, who has lived in Newtown for the past three years with her husband Bill, brings with her more than ten years of experience working in Connecticut public schools. Most recently she taught fourth grade in Fairfield and has previous experience as a teacher of the gifted in both Bethel and Fairfield.

Ms Millard will be joining the Newtown system as the GATES teacher primarily at Reed Intermediate School but she will also act as an assessment coordinator. The job description states that the teacher will provide an enrichment program for identified gifted and talented students at Reed, as well as coordinate and administer assessments of students at the elementary and intermediate levels.

The Newtown Board of Education voted in July to increase the current gifted and talented position at Reed from a five-tenths to an eight-tenths position, adding the assessment responsibilities to the job description. Supervisor of Special Education for Newtown School System, Jan Calabro, is thrilled to have Nancy Millard on board.

“She brings a wealth of knowledge to the position and a passion for all students with her,” Ms Calabro said.

Based on an 80 percent workweek, Ms Millard said that she would be spending 50 percent of her time acting as the GATES teacher and 30 percent identifying and coordinating the assessment process beginning with third graders. Screening will also be available to all new students entering the Newtown system.

She said she had learned about Newtown’s Success Oriented School Model through her graduate studies in curriculum and educational leadership. She feels fortunate that the right opportunity opened up for her and is thrilled to be part of “such a great school system.”