District’s 2025 Gifted and Talented Expo Showcases Student Research, Communication Skills, and Perseverance

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This year, AISD is projected to increase its GT population to 7% — the highest percentage in the district’s history.

Aldine ISD’s 2025 Gifted and Talented (GT) Expo was more than a showcase of projects — it celebrated passion, curiosity, and the boundless potential of young minds. The districtwide event, which highlighted the work of 170 elementary students who were selected to present after first participating in individual campus GT Expos, provided a platform for these students to apply their learning, develop their research and presentation skills, and gain confidence in their abilities.

“This year, we wanted to engage with our local communities more,” said Dr. Susan Pelezo, AISD executive director of advanced academics. “We had each elementary campus hold its own GT Expo. Five projects from each campus were then selected to represent their school at the district event held recently at the M.O. Campbell Educational Center (MOC).”

In all, nearly 1,000 gifted students across AISD participated in the Texas Performance Standards Project (TPSP) experience.

Exploring Big Questions With Even Bigger Ideas

The range of projects demonstrated the students’ depth of thinking and connection to real-world issues.

“Based on the project topics, we have many future astronauts, rocket scientists, and environmental ecologists,” Dr. Pelezo shared. “Projects ranged from colonizing Mars and how our solar system works to sustainable farming in desert climates and building more climate-friendly cars.”

Each student was given the freedom to choose their topic based on personal interests, with grade-level options that spanned English, math, science, social studies, and interdisciplinary themes. The TPSP model emphasizes research, inquiry, and problem-solving skills that prepare students for middle school and beyond.

“These tasks help develop our students into critical thinkers and problem solvers,” said Dr. Pelezo. “They promote deeper learning through independent research, analysis, and synthesis.”

This autonomy showcased the students’ independence and initiative, impressing all who witnessed it.

A Moment to Remember: Nelly’s Determination

The spirit of the Expo was best embodied by one student, fifth grader Nelly Stone from Ogden Elementary. Just after the event had ended and volunteers were packing up, Nelly arrived breathless and determined. She had missed the main showcase at the MOC but not her chance to shine.

“I have to get inside to present my project!” she pleaded. Moved by her resolve, Dr. Belinda Bryan, AISD program director of elementary advanced academics, reopened the doors and called back a few colleagues. In the foyer, with a small audience gathered just for her, Nelly presented her research on diffusion with grace and enthusiasm. Her parents, who had taken an Uber, hoping to make it on time, watched with pride. “Nelly didn’t let closed doors stop her,” said Bryan. “She reminded us all that when determination meets opportunity, magic happens.”

Elevating the GT Experience and Equity

Beyond the Expo, Aldine ISD’s GATEway Program continues to evolve. This year, the district partnered with the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD) for a full-scale program evaluation.

“Our goal is to strengthen our identification process, through an equity lens, and our service model,” said Dr. Pelezo.

Carter Academy GT Expo

To ensure fair access to GT services, Aldine uses universal screening in kindergarten and second grade, as well as additional checkpoints in fifth and eighth grades. The district employs multiple assessment tools, including the CogAT (cognitive ability test), to identify giftedness across diverse student populations.

“Our commitment is to ensure that identification and enrollment reflect the diversity of our community,” Dr. Pelezo emphasized. “GT students come from various cultural, linguistic, and socio-economic backgrounds, and our practices are designed to remove barriers.”

Recognizing GT Champions

This year, Aldine ISD introduced two awards to honor exceptional educators: the district’s first GT Coordinators of the Year and GT Teacher of the Year. The educators will be surprised at a later date with their awards.

The Power of Support and Continued Growth

Carter Academy GT Expo

GT teachers in Aldine receive 30 hours of foundational training in five key areas, including differentiation and social-emotional needs. They also complete annual six-hour updates to stay current in best practices for gifted learners.

“Our teachers are trained to support depth, complexity, and creativity in the classroom,” said Dr. Pelezo.

While the projects and presentations were the stars of the GT Expo, what truly stood out was the passion of the students, families, and educators who believe in pushing boundaries, asking big questions, and nurturing the spark of giftedness in every child.

Visit the Advanced Academics webpage for more information about Aldine ISD’s GT programs, including how to refer a student for screening.