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Thomas Jefferson Middle School proposes 'Ignite' pilot to expand gifted-and-talented services
Summary
Thomas Jefferson Middle School principal Dr. Christie Lewis presented a 2025–26 pilot “Ignite” program to identify and serve 20–25 sixth‑grade gifted students with accelerated coursework, mentorships and enrichment; the proposal is locally funded and will be evaluated as a pilot before expansion.
Thomas Jefferson Middle School Principal Dr. Christie Lewis on April 24 presented a proposal to the Port Arthur Independent School District Board of Trustees for a pilot gifted‑and‑talented program called Ignite that would start with about 20–25 sixth graders in 2025–26.
Lewis told the board the program — Ignite (Inspiring Growth, Nurturing Innovation, Talent and Excellence) — is intended as a small, monitored pilot to provide advanced, differentiated instruction, project‑based learning, mentorships and accelerated pace options so high‑ability students do not become disengaged in mixed‑ability classes. "Exposure expands expectations," Lewis said, adding the program will include ability grouping, passion projects, Socratic seminars and options for advanced high‑school credits later in middle school.
The principal said the pilot will include a mix of academic and enrichment offerings: advanced visual‑arts coursework, a nine‑week rotation of lifetime sports (flag football, volleyball, basketball; followed by strength training, outdoor pursuits and cycling; later rotations include golf, fishing, bowling, pickleball and frisbee golf), and options to integrate maritime and CTE exposures. Lewis said teachers and feeder elementary principals helped design the proposal and that Region 5 will provide training to identified cohort instructors May 9–14 and May 22; consultant Johnny Vines was named for that training.
Lewis told trustees the pilot is to be limited to about 20–25 sixth graders for the first year so the district can measure outcomes and scale up gradually. She said some middle‑school and high‑school credit pathways already exist in the district (Algebra I, CTE courses, Spanish I) and that adding English I and IPC at middle school could allow students to leave eighth grade with more high‑school credits. Lewis said the campus secured $20,040.09 in local requisitions to buy initial materials and that the program will be free to families.
District staff later provided an overview of the existing elementary gifted‑and‑talented structure and screening process. Assessment coordinator Valerie Moody said referrals come from teachers, parents, community members or students and that the district uses NWEA MAP growth, CogAT, classroom measures and portfolio evidence; she reported 652 students were screened in a recent referral window, 592 tested and 11 identified in that period. Moody said the district had about 358 students (4.5% of enrollment) identified as GT in 2024.
Trustees who spoke offered support and asked about scaling and continuity into high school. Vice President Johnson, Trustee Campbell, Trustee Barty and Trustee Diane Brown praised the proposal’s small‑scale start and community collaboration; Trustee Brown emphasized the need to pair facilities planning with program planning if middle‑school consolidation proceeds. Dr. Porter Reed, the superintendent, asked about how the program would feed into high‑school pathways; Lewis outlined potential partner college pathways and said the pilot cohort would carry forward through grade levels as the program expands.
No formal board action on Ignite was recorded at the April 24 meeting; Lewis presented the written pilot handbook, application and requisitions and said she would take questions and next steps.
The proposal raises near‑term evaluation commitments: Lewis said the pilot will use qualitative and quantitative measures to evaluate effectiveness and that the district will use inclusive identification practices (including accommodations for twice‑exceptional students). Trustees requested additional detail for future board consideration on scaling, classroom space and alignment if a district bond leads to campus consolidation.
The presentation combined a campus‑level plan (Ignite pilot) with a district‑level summary of current GT services and referral/testing processes; trustees and staff discussed evaluation, family engagement and next steps for formal board approval.
