Parent urges board to add high‑school gifted teacher, says twice‑exceptional students need specialized instruction

Christina Lunsford, a New Kent parent, used the citizen comment period to call on the board to prioritize gifted services at the high school. Lunsford said she raises three daughters in the district and described her eldest as twice‑exceptional — identified with dyslexia and dysgraphia and also qualifying for gifted services.

Lunsford told the board that the middle school’s gifted teacher currently supports more than 100 students and urged adding a gifted instructor at the high school to provide specially designed curriculum, classroom push‑in support, advocacy during IEP meetings, and course‑planning assistance. She said gifted education is a distinct set of services that requires a highly knowledgeable advocate to ensure students’ needs are met, particularly for those who are twice‑exceptional.

Board members acknowledged the request and noted the larger budget conversation that followed later in the meeting; administrators had presented a budget with a gap and a list of potential cuts. Dr. Nichols and Ms. Morgan described staffing and funding pressures and asked board members to continue conversations with county leaders as the district seeks additional support.

Lunsford's comments were part of a broader evening that included curriculum first reads and budget deliberations; several board members said they would carry the concern forward to budget discussions and planning.