MCPSS presents Gifted Education Family Night for PACE families
More than 1,200 MCPSS students and families attended Gifted Education Family Night at the National Maritime Museum on January 30. Students in the PACE (Pursuing Academics, Creativity and Excellence) program, along with their parents and teachers, were invited to visit the museum at no charge.
Guest lecturer Adam Laningham, founder of Bright Child Books, gave two standing-room-only talks on "Strategies to Support Your Gifted Child." Students explored the exhibits on several floors and took part in educational scavenger hunts and other activities.
The PACE (Pursuing Academics, Creativity, and Excellence) Program serves intellectually gifted students in the 桃子视频 County Public School 桃子视频 by providing the resources and opportunities they need to thrive.
Gifted students, found across all backgrounds and abilities, require services beyond the regular curriculum to reach their full potential. PACE offers enriched learning experiences that foster high-level thinking, creativity, and innovation — preparing students not just to understand their world, but to change it for the better. The school system is currently serving about 4,000 identified gifted students throughout the district.
Crystal Galloway, a Gifted Specialist at Mary B. Austin Elementary, was one of the main organizers of the event. She said that the idea for Gifted Education Family Night started with a family she was working with last year who were looking to connect with other PACE families to build relationships and advocate for their son's unique needs.
“From that conversation, the idea grew into something much bigger — a night where gifted families could come together, share experiences, and celebrate the strengths and challenges of gifted education,” Galloway said. “It’s been incredible to see how it has brought families closer and helped foster advocacy for our gifted students!”
The first Gifted Education Family Night was held in 2024 at Denton Magnet School of Technology, and more than 800 students and family members attended. That response led Galloway to move the venue to a larger location, and officials with the National Maritime Museum graciously agreed to provide their event space at no charge.
“The smiles on the kids’ faces said it all,” Galloway said. “We had attendance from families across the entire district — from Dauphin Island to Wilmer to Mt. Vernon to our inner-city schools — showing just how much this event resonated with our community. This may have been one of the largest parent turnouts for a non-athletic event, which speaks volumes about the need for gifted advocacy and community-building.”
Guest lecturer Adam Laningham, founder of Bright Child Books, gave two standing-room-only talks on "Strategies to Support Your Gifted Child." Students explored the exhibits on several floors and took part in educational scavenger hunts and other activities.
The PACE (Pursuing Academics, Creativity, and Excellence) Program serves intellectually gifted students in the 桃子视频 County Public School 桃子视频 by providing the resources and opportunities they need to thrive.
Gifted students, found across all backgrounds and abilities, require services beyond the regular curriculum to reach their full potential. PACE offers enriched learning experiences that foster high-level thinking, creativity, and innovation — preparing students not just to understand their world, but to change it for the better. The school system is currently serving about 4,000 identified gifted students throughout the district.
Crystal Galloway, a Gifted Specialist at Mary B. Austin Elementary, was one of the main organizers of the event. She said that the idea for Gifted Education Family Night started with a family she was working with last year who were looking to connect with other PACE families to build relationships and advocate for their son's unique needs.
“From that conversation, the idea grew into something much bigger — a night where gifted families could come together, share experiences, and celebrate the strengths and challenges of gifted education,” Galloway said. “It’s been incredible to see how it has brought families closer and helped foster advocacy for our gifted students!”
The first Gifted Education Family Night was held in 2024 at Denton Magnet School of Technology, and more than 800 students and family members attended. That response led Galloway to move the venue to a larger location, and officials with the National Maritime Museum graciously agreed to provide their event space at no charge.
“The smiles on the kids’ faces said it all,” Galloway said. “We had attendance from families across the entire district — from Dauphin Island to Wilmer to Mt. Vernon to our inner-city schools — showing just how much this event resonated with our community. This may have been one of the largest parent turnouts for a non-athletic event, which speaks volumes about the need for gifted advocacy and community-building.”