About
Gifted Curriculum & Consulting
offers consulting services and professional development in gifted education to school districts and other groups.
Lenore Cortina, Ed.D.
908-399-5510
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Author/Curriculum Developer January 2018 - Present
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Author of chapter book series for gifted K-2 learners. The focus of the Dragonflier Kids books is on social-emotional issues faced by gifted learners, integrated with interesting and challenging academic content.
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Develop curriculum units to accompany the chapter books. Each curriculum unit is focused on an academic topic, a social-emotional issue, and introduces a type of research. The units include educative materials to enhance professional learning in the area of gifted education for those implementing the unit.
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Math challenge simulations for gifted learners in grades K-2.
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Professional learning videos and materials for teachers in the area of gifted education.
Consultant/Owner June 2014 - Present
Gifted Curriculum and Consulting, LLC
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Consult with school districts to evaluate, design, and develop all aspects of gifted programming including identification processes, program and service options, curriculum design and development, and evaluation procedures.
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Consult with parents of gifted children to evaluate student need and provide guidance and support in securing appropriate educational opportunities.
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Design and publish curriculum designed to provide professional learning in gifted education to teachers as they implement the curriculum in gifted education or general education classrooms.
Faculty Coordinator - Gifted Education Certificate Program September 2013 – June 2019
Assistant Professor of Teaching - Retired
Graduate School of Education
Rutgers – The State University of New Jersey
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Recruit and support faculty for the Gifted Education Certificate Program
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Manage the coordination of program curriculum to maintain consistency, relevance, and rigor
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Develop courses in gifted education for the Graduate School of Education
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Teaching responsibilities for undergraduate and graduate gifted education courses
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Professional learning for district administrators and teachers
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Co-coordinate the annual Rutgers Gifted Education Conference
Director/Owner June 2010 – October 2013
Ingenuity Academic Talent Center, LLC, Flemington, New Jersey
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Founded a private supplemental gifted education center and managed a small staff of instructors to teach after-school, holiday and summer courses for academically gifted students in Pre-K through grade 8
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Provided professional learning opportunities for administrators and teachers related to differentiation of instruction/curriculum and gifted education
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Consulted with schools to evaluate and develop programs, services, identification processes, and appropriately modified curriculum and instruction for gifted students
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Facilitated a county-wide gifted education consortium for educators and administrators
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Developed an original curriculum framework that integrates advanced content across disciplines with critical and creative thinking skill development and opportunities for students to develop affective skills such as risk-taking, perseverance, intellectual curiosity and motivation
Supervisor of Instruction September 2007 – August 2009
Delaware Township School, Sergeantsville, New Jersey
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Observed and evaluated teachers including formal observations and summative evaluations
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Planned and implemented professional development opportunities for faculty including language arts literacy, concept-based integrated curriculum, differentiated instruction, curriculum mapping, assessment practices
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Collaborated with teachers to develop and implement concept-based curriculum-units and lessons
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Provided ongoing, job-embedded support for teachers in curriculum implementation and the development of effective differentiated instructional practices and strategies, K-8
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Facilitated/supervised the development of district language arts, math and social studies curricula
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Created a teacher resource library and leveled bookrooms
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Designed and implemented the Non-tenured Academy program for novice and new teachers and mentors
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Designed and implemented the Technology Academy- Monthly in-district technology workshops
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Administrative representative on the Local Professional Development Committee to develop district professional development plan and mentoring plan
Teacher of the Gifted and Talented K-8 September 2004 – August 2009
Delaware Township School, Sergeantsville, New Jersey
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Designed and implemented K-8 gifted and talented program including development of program identification process, goals, program evaluation, student assessment protocols, and curriculum for gifted program K-8, and math enrichment K-4
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Coordinated school-wide enrichment opportunities for all students. School-wide enrichment opportunities created for Delaware Township School include the school literary journal, clubs and competitions, special topic career weeks and enrichment speaker workshops
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Developed a collaboration and consultation gifted program model to work with teachers to support differentiated lesson design and instruction in the classroom for all students
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Professional development workshops for teachers to promote and support differentiation and best practices
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Presented parent workshops addressing needs of gifted learners
First, Second, First-Second Looping, and Third Grade Teacher 1997 – 2004
Robert Hunter School, Flemington-Raritan School District, Flemington, New Jersey
EDUCATION
Seton Hall University, South Orange, New Jersey
Doctor of Education K-12 School Administration
Dissertation Title: School Administrators and the Professional Learning of General Education Teachers Related to Gifted Education
Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey
SupervisorCertificate
University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut
Sixth Year Diploma in Professional Education
Educational Psychology with a concentration in Gifted and Talented Education
36 credits including all aspects of gifted education, differentiation and curriculum development
Sacred Heart University, Fairfield, Connecticut
Master of Arts in Teaching
Concentration in Elementary (K-8) Education
University of Bridgeport, Bridgeport, Connecticut
Bachelor of Science
Dental Hygiene Education
HONORS
New Jersey School Boards School Leader Award Recipient (for gifted and talented program development) 2008
Gifted Child Society Fellow 2007
Governor’s Teacher Recognition Award Recipient 2004
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
National Association for Gifted Children - Member
New Jersey Association for Gifted Children – Member (Board Member - VP Advocacy, August 2012 – 2014)
PRESENTATIONS & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Webinars
Rutgers Gifted Education Certificate Program Webinar Series
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A School Leader’s Guide to Gifted Education Programming
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Creating Choice Menus
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Critical Thinking Strategies for Gifted Learners
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Collaborating and Consulting to Promote Gifted Education
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Curriculum Compacting
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Extending Grade Level Curriculum for the Gifted Classroom
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Five Strategies for Differentiation of Instruction
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Matching Students to Services: Identifying Gifted Students
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Special Populations of Gifted Learners
School District Presentations, Professional Development/Coaching and CurriculumConsulting
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Academic and Social/Emotional Needs of Gifted Learners – Trenton Public Schools
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Challenging Gifted Learners – Flemington-Raritan School District
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Differentiating Curriculum and Instruction for Gifted Learners in Grades 3-5 – Westfield Public Schools
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Differentiating Curriculum and Instruction for Primary Gifted Learners – Westfield Public Schools
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Gifted identification & Modifying Curriculum and Instruction in a Cluster Classroom - Easton, Redding and Region 9 School Districts, CT
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Identification of Gifted Students -Trenton Public Schools
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Meeting the Needs of Advanced Learners – Rahway Public Schools
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Meeting the Needs of Diverse Learners – High Bridge School District
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The Enrichment Triad Model – Flemington-Raritan School District
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District partnerships – Professional development/ongoing coaching: Bernards Township Public Schools, Milltown Public Schools, Montclair Public Schools, Point Pleasant School District, Tinton Falls Public Schools,
Conference Presentations
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Identifying Gifted Students in New Jersey – Rutgers Gifted Education Conference 2014
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Literacy Strategies for Advanced Primary Readers and Writers – Rutgers Literacy Conference 2018
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Low Prep-High Impact Differentiation Strategies – New Jersey Association for Gifted Children Conference 2017
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Modifying Curriculum for Advanced Learners – New Jersey Association for Gifted Children Conference 2016
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Moving Forward with Gifted Education in New Jersey - Panel Discussion – Rutgers Gifted Education Conference 2015
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Observation and Evaluation of Differentiation for Advanced Learners – New Jersey Association for Gifted Children 2013
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Overview of Gifted Education in New Jersey – Morris Union Jointure Commission
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Planning Professional Learning to Improve Gifted Education – Rutgers Gifted Education Conference 2015
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Primary Gifted Learners: Affect and Academics – New Jersey Association for Gifted Children Conference 2019
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Professional Leadership – New Jersey Association for Gifted Children 2016
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Roundtable for Primary Educators – Rutgers Gifted Education Conference 2016
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Silver in the Mine: the importance of gifted education and how to be an advocate to support gifted education in your school – Westfield Public Schools Keynote Speech
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Standing Out and Fitting In: The social and emotional challenges of growing up gifted – New Jersey Consortium for Gifted Programs
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Teaching Beyond the Mean: Differentiation strategies that work with advanced and struggling learners – Exceptional Children Conference, New Jersey Education Association 2016
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Working Together: A Collaborative Model for Gifted Education – New Jersey Association for Gifted Children Conference 2015