Gifted Education in New Mexico is under the umbrella of Special Education. In the New Mexico Administrative Code (6.31.2.12) a gifted child is defined as a school-age person whose intellectual ability paired with subject matter aptitude/achievement, creativity/divergent thinking, and/or problem-solving/critical thinking meets the eligibility criteria in this section and for whom a properly constituted Individual Education Plan (IEP) team determines special education services are required to meet the child's educational needs.
Gifted screenings are a component of the referral process for a gifted evaluation. All gifted screenings and evaluations are conducted by Educational Diagnosticians. Gifted referrals start at the school sites through the child's regular education teacher. Please contact your child's teacher if you feel your child requires a gifted screening. The Response to Intervention Specialist at the elementary schools can assist with the gifted referral process for your child.
Each elementary school has a Teacher of the Gifted who provides gifted services for students who are gifted and have an Individualized Education Plan. Middle schools and high schools have Gifted Case Managers who ensure that middle and high school students with giftedness are receiving their gifted services. There is also an IEP Facilitator for Elementary Gifted Students and an IEP Facilitator for Secondary Gifted Students.
Gretta Aguilar
Teacher of the Gifted
Los Lunas Elementary,
Raymond Gabaldon Elementary,and Valencia Elementary
Suzanne Sais
Teacher of the Gifted
Bosque Farms Elementary and
Peralta Elementary
Jennifer Chavez Baca
IEP Facilitator for
Secondary Gifted Students
Edric Chavez
Gifted Case Manager
Los Lunas High School
Janet Davis
IEP Facilitator
for Elementary Gifted Students
Teacher of the Gifted
Ann Parish Elementary,
Desert View Elementary, and
Tomé Elementary
Brett Manus
Gifted Case Manager
Los Lunas Middle School
Paul Marez
Response to Intervention Specialist
Sundance Elementary, Tomé Elementary, and
Valencia Elementary
Amanda McCleary
Response to Intervention Specialist
Bosque Farms Elementary,
Katherine Gallegos Elementary, and
Peralta Elementary
Samial Morerod
Response to Intervention Specialist
Bosque Farms Elementary,
Katherine Gallegos Elementary, and
Raymond Gabaldon Elementary
Lynn Mozer
Gifted Case Manager
Los Lunas High School
Malinda Ortega
Teacher of the Gifted
Katherine Gallegos Elementary, and
Sundance Elementary
Amber Moreno
Gifted Case Manager
Valencia Middle School
Carolyn Sanchez
Response to Intervention Specialist
Ann Parish Elementary,
Desert View Elementary,
Los Lunas Elementary,and
Peralta Elementary
Dustie Beck
Gifted Case Manager
Valencia High School