Advanced Academics and Talent Development

Ms. Vicki Paris

Welcome to Advanced Academics and Talent Development at Ashlawn Elementary!  Please take a look through the helpful links in the menu on the left to discover more about what Ashlawn has to offer our growing scholars.

I grew up in Arlington and went to Reed, Tuckahoe, and Swanson before moving to Fairfax. I attended James Madison University (Go Dukes!) and graduated from the University of North Carolina Wilmington with a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education after marrying my Marine Corps husband and moving with him to Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. I later graduated from UNC-W again with a Master of Arts in Gifted Education. In addition to Camp Lejeune, my family has lived in San Diego, California; Quantico, Virginia; Okinawa, Japan; Quantico again; Tampa, Florida, and finally back to my hometown of Arlington. I have four children, three of whom have attended Ashlawn! When I am not at school, I love to read, watch the Nats and Caps, and travel with my family in our campervan! I am so excited to continue my role (with a new title!) as the Advanced Academics Coach this year. I feel fortunate to work with both teachers and students to provide opportunities for learning extensions for all students who need it (everyone, in my opinion!). I plan weekly with our excellent teachers so that they can incorporate our APS resources for advanced learners and our critical and creative thinking activities into their instruction. I also coordinate the APS gifted screening process for Ashlawn. I will invite the parent community to two parent information meetings during the fall to share more details about how the Advanced Academics and Talent Development program works in APS and at Ashlawn.

Advanced Academics and Talent Development

Arlington Public Schools is dedicated to maximizing the strengths and potential of all students so they may become self-confident, well-rounded, responsible and productive citizens. Believing that each and every individual has merit, Arlington Public Schools recognizes that certain learners within the school population have unique abilities, interests, needs, and potential for accomplishment. Advanced students need opportunities to think abstractly, work at various rates and levels of complexity, and pursue tasks independently. In addition, students eligible for advanced academic services need opportunities to learn with others of like abilities, as well as opportunities to develop socio-emotional. Advanced academic services are implemented through school-based and countywide activities, which comply with School Board and State objectives.  School-based services are delivered in the following ways:

• According to a collaborative resource model in which the classroom teacher works with the Advanced Academics Coach to develop and present appropriately differentiated learning experiences for advanced students within the general education classroom
• In the general education classroom setting with identified students cluster-grouped (minimum of 9-10) and through a variety of flexible groupings based on ongoing data
• With teachers who are specifically trained in instructional needs of and curriculum written for advanced students
• Through curricula which are differentiated or extended from concepts in the general education curriculum, and when appropriate, through opportunities for acceleration and extension.