MADISON – Two Madison educators witnessed a ceremony at the state capitol that raises awareness for the work of gifted specialists.

Elizabeth ‘Beth’ Bero from Horizon Elementary School and Wendy Tibbs from West Madison Elementary School visited Montgomery for Gov. Kay Ivey’s proclamation signing to designate January as Gifted Education Month.

Ivey’s proclamation states that “Alabama’s gifted children and youth are one of Alabama’s greatest assets. Gifted students can be found in all ethnic, socioeconomic and cultural groups and provide our state with a vast resource for potential leadership in all areas of society.”

Other gifted specialists in Madison’s elementary schools are Deborah Medeiros, Columbia; Emily Boshers and Rachel Gibbs, Heritage; Elizabeth Woodard, Madison elementary; Sharon Harris, Mill Creek; Kerri Scroggins, Rainbow; and Misty Farmer, Rainbow and Horizon.

“The State of Alabama is home to tens of thousands of gifted and talented children, whose full potential can be tapped only through the cooperation of education, community and government entities,” Ivey said.

Gifted students have special needs in intellectual, academic and creative options to fulfill their potential and capabilities, Ivey said. “Providing rigor and challenge in the classroom for Alabama’s gifted students is vital to ensuring their intellectual, social, emotional and academic development for college and career readiness,” she said.

Gifted specialists in Madison often explore different activities to spark the interests of their students. For example, Bero and her students have cultivated, planted and maintained a butterfly garden at Horizon — from the first shovel of dirt to watering the growing plants. Tibbs has arranged for field trips for her students to view state legislators at work in the state capitol in Montgomery; Tibbs’ students have introduced their concerns for civic improvements to local lawmakers.