Fountain-Fort Carson High School
FFCHS Gifted and Talented
GT Coordinator
My name is Ben Kressler and I serve as the Gifted and Talented Coordinator at Fountain Fort Carson High School. Like so many others, I am a Colorado transplant. I graduated from Michigan State University in 2004 with a BA in English. After teaching English for over a decade, I attended the University of Northern Colorado to complete a master's program in Gifted and Talented education. I joined Fountain Fort Carson High School as the Gifted and Talented Coordinator in 2021. Other responsibilities include AP Coordinator and Film teacher. With two children of my own participating in GT programming, I believe in the importance of advocating for GT student needs.
Bkressler@ffc8.org
719-358-4429
Library Media Center Office
Overview
Mission
The mission of Fountain-Fort Carson High School is to ensure that each child has equal access to receive an optimum educational experience. Our district recognizes the need to identify students from all backgrounds who demonstrate a potential for exceptional performance. Therefore, we are committed to providing relevant and challenging learning experiences to support the intellectual, behavioral, social, emotional, artistic and creative development of our gifted students.
GT Definition
Gifted children are those students between the ages of five and twenty-one whose aptitude or competence in abilities, talents, and potential for accomplishment in one or more domains are so exceptional or developmentally advanced that they require special provisions to meet their educational programming needs. Gifted students include those with disabilities (i.e. twice exceptional) and students with exceptional abilities or potentials from all socio-economic, ethnic, and cultural populations. Gifted students are capable of high performance, exceptional production, or exceptional learning behavior by virtue of any or a combination of these areas of giftedness: general or specific intellectual ability, specific academic aptitude, creative or productive thinking, leadership abilities, visual arts, performing arts, musical, dance or psychomotor abilities.
Student Communication
Students should check the Gifted and Talented Otus course for all updates and opportunities offered through the GT program. Students may also meet with Mr. Kressler in the Library Media Center Office throughout the day, or reach him at bkressler@ffc8.org.
Programming
1. Post-Secondary Assistance. Scholarships, volunteer hours, military family resources, applications, internships, and guidance for students weighing post-secondary options.
2. Scheduling Assistance. Maximizing a student’s potential through the best and most appropriate coursework at FFCHS. All scheduling must be finalized by a counselor, but we can discuss credits and pathways before meeting with counseling.
3. Social-Emotional Wellness. Helping students with social-emotional needs through informational sessions, readings, and optional elective coursework.
4. Teacher Support. Collaborating with staff leaders across multiple programs and departments in an effort to provide opportunities for students with gifts.
5. Enrichment. Expanding gifted students’ knowledge base through field trips, extracurricular opportunities, guest speakers, etc.