SEM Directory—Rhode Island

Contact Information:

Westerly Public Schools
Susan Griggs, Enrichment Coordinator
44 Park Avenue
Westerly, RI 02891

Phone: 401-596-3673
Fax: 401-348-2707
Email: sgriggs@westerly.k12.ri.us

Demographic Overview:

Number of Enrichment Coordinators	1
Number of Enrichment Specialists/Teachers:	3
Number of Schools:	7 (5 elementary, 1 middle, 1 high)
Number of Students:	3,500
Grade Levels using SEM Model:	K-8
Urban, Suburban, Rural:	Suburban (population: 25,000)
Number of Years in Operation:	20

Description:

This district has made a commitment to the needs of gifted students for twenty years. The support for SEM has been in great measure due to the stable leadership of the coordinator. The district is dedicated to "job-embedded" professional development and to on-going identification of students. Unique to the district are the positions of "teacher-trainers." These support staff work in the classroom with teachers to assist them in developing the skills required to meet the district goal of curriculum differentiation.

SEM Components:

	Services for Identified Students	Services for Entire School Population
Total Talent Portfolio
Type I Experience
Type II Training
Type III Independent Investigations
Curriculum Compacting
Enrichment Clusters
Differentiation in the Regular Classroom
Regularly Scheduled Resource Room Time
Academies of Inquiry and Talent Development
On-line Accelerated Courses

Other SEM Features:

Schoolwide Enrichment Team
Cluster Grouping
Enrichment Program Handbook/Brochure
Supplementary Options for Artistically Talented Students
Accelerated Classes
Grade Skipping Options
Staff Development for General Faculty
Summer Gifted Programs
Participation in State, National, and/or International Programs Such as National History Day, Future Problem Solving, Math Olympiad
Type III Fair on or an End-of-the-Year Showcase of Students Work