Gifted resource teacher Mrs. Kelly Lepkowski has a passion for helping students succeed in their learning processes through interactive learning, which helps create deeper connections with the topics they are studying.
“The gifted resource teacher helps teachers to create questions for gifted learning and to help [students] flourish and think outside the box,” said former gifted teacher Jennifer Blais.
Lepkowski’s passion for gifted learning and seeing students succeed comes from personal experience as a gifted learner in high school.
“When I was a young kid, I was considered twice exceptional [gifted] and ADHD,” said Lepkowski. “Teachers would view me as [a] behavioral problem. I was bored, and [wasn’t] being challenged. [Teachers] have to increase the level of rigor, so that [gifted] students can dive deeper into a topic.”
Many other students feel the same when it comes to their learning. In Virginia Beach, the academies and gifted schools offer specialized learning for students in their areas of interest.
Sophomore Bianca Rodriguez, a previous Old Donation School student who now works with Lepkowski notes that “attending a gifted school that requires students to take all advanced classes” gave her “the opportunity to get a majority of high school credits earlier, allowing” her to have “an easier junior and senior year.”
It is crucial for students to show their understanding of concepts in ways that work best for their brains.
“I think our teachers here take time to get to know their students and find out what they’re interested in,” said Blais. “More curriculums allow students to adapt, so that they can show the things they love. For example, allowing art students to draw what they know. Teachers try to allow students to flourish in the ways they enjoy.”
When Lepkowski came to Salem in 2021, she had a mission to help students learn to the best of their abilities, and to give them as many opportunities as she could.
Lepkowski is also always helping around the school with activities such as scholarship programs, gifted asynchronous classes, Think Tanks & Sparks, sunshine committee, and gifted identification committee. She also helps teachers create interactive and stimulating lessons.
“This gives me a chance to see everyone in different environments,” said Lepkowski.
Lepkowski believes nothing compares to the Salem spirit.
“The feeling when I come here, and how people are so accepting, everyone can be who they are,” said Lepkowski who showed off her spirit by breakdancing on the SunDevil Times’ own What’s Up Wednesday.
Lepkowski is still taking college classes at William and Mary to further her knowledge in teaching even more. Be sure to say hi if you see her in the hallway, or putting her daily inspirational quote on the board outside room 104.
