I Choose SPS: Meet Kelly Heugel, Springfield Scholars Teacher

“I stumbled into gifted education when I accepted a long-term subbing position the semester after my college graduation. Growing up, my hometown did not really have gifted services. My college education training hadn’t addressed it much either. When I began at Phelps Center for Gifted Education, I was surprised to find a familiar community – both with my fellow educators and the students and their families.  

Over my seventeen years teaching for Phelps, I have worked with students at all grade levels and many content areas. Currently, I teach Humanities and Philosophy to Scholars 8th graders.  Each new group of students starts in the fall unsure of what it means to study Humanities and Philosophy. One of my favorite ways to build their understanding of Humanities & Philosophy is presenting Thought Experiments to students and shrugging my shoulders when they ask my opinion on the prompt. Once a student responded, “It doesn’t matter what she thinks. She wants us to think.” Together we learn how to research historical perspectives, find connections in seemingly uncommon material, change our position based on new information, and communicate respectfully. 

Last year, I was asked to pilot the SPS program for Secondary Gifted at Central High School. While I do not teach a high school class, I work with 9-12 grade students and CHS educators to advocate for what they need to learn at high levels. I love asking students “What is working for you?” and “How can I support the areas that aren’t?”. SPS provides so many different opportunities for students to pursue an education that works for their strengths and interests. Yet, SPS also provides teachers the ability to grow into new areas and interests. I haven’t just chosen SPS once but multiple times in my career. I have been grateful for the ways that SPS has allowed me to grow along with the gifted opportunities provided in our district.”

- Kelly Heugel, teacher in the Springfield Scholars Program