Skaggs
Elementary School
PACE
PACE Program
PACE stands for Plano Academic and Creative Education. It is the cornerstone of the district's gifted and talented education program and serves students in kindergarten through graduation. Students may join at any grade level. PACE is more than a course; it is a motivating and challenging experience that lasts over multiple years of a student's education. The PACE program provides an invigorating, creative, and rigorous learning environment to nurture the unique academic and social-emotional needs of students requiring gifted and talented services.
While all students requiring gifted and advanced services receive differentiated lessons in the general education classroom, the elementary PACE program is a pull-out program. Participating students step out of the general education classroom for a defined period of time that increases as the student moves through the grade levels. During this time, students are exposed to district-designed curriculum based on the individual's academic and developmental needs and attributes. In the general education classroom, PACE students are clustered together in groups of 4-10 students. They are taught by teachers trained according to state standards for general education, teachers of students requiring gifted services.
Students participate in PACE based on the results of standardized tests and observation/performance in the classroom. For more information on the PACE program and referral process, please visit the Plano ISD Gifted Education/ PACE site.
PACE Teachers
Mrs. Kyla Ahnemann
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Biography:
My name is Kyla Ahnemann and I am the full time GT Specialist at Skaggs Elementary. I have worked at Skaggs for my entire career and view it as my second home! I love working with gifted students and helping them grow both inside and outside the classroom. As the GT Specialist at Skaggs Elementary, I work with students, teachers, and families to create learning experiences that are both challenging and meaningful. My goal is to nurture the whole child, intellectually, socially, and emotionally, while encouraging curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking. I also partner with teachers and families to make sure every child’s strengths are celebrated and their curiosity is encouraged.
Outside of school, I enjoy a busy life with my husband, our three kids, four dogs, two cats, and a handful of fish.
I’m excited to be part of Skaggs and to help create a place where gifted learners can thrive and shine.
Latrice McIntyre
Email:
Biography:
Howdy! I'm Latrice McIntyre and I am excited about joining as a .5 GT Specialists. I have worked in PISD for 18+ years as an elementary teacher with time at Dooley, Carlisle, and Aldridge previously. I am a University of North Texas graduate and a National Board Certified Teacher. During my time in PISD I have also: worked as an academics teacher with PASAR, facilitated as a teacher for PEP summer school, partnered with educators for various after school clubs, collaborated on Math and Reading Summer Curriculum Writing, and served on the Math Textbook Adoption Committee.
With a passion for differentiation, I look forward to working with students, teachers, and stakeholders to build a growth mindset through productive struggle in an engaging and memorable classroom environment. I feel helping students to become creative, critical thinkers in a continually changing world through advanced learning and problem solving is a rewarding experience.
In my free time I enjoy relaxing, eating Tex-Mex, being outside, cycling, working on jigsaw and word search puzzles, taking care of several house plants, and spending time with family and friends.