Irwin Academic Center

Gifted Education Gem #5: We don't just find talent; we grow it. Programs like YET University are designed to frontload and nurture potential in our youngest learners before they even reach formal identification. We universally screen; shouldn’t we universally nurture?

💎Gifted Education Gem #4: Talent is Everywhere. CMS is committed to equity by using universal screening for all 2nd graders and multiple pathways for identification, ensuring every student has a chance to shine regardless of their background.

Congratulations to IIisa Henderson! 🦉

🎉 🎉 🎉 Congratulations to Ilisa Henderson for being named the 2025-26 CMS School Social Worker of the Year. Ms. Henderson has been a social worker for 11 years and has spent the last five working with students and staff at Dorothy J. Vaughan Academy of Technology at Parkside and Irwin Academic Center.

Thanks for being focused on student wellness and academic support. We appreciate all that you do!

💎Gifted Education Gem #3: Article 9B (N.C.G.S. § 115C-150.5-.8) in North Carolina mandates that public school districts (LEAs) identify and serve Academically or Intellectually Gifted (AIG) K-12 students. It requires local school boards to develop, implement, and update three-year AIG plans to provide differentiated education beyond the regular curriculum.

📘Have you read our CMS 2028 AIG Plan?

💎Gifted Education Gem #1: Gifted is not about being “done early.” It’s about needing different instruction. AIG learners thrive with depth, complexity, and meaningful challenge. CMS provides K-12 students with a full continuum of services for gifted and advanced learners.

Governor Josh Stein has proclaimed that it's Gifted & Talented Education Awareness Week across North Carolina!

Our department will be posting "gifted education gems" all week to help spread awareness. Follow along!

CMS Families! Just a quick reminder that Monday, February 16, 2026 is a Teacher Workday.

No classes for students.

Enjoy the long weekend!

After closely monitoring weather conditions, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools will operate on a regular school and district schedule on Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026.

While CMS will operate as normal, we encourage our students, staff, and families to drive with caution. Please be patient as you return to school and give yourself plenty of time to reach your bus stop or school. Bus transportation will proceed with caution, and delayed arrivals are possible. Thank you in advance for your flexibility and patience as we work together to support a safe and successful return to school.

Please note:
All before-school and after-school programs (BSEP and ASEP) will operate as normal.
All Community Use of Schools activities will operate as normal.
Middle school athletic events will operate as normal, and high school athletic events will be rescheduled.
Extracurricular activities will operate as normal.

As a reminder, you can learn more about our Inclement Weather monitoring and procedures at www.cmsk12.org

The safety and well-being of our students, staff, and families remain our top priority.

Thank you for your continued support of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools.

We are excited to announce Ms. McKee as our 2025–2026 Teacher of the Year and Ms. Harrison-Walker as our 2025–2026 Teacher Assistant of the Year!

Both exemplify excellence, dedication, and a deep commitment to our students and school community. Their impact is felt daily through their care, professionalism, and support of every learner.

Please join us in congratulating Ms. McKee and Ms. Harrison-Walker on this well-deserved recognition. We are proud to celebrate you!

💡Another day of learning in the books…Junior Great Books, that is! 📚

Educators from our 6 Learning Immersion/Talent Development (LI/TD) schools in brushed up on their skills on the art of shared inquiry! Not only did we learn some valuable tips, but we also engaged in collaborative learning to make discussions come alive in LI/TD classrooms.✨ We love The Great Books Foundation in CMS!