A Community Focused Site Created by The Frances A. Karnes Center for Gifted Studies @ The University of Southern Mississippi
Author: House+ton
Professionally, I serve as the Director of The Frances A. Karnes Center for Gifted Studies at The University of Southern Mississippi. We have many wonderful things happening at the Center and hope you will check in here frequently to learn more.
What is that extra A for? No, it isn’t a typo. Under the Mississippi Talent Development Initiative, SPATY is being expanded to include courses in the Arts and will now be recognized as SPAATY. Our Director is working with professors from a variety of areas on campus to update academic and artistic courses for the Summer of 2023.
Students are invited to apply to the program now to insure their place on the roster. Courses will be released as they are approved over the next several weeks. Courses currently approved include: Debate and Stagecraft. Be on the lookout for more courses in a variety of Academic and Arts areas!
The 2022 Fall Day of Sharing was a fantastic day for teachers of gifted students from around the state. We enjoyed time to ponder, plan, and project. The best is yet to come!
There are amazing things happening on campus at Southern Miss. We are excitedly awaiting the final stages of construction of our brand new space for the Karnes Center. While we wait, we are celebrating all the good things that are to come and all the good things that make up our past.
Dr. Frances A. Karnes established the Center for Gifted Studies in 1979. We have been striving to serve the needs of gifted and talented students from all backgrounds for the past 43 years.
Our efforts and offerings include:
2 Day programs in the summer featuring engaging, advanced curriculum for students with intellectual and academic gifts and talents
2 one-week long residential programs for students with academic, intellectual, or leadership gifts and talents
1 two-week long residential program for students with academic talents
2 month-long Saturday programs during the winter months for students with intellectual or academic gifts
A parenting workshop series hosted in the winter months
The Fall Day of Sharing for Teachers
The Gifted Education Strand at the Making Connections Conference each spring
And there is more on the way! We cannot make an official announcement just yet, but be on the lookout for advanced levels of Professional Development, new ways to partner with us while working at your school, and year-round, online offerings for teachers and students.
None of these things would be possible without the original vision and mentorship of our dear Dr. Karnes. Her ability to find the gift in everyone she meets, and her desire to push each person to their own potential set the tone for the Center that now bears her name. Each and every day we seek opportunities to help students discover their gifts and reach their potential. Thank you, Dr. Karnes, for leading the way. We are grateful for your leadership and wish you the best birthday ever!
Happy Birthday, Dr. Karnes! We can’t wait to show everyone our new space: Coming Soon!
What wonderful experiences we have had in Young Gifted Students, Summer In the Middle, Summer Gifted Studies, and SPATY this summer! So many young people participated and joined the Karnes Center Family this year. We hope that you valued your time with us and are looking forward for the next sessions.
Look for more in-person activities throughout the 2022-2023 School Year as well as the addition of a variety of new offerings. Please help us share the news about our programs – Let’s make this family grow.
We ended our summer with an excursion to a fireworks display – the beauty of the night sky and the colorful explosions are such symbols of the growth and excitement we have seen in each of you this summer. We can’t wait to see you again!!!
This year, The Karnes Center is proud to support the University of Southern Mississippi School of Education and Southern Regional Education Service Agency (SRESA)’s Making Connections Conference that will take place June 8 – 10 at the Mississippi Gulf Coast Coliseum.
There will be a Gifted Strand at the Connections Conference this year that is taking the place of our Spring Day of Sharing. More information will be provided soon regarding the topics to be covered in that strand. We are excited to be part of this amazing conference and can’t wait to hear Keynote Speaker, Coach Ken Carter!!!
Attending the Connections Conference can provide up to 1.5 CEUs including the gifted strand as well as other sessions that will help you collaborate with a variety of teachers in your school or district.
Karnes Kaleidoscope 