Cranford Resident Earns Prestigious Fellowship

One of Cranford's own was recognized for her exceptional dedication to gifted children. 

Resident Lauren Bound was recently named a Gina Ginsberg Riggs Fellow by the Gifted Child Society of New Jersey for her outstanding work with the Gifted and Talented Program at Harding Elementary School in Kenilworth. Bound is in her second year at Harding Elementary, and currently heads the Gifted Program. The Program meets twice a week for 40 minutes and educates students in topics outside the normal curriculum, such as entrepreneurial business building.

The Gina Ginsberg Riggs Fellowship is awarded bi-annually to ten fortunate teachers throughout the state who show professional excellence and leadership within their school district. As part of the fellowship, Bound will receive full tuition to attend "Confratute" at the University of Connecticut this July. The five day conference brings together educators from across the country, who are able to network, swap stories, and attend important workshops on improving education. 

"It's like attending mini-college," Bound said. "There are classes all week long on topics related to better education, curriculum ideas, how to identify gifted children, how to run a program, and learning state laws related to gifted kids."

Members of the district are proud of Bound, and excited for the opportunity the Fellowship brings. Harding Principal Kathleen Murphy knew it was only a matter of time before Bound's efforts were appreciated. 

"I was thrilled, I was excited, I was not surprised," she said of the award. "Lauren was a teacher of mine when I was a principal up in Madison, and she's an incredible educator. We were very lucky to get her, she has a stellar reputation." 

 "I was thrilled when Mrs. Bound got the notification that she had won a fellows award to attend the summer program," Superintendent Sylvan Hersey said in an email. "I obviously supported her in her pursuit of the grant. This will enable our G&T program to grow immensely with new directions and programs for our gifted student population here in the Harding Elementary School." 

In her time at Harding, Bound has executed a number of programs that Gifted and Talented students have enjoyed. Both Murphy and Hershey were particularly pleased with Bound's "Invention Convention," where students in fourth, fifth, and sixth grade created new products from traditional items. The event was opened up to participants' parents, and inventions were judged by students at Brearley High School. Murphy called the event a "highlight" of the year. Hershey hopes that the knowledge gained at the Confratute will allow the district to match programs with student interest in order to better meet student needs.

 "Our district will now be heading to the forefront of G&T programs in Union County with the implementation by Mrs. Bound of all she learns at Confratute," he said. "Her willingness to dedicate the required time and energy to attend this program speaks volumes about Mrs. Bound." 

 Bound is grateful for the opportunity, and plans to take courses that will most benefit Harding. 

 "I'm looking to bring some fresh new curriculum ideas to the program," she said. "I want to make sure that the things we are doing are the best practice for us. Primarily, the thing I'm most excited about is bringing new curriculum ideas to the students so we can get them excited to learn."

 "Lauren brings that caliber to win these types of awards," Murphy added. "I know she'll go up there, she'll attend the best types of classes for our district, and then she'll come back and bring all that knowledge to our children."