"I try to create a school environment which allows children to demonstrate their individual strengths, while developing new abilities," says Patricia Brooks, principal of Heather Hills Elementary School in Bowie. Through her work with Project STEP (Strategies for Targeting Early Potential), Mrs. Brooks has helped bring about a marked increase in the minority constituency of the TAG (Talented and Gifted) program throughout her district. The teacher's manual that she developed to accompany this program is a valuable resource for setting students on a course of academic and personal success. Together with her staff, Mrs. Brooks is also responsible for "Potentially Yours," an enrichment program that incorporates a variety of activities including computer programming, chorus, dance and video production. Under the leadership of Mrs. Brooks, Heather Hills Elementary School has been recognized as a Blue Ribbon School of Excellence by the U.S. Department of Education.
