David Baxter and Allison Bemiss, both currently teaching in Warren County elementary schools, have been selected as teachers in the GEMS (Gifted Education in Math and Science) program. A five-year, $2 million federal grant received by Western Kentucky University is being used to establish the GEMS program that will benefit Warren County Public Schools. It will be used to create a partnership between the WKU Center for Gifted Studies and six Warren County elementary schools that qualify at least 50 percent of their students for free and reduced lunch.

The partnership is designed to increase the number of elementary children who are advanced in science and math and foster their interest in science, technology, engineering and math. This grant is one of only seven in the country as part of the Javits Gifted and Talented Students Education Act.

Both Baxter and Bemiss have backgrounds that fit well with the GEMS mission. Baxter, in his 14th year in education, is a sixth grade science and mathematics teacher at Cumberland Trace Elementary School. A two-time graduate of Western Kentucky University, Baxter is completing an endorsement in Gifted Education through the WKU Center for Gifted Studies. Bemiss, who teaches at Briarwood Elementary, is in her sixth year in education. She has a master's degree and a Gifted Endorsement from WKU. In addition to her experience teaching grades three and four at Briarwood, Bemiss has been a Title I teacher working with at-risk students and has taught enrichment classes for gifted students.

The GEMS program will be housed in the new Warren County Academic/Aquatics Center on Lovers Lane, with nearly 120 low-income and minority students being selected for the program each year.