That she seems excited about being with the G&T kids would speak a lot louder to me than all the credentials in the world! Perhaps it means she even requested the position in a bid to actively work with G&T kids all the time. And the fact that she introduced herself to you also speaks volumes to me - she has opened communication channels. AFAIK It's a lot more than traditional teachers do.
I hope that the enthusiasm she seems to have will carry her and her students through this next year with everything you need
