Texas Regional Collaboratives for Excellence in Science and Mathematics Teaching Conference Focuses on Alignment, Balance and Connection - July 13, 2007

Structured around the theme of “Alignment, Balance and Connection,” this year’s Texas Regional Collaboratives for Excellence in Science and Mathematics Teaching (TRC) conference, held June 27-29, celebrated the power of the ongoing research-based professional development the Collaboratives offer science and mathematics teachers around the state.

From astronomy to robotics and genetics to geo-diversity, the three-day conference offered an informative and stimulating program of teacher presentations and scientific demonstrations that vividly illustrated the alignment of TRC activities with state standards and the synergistic balance of content and pedagogy. In workshops and discussions on topics as diverse as podcasting and art/science integration, the TRC’s direct focus on workforce development, everyday technological applications and fast-evolving scientific advancements was highlighted.

“Right now the most important economic asset is ideas and people,” said Texas State Senator Kirk Watson, who addressed attendees, “and the only way we are going to succeed in a global community and economy is to educate our students so that they are ready to compete. I want to thank the Collaboratives for doing such an excellent job of this.”

Each year the conference showcases outstanding science instruction techniques and lessons, features workshops, offers professional development credits and honors exceptional science teachers, as well as the business, government, community and higher education partners who make the Collaboratives a success.

“What comes out time and time again in education-related discussions around Texas,” said Geanie W. Morrison, Texas State House Representative and Chair of the Higher Education Committee, “is the importance of science and math. To compete globally, we have to bolster these areas. The Collaboratives have gotten this right – by providing participating science teachers with current, relevant, hands-on professional development opportunities and then having those teachers go back to their districts and share the knowledge with even more teachers. Thousands of Texas teachers have benefited from this remarkable resource. We need to replicate this for every other subject that’s taught – what the Collaboratives accomplish makes our teachers strong, and Texas is very proud and grateful.”

Highlighting the three-day conference was a showcase, reception, and dinner at which Morrison, Watson, UT College of Education Senior Associate Dean Marilyn C. Kameen and Texas Education Agency (TEA) Director of Student Support Initiatives Gina Day spoke to the over 425 Collaboratives participants and partners, and during which the TRC 2007 Distinguished Service Award was presented to Day.

“ The Texas Education Agency was looking for the best science and math professional development model to use,” said Day, who represented TEA at the event, “one that would maximize the money that was available. We realized that the TRC is the highest-quality pipeline for delivery of these services, and we feel that every bit of support we’ve given Dr. Jbeily’s network has been worth it.”

Also recognized during the dinner were the AT&T Foundation, Toyota USA Foundation, El Paso Corporation, Shell Oil Company and The Cynthia and George Mitchell Foundation, all generous supporters of the Collaboratives and sponsors of the TRC’s Distinguished Teaching and Mentoring Awards.

Representatives from the newly-formed Louisiana science regional collaboratives and New Mexico’s Sandia National Laboratories were recognized as well.

Preceding the dinner, guests had an opportunity to view an expansive, hands-on showcase of science exhibits designed by representatives from the 35 regional science collaboratives.

The TRC, which was founded at TEA over 16 years ago and has been headquartered at The University of Texas at Austin since 1996, is housed in the College of Education’s Center for Science and Mathematics Education.

“Mentoring and networking are two of the key strengths of the Collaboratives,” said Dr. Manuel J. Justiz, College of Education dean, “and the annual conference highlights the power and effectiveness of both. Science and math teachers who are involved in the Collaboratives throughout the year can come together, share best practices, learn new strategies and be recognized for the successes their hard work has yielded.”

In March 2006, with a historic $1.0 Million gift from Shell Oil Company, two Louisiana Regional Collaborative prototypes were established. The Louisiana Collaboratives are modeled after the TRC and stress a strong ethic of service to Louisiana science teachers.

In July 2006, the TRC launched a new initiative supported by TEA’s Math and Science Partnership funding, to provide high quality professional development to mathematics teachers across Texas.

The Collaboratives have been responsible for developing the knowledge, skills and leadership capacity of around 14,000 science teachers and 5,000 mathematics teachers, and enhancing the learning experiences of over one million students from 205 counties out of the 254 counties in the state.

“It is such an exciting time to be involved in science and mathematics education,” said Dr. Jbeily. “Everyone recognizes the importance of skills development in these areas and acknowledges that students who develop these skills will keep Texas and our nation economically prosperous and secure in the future. Working with the Collaboratives is an unequivocally rewarding endeavor because all parties benefit – corporate sponsors like Shell, AT&T, Toyota, and El Paso Corporation generously support us and in turn they gain highly-proficient employees who will contribute to communities all over Texas.”

“Our teachers gain the tools they need to do their job well, and their students’ academic achievement steadily improves because the training we offer is aligned with federal and state standards. The TRC has proven that you can scale up your activities, bridge the student achievement gap and efficiently serve an ever larger number of teachers.”

—Kay Randall, University Communications, 512-232-3910

Related Links:

• Texas Regional Collaboratives Website