STEM Education Innovators Gather for Austin Conference - August 27th, 2009View Slideshow from STEM Conference

The Texas Regional Collaboratives for Excellence in Science and Mathematics Teaching (TRC) Annual Meeting set an attendance record this year, with over 650 of the best Texas math and science teachers and professional development providers convening in Austin to be honored, share instructional strategies, and learn the latest developments in STEM education.

The theme of this year’s conference was “Effective P-16 Partnerships: Transforming the Culture of STEM Education,” emphasizing the TRC’s commitment to support some of America’s most valuable resources – highly skilled science, math and technology teachers.

This was the first year that members of the mathematics Collaboratives were in attendance.

“According to the U.S. Department of Labor, of the 20 fastest growing occupations projected for 2014, 15 of them require significant science or mathematics preparation,” said Dr. Kamil A. Jbeily, TRC founder and executive director. “That’s only five years away.  When discussing education policy, President Barack Obama has stressed that we must give science, math, engineering and technology education top priority and he has been joined by corporate America and institutions of higher education in setting that as an urgent goal.”

“The work of the Texas Regional Collaboratives reflects national priorities in that we’re offering intense, sustained professional development for science and math teachers in almost every county in Texas. This professional development is based on the most current scientific research and is strategically designed to strengthen teachers’ science content knowledge and pedagogy so that they can inspire and educate a future workforce of innovators and leaders. Our system of engaging multiple stakeholders to make this happen has consistently met with success over the 18 years that the TRC has been in existence. I want to express my sincere appreciation and gratitude to the leadership and administration of the Texas Education Agency and to our corporate and foundation partners for investing in us to support this exemplary and sustained collaboration in support of excellence in STEM education.”

During the three-day conference, teachers, professors, district project directors, regional service center staff, corporate supporters, policy makers and representatives of the Louisiana Collaboratives were able to network and share ideas, strategies and resources.  Attendees could choose from over 80 presentations and activities offered by TRC members who wanted to share creative ways of teaching topics such as how to use Google Earth in class, podcast authoring, GeoGebra instructional software, astronomy and algebra activities for English Language Learners. The presentations during the morning and afternoon sessions included proven teaching tools and strategies for elementary and secondary teachers.

Participants had access to an extensive vendor fair at which 23 companies and organizations showcased the latest in instructional materials, resources, tools, equipment and a wealth of information for Pre-K to grade 12 science and mathematics classroom teachers.

The conference also was the setting for the unveiling of the TRC Online Learning Community (TOLC), a new resource that enables TRC members to publish professional journals, participate in online discussions, join STEM special interest groups and share professional development resources, photos and videos.

“The TRC will continue to provide guidance to STEM educators across the state as they leverage new Web 2.0 and social networking tools in sharing effective practice, professional development resources and peer mentoring.  For example, the online community will use Twitter to establish dedicated pages for reporting live observations on weather, environmental issues, and member discovered professional development resources.” said, Dr. Keith Mitchell, TRC’s Coordinator for Technology Initiatives.

As is tradition, the conference included a celebratory evening showcase of exhibits designed by representatives from the 36 regional science Collaboratives and 24 regional mathematics Collaboratives. The showcase was followed by a dinner program and announcement of the winners of the AT&T Foundation, El Paso Corporation, Center for Science and Mathematics Education, Shell, Toyota USA Foundation and Cynthia and George Mitchell Foundation teaching and mentoring excellence awards. Winners of the prestigious awards were:

• AT&T Foundation Mentoring Excellence Award winner Kelly Goodin from Northwest Elementary, Hereford ISD, Region 16 Science, Collaborative/Amarillo
• El Paso Corporation Teaching Excellence Award winner Bea Long from Seabrook Intermediate. Clear Creek ISD, UHCL/EIH Regional Science, Collaborative/Houston
• UT Center for Science and Mathematics Education Mentoring Excellence Award winner Shannon Lane from Ferris Junior High School, Ferris ISD, Region10 Mathematics, Collaborative/Richardson
• Shell Teaching Excellence Award David Holbert from Wichita Falls High School, Wichita Falls ISD Region 9 Science Collaborative/Wichita Falls
• The Cynthia and George Mitchell Foundation Teaching Excellence Award winner Peter Barrera from Pleasanton  High School Pleasanton ISD, Region 20 Mathematics Collaborative/San Antonio
• Toyota USA Foundation Mentoring Excellence Award winner Augustine Frkuska from Crestview Elementary, Judson ISD, OLLU Regional Science Collaborative/San Antonio

Dr. Jesus Chavez, Round Rock ISD superintendent, was honored with the TRC’s most prestigious award, receiving the 2009 Distinguished Service Award for longstanding and exceptional support of teachers’ professional development; the improvement of science and math education; and the goals of the TRC. Under Dr. Chavez’s leadership, TAKS achievement scores have risen and his school district has had a higher percentage of teachers participate in TRC than any other district in the state.

“All of the TRC partners – the teacher leaders, professors and administrators at institutions of higher education, business leaders, TRC project directors, community members, policy makers and our friends in higher education – have a strong commitment to our TRC value system to serve our educators and students, treasure our people, honor our teachers, reward our partners, and contribute to the community and to systemic reform.  The synergistic networking and sharing at the annual meeting allow the best work and ideas to be leveraged and used in more schools and classrooms across the Collaboratives regions.” said Dr. James P. Barufaldi, Ruben E. Hinojosa Regents Professor in Education and Director of the Center for Science and Mathematics Education at The University of Texas at Austin.

The TRC also was pleased to announce a very generous $100,000 gift from El Paso Corporation, which was presented to a standing ovation from the audience, by El Paso Corporation Vice President for Communication and Community Relations John Sousa.

“When it comes to the communities where we live and work, we want to be the neighbor to have,” said Sousa. “They’re more than just the places where we do business.  We love to see students inspired by science and engineering, and we feel it’s important that all sectors help prepare an educated workforce. One of the top risks to the oil industry is a human talent deficit, and, unfortunately, the window of opportunity for knowledge transfer is very short.  The impact of the TRC is huge – the Collaboratives have served more than one and a half million students around Texas and more than 16,000 teachers who went on to mentor and offer technical assistance to countless additional teachers. The TRC truly is transforming the culture of STEM education. “

Speakers for the evening were indicative of the broad base of support the TRC receives, with Texas State Representative Drew Darby, Texas Education Agency Deputy Associate Commissioner Norma Torres-Martinez and John Sousa offering comments. The keynote speaker was Susan Dawson, president and executive director of Austin’s E3 Alliance, which is a Central Texas non-profit organization devoted to improving education outcomes for all students through the strengthening of partnerships among schools, communities and businesses.

“We believe in using information to drive action and to create systemic change,” said Dawson. “Incremental change isn’t enough.  How do we engage parents, the community and businesses to work together for change? How do we bring the latest research findings and put them into practice in the classroom and how do we build up the ties between universities and schools, strengthening that pipeline?

“You have a more and more challenging student population coming to you as teachers – more than 60 percent of the students here in Texas are economically challenged and too few of them are graduating and going to college. Like the TRC, E3 is working to increase the number of college- and career-ready students. We believe that the fundamental culture of Texas needs to change so that everyone’s accountable for student success, not just the teachers. Collaboration’s difficult, but it’s doable and all of you are proof of that.”

Since its inception, the Texas Regional Collaboratives for Excellence in Science and Mathematics Teaching program has received more than $57 million in state, federal and corporate funding and enjoyed commendations from the U.S. Department of Education, policy makers, state legislators and business partners.  Generous supporters include the Texas Education Agency, Shell, AT&T Foundation, El Paso Corporation, Toyota USA Foundation, The Cynthia and George Mitchell Foundation and the National Science Foundation.

The TRC was inducted into the Texas Science Hall of Fame and has been recognized by the Texas governor, Senate and House of Representatives for distinguished achievements and contributions in support of education reform. 

“The Texas Regional Collaboratives program has opened up more doors for me than I ever would have imagined,” said Roxanne Hammonds, a participating teacher from the San Antonio area.   “I was Teacher of the Year at my campus and Outstanding Teacher of the Gifted for Region 20. I also was awarded the Mayoral/County Judge Outstanding Science Teaching award for San Antonio. If I had not been able to attend the quality workshops that TRC provides to my district free of charge, I wouldn't be half the teacher I am today. I can't thank you enough for the opportunity to be part of TRC. It has made all the difference in my effectiveness as a teacher.”

The 60 P-16 partnerships that make up the TRC deliver services to teachers in around 80 percent of the 1042 independent school districts and charter schools in Texas.  In 2005, a landmark $1 million gift from Shell allowed the TRC to expand its highly successful collaborative concept to Louisiana.  Two partnerships based on the Texas model formed there and now offer enhanced professional development training for Louisiana teachers.  In 2009, a resolution by the Louisiana State Senate urged the Louisiana Regional Collaboratives for Excellence in Science and Mathematics Teaching to coordinate and partner with institutions of postsecondary education to expand the program statewide. 

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