Texas Regional Collaboratives Conference Celebrates “Higher Standards, New Horizons” September 17, 2012

Over two decades ago – long before the phrase “STEM” became ubiquitous in national education dialogues– The University of Texas at Austin’s Texas Regional Collaboratives for Excellence in Science and Mathematics Teaching (TRC) began building a network of teachers, universities, Education Service Centers, corporate leaders and communities. What started as a faithful few who were committed to excellence in science education is now a national model for success in STEM professional development and mentoring.

To celebrate the new successes and growth that each year brings, the TRC holds a three-day summer conference in Austin. The event draws teachers, mentors, project directors, higher education representatives, corporate leaders, policy makers and other friends and partners of the program. This year’s conference, which had the theme “Higher Standards, New Horizons,” took place June 27-29 at the Renaissance Hotel in Austin and was attended by over 650 TRC members and supporters.

The event combined hands-on STEM workshops and field trips with recognition of TRC educators who have exhibited a wide array of exceptional teaching skills.

“I’ve been involved with the TRC for several years now,” said Scott Christensen, who is a member of the University of North Texas Regional Collaborative, “I came to teaching from the business world and I have to say that I never saw this level of successful collaboration in business. It’s so refreshing to have so much sharing of ideas and to experience the intense enthusiasm of participants.

“I come to TRC training and events and gain fresh ideas that I’m able to take back to my students. The students ‘catch’ my excitement and take those same ideas and run with them. Coming to the TRC’s annual conference is especially awesome and something I look forward to very eagerly each year.”

The TRC, which is part of the College of Education’s Center for STEM Education, is now in its 21st year. As of 2012, it has served 33,000 Texas STEM teachers as well as the countless additional teachers who have been mentored by those who are TRC members. Over two million students have benefited from these teachers’ skills enhancement, and around 65 institutions of higher education have collaborated to make all of these successes a reality.

“The Texas Regional Collaboratives program is the only support system in the nation that has such an extensive network of public education and higher education partners with an impressive longevity of working together on professional development for K-12 STEM teachers,” said Dr. Kamil A. Jbeily, founder and executive director of the TRC. “The TRC has been able to accomplish so many positive things thanks to the longstanding, generous support and hard work of friends and partners like the Texas Education Agency, corporations, universities, foundations and community leaders.

Jbeily added that in addition to offering high-quality professional development academies, the TRC also created and supports a beginning STEM teacher induction program that has been quite successful. The TRC has implemented and supported a mid-career teacher recruitment program and supports research on early childhood education as well.

“These teachers are preparing students who are ‘digital natives’ for future careers that could demand complex skill sets and rely heavily on critical thinking, teamwork and problem-solving abilities,” said Jbeily. “We strive to help STEM teachers create inquiry-based learning opportunities and incorporate technology in ways that are shown to promote learning. We want to give teachers the resources they need to present lessons that are relevant, that teach children how to think, and in which the relationship of the material to the ‘real world’ is apparent to the students. The more excited and energetic the teachers are, the more excited the students become about a topic.”

“Research shows that STEM teachers who access top-quality professional development training are more likely to foster academic success in their students and those students are more likely to pursue STEM studies in college and enter STEM careers. Our goal is to help teachers be their best, help them stay excited about their subjects and work, and boost the retention of those top STEM teachers,” said Dr. Carol Fletcher, TRC associate director.
 
Each year, one of the highlights of the conference is a special evening showcase of the most innovative STEM lessons. Over 50 STEM demonstrations in the exhibition hall this year illustrated instructional best practices such as interactivity and inquiry-based learning as well as creative uses of technology. 

“We are very proud of our project directors and teachers who work very hard to prepare and share these best practices with their colleagues from across the state,” said Fletcher. 

In addition to the showcase, the evening’s activities also included a dinner and remarks from keynote speaker State Representative Rob Eissler, chairman of the Texas Legislature’s Public Education Committee, as well as Texas Education Agency T-STEM Coordinator and MSP State Director Stacy Avery and State Board of Education member Pat Hardy.

“I would like to congratulate all of you who give so much to STEM education,” said Eissler. “For those of you who are mentoring as well as teaching, I want to offer a special thanks. I strongly support public education and believe that we must do whatever it takes to make sure that all students have an opportunity for academic success.

“Effective science and math education is essential for Texas to prosper and lead the way for the nation. If we don’t lead in STEM areas, we fall behind as a state and as a nation in the international arena as well. The hard work you’re doing in classrooms every day is securing prosperity for us all and helping our children be able to leave public schools with the option of whatever career path they choose.”

Emphasizing the excellence in teaching that the TRC supports, several award winners were announced at the special evening event. This year’s teaching and mentoring honorees included:

• Audra Marsalia Brazos Elementary, Brazos ISD), winner of the Shell Teaching Excellence Award
• Sheri Booker (Burkburnett Middle School, Burkburnett ISD) and Ramakrishna Chintapalli (Donna High School, Donna ISD), winners of El Paso Corporation Teaching Excellence Awards
• Russell Larson (K-12 Math Coordinator, Pflugerville ISD), winner of the Cynthia and George Mitchell Foundation Mentoring Excellence Award
• Robert Burleson (Thomas Hatchett Elementary, Northside ISD), winner of The University of Texas at Austin Center for STEM Education Mentoring Excellence Award
• Amy Phillips (Westbrook Intermediate, Clear Creek ISD), winner of the Shell Mentoring Excellence Award

The TRC’s Distinguished Service Award, the highest award bestowed by the program, went to Irene Pickhardt, statewide science coordinator with the Texas Education Agency. The Distinguished Service Award recognizes individuals who have offered generous and longstanding support to the TRC and have been tireless advocates for strengthening of STEM education.

Dr. James P. Barufaldi, director of The University of Texas at Austin’s Center for STEM Education delivered greetings and remarks from the College of Education and The University of Texas at Austin.  Addressing the large group, Barufaldi stated, “You are the leaders of excellence in STEM education in our great state of Texas” and commended the TRC partners and teachers on the excellent support system that they have helped build over the last 21 years.

“The benefits of the conference actually reflect, in a condensed version, the assets of the professional development training that’s offered all year,” said Barufaldi.   “In the conference sessions, leading scientists and educators share updated STEM content as well as very valuable, research-based techniques for how best to share that content with students.”

“The TRC not only builds teachers’ subject area expertise but also addresses the issue of what teachers should do in class to teach science or math or engineering. Learning one cookie-cutter method of teaching and applying it to all subjects and settings doesn’t optimize learning – the TRC addresses STEM educators’ specific needs. In the conference session titled “Understanding By Design,” for example, top national education reform expert Dr. Grant Wiggins shared his award-winning curriculum materials and discussed curriculum design for STEM subjects.”

The TRC’s remarkable contributions to STEM education have been made possible by the generous long-term support of partners such as the Texas Education Agency, the U.S. Department of Education, the National Science Foundation, The Cynthia and George Mitchell Foundation, Shell, AT&T and The University of Texas at Austin.

To find out more about the TRC, view a photo gallery of conference events and get additional information about this year’s conference, including a video of the evening reception, please visit www.thetrc.org.

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