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Letter from Senator David Cain, July 17, 2001 Senate Resolution 7 Photographs in the Capitol Senate Journal House Journal Update from Sen. David Cain

A BRIEF HISTORY In 1991, tremendous science education reform activities were underway. Changes necessitated that teachers teach a wide variety of sciences for which they were not prepared. Kamil A. Jbeily, then at the Texas Education Agency initiated a series of regional meetings across the state to explore ways to create ongoing regional support systems of professional development for Texas science teachers. The meetings included representatives from ESCs, colleges and universities, and school districts. The goal was to create partnerships that are built on collaboration, cost-sharing (using primarily Eisenhower funds), and symbiotic relationships, and that provide science teachers with relevant, meaningful, sustained, and high intensity professional development. The partnerships gave birth to the Texas Regional Collaboratives for Excellence in Science Teaching. On March 2, 1996, as per the reorganization of the Texas Education Agency, the statewide administrative office of the Regional Collaboratives (funded by Eisenhower funds) was moved to the Science Education Center at the University of Texas at Austin under a TEA-UT partnership agreement. Now, the program enjoys support from a wide spectrum of partners including the U.S. Department of Education Eisenhower program, the Texas Education Agency, the National Science Foundation, Southwestern Bell, Exxon, Shell, Casio, Delta Education, Apple Computer, and Holt Rinehart & Winston. In addition, over fifty business and community partners support the regional collaboratives activities across the state. To date, the Regional Collaboratives have served over 7,000 science teachers who in turn have played a leadership role in their district and who supported many of their colleagues and impacted the learning of over 700,000 students. The Regional Collaboratives are committed to serving the science teachers across the state in their implementation of the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills and in their pursuit of helping All students achieve excellence in science education. The long-range goal of the Texas Regional Collaboratives is to continuously enhance (1) Quality (through Professional Development Academies and interregional collaboration and sharing), (2) Quantity (through building the leadership capacity of teachers, mentoring, and peer coaching to serve a larger number of teachers), and (3) Accountability (through ascertaining the impact of the professional development on teachers knowledge and skills, their performance in the classroom, and on student achievement).

Dr.Kamil A. Jbeily was recognized by Commissioner Jim Nelson at the Seventh Annual Meeting of The Texas Regional Collaboratives for Excellence in Science Teaching

Dr. Jbeily was recognized by Commissioner Jim Nelson

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