The Texas Regional Collaboratives for Excellence in Science and Mathematics Teaching is an award-winning statewide network of fifty-nine P-16 partnerships that provide sustained and high intensity professional development to P-12 teachers of science and mathematics across the state. This web page will be used to highlight national, state, and regional news that is published featuring the Texas Regional Collaboratives program as well as news that features our members. Submit items to be posted to Keith Mitchell.
TRC Informational Brochure
Now available for download, the brochure contains information about the TRC, it's mission, programs, and impact on science education in Texas.
Region 14 Mathematics Collaborative Accomplishments in the News!
In this article, recently published in the Abilene Reporter News, teachers discuss how conducting student interviews has positively impacted their math instruction. In October 2008 and January 2009, math specialists and teacher teams from around the state attended a Professional Development Academy hosted by the Texas Regional Collaboratives for Excellence in Science and Mathematics Teaching.
Debbie Junk, Ph.D., led each of the two-day sessions about assessing children's thinking in math using student interviews. Participants returned to their campuses to conduct and videotape student interviews and share with other teachers what they learned about their students' thinking in mathematics.
Region 14 Collaborative Teachers and Students Discover Asteroids
Through funding from the Texas Regional Collaboratives for Excellence in Science and Mathematics Teaching, and in partnership with Region 14 Collaborative Project Director John Lineweaver and Hardin-Simmons University Professor Patrick Miller, the 2008 Summer Astronomy Institute alumni have discovered new asteroids during the current IASC Asteroid Search Campaigns conducted over the Internet by Hardin-Simmons University!! Denise Rothrock and two of her students (Ogg & Theiler) from Madisonville Junior High School have discovered two new asteroids. Denise discovered 2008 SE209 that is located 2.9 AU from the Sun and takes 4.9 years to orbit once around the Sun. Her two students discovered 2008 SG209 that is at a distance of 2.2 AU from the Sun and with an orbital period of 3.2 years. Both asteroids are in the Main Belt but 2008 SG209 comes within 0.06 AU of Mars. Stephen Caldwell from Vernon High School discovered 2008 SW151. This Main Belt asteroid is located 2.3 AU from the Sun and has an orbital period of 3.4 years. It has an almost-circular orbit. Many more discoveries are just waiting to be made. The fall IASC search campaign runs from October 1st until December 5th. IASC (International Astronomical Search Collaboration) is an Internet-based educational service program provided at no cost to participating high schools and colleges. It is a collaboration of Hardin-Simmons University, Lawrence Hall of Science (Hands-On Universe, UC Berkeley), Astronomical Research Institute, and Astrometrica. Once again...congratulations to Stephen and Denise & her two students!!
Pam Baldree of the TRC Region 12 Collaborative Wins Science Award and Mentor Teacher of the Year.
Corsicana Daily Sun 9/22/08
Blooming Grove Elementary fifth grade science teacher Pam Baldree has been honored with the Shell Oil Company Teaching Award for her exemplary performance and excellence in teaching science. She was also recognized by the Education Service Center Region 12 Science Collaborative as the mentor teacher of the year for 2007-2008.
Center for Science and Mathematics Education Receives $1.8M NSF Grant
TRC Announcement
The Center for Science and Mathematics Education has received a $1,860,616 grant from the National Science Foundation to investigate the knowledge base of appropriate science instruction for young children. The project, Building BLOCKS for Science, offers a unique opportunity to study the boundary between the science understanding of Pre-K and K-2 children and to build a foundation for subsequent knowledge and skill acquisition. Dr. James P. Barufaldi, Director of the Center for Science and Mathematics Education, and Dr. Mary Hobbs, Coordinator for Science Initiatives with the Texas Regional Collaboratives for Excellence in Science and Mathematics Teaching, will serve as co-Principal Investigators on the project. Barufaldi and Hobbs are currently co-PIs on a three year NSF grant in the amount of $286,311 to research science teacher empowerment. This project, “Instrument Development for Exploring the Teacher Professional Continuum”, is in its third and final year and focuses on professional development opportunities that empower teachers and which may contribute to teacher retention and ultimately increase student achievement.
Taking Legislation from Capitol Hill to the Classroom the Focus of Texas Regional Collaboratives Conference
14th Annual Meeting
Published on the College of Education Web Site, July 30 2008
The program cover for the Texas Regional Collaboratives for Excellence in Science and Mathematics Teaching (TRC) 14th Annual Meeting features a picture of the Texas State Capitol alongside scenes from science and math classrooms, perfectly embodying the theme of this year’s event – “From Legislation to Implementation: Achieving Excellence in STEM Education.”
“Excellence in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education is something of a mantra for educators, policymakers and employers”, said Dr. Kamil A. Jbeily, TRC founder and executive director. The TRC’s goal, as an organization, is to provide high quality, research-based, and sustained professional development for teachers to help them excel in an environment of complex and rapidly changing state and national standards.
Not Your Mama's Science Class: Cool lessons in hot science delivered by new education symposium
Center for Science and Mathematics EducationPublished as a Feature Story on the University of Texas at Austin Web Site, July 14th, 2008
This May the center added a new component to its highly successful program, launching the Symposium for Young Scholars in Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Science (SYSTEMS) for Texas students. First- through 10th-graders in San Angelo Independent School District's (ISD) Gifted and Talented Program were invited to The University of Texas at Austin campus for a day of interactive, discovery-oriented, age-appropriate lessons and activities led by graduate students in science and mathematics education and TRC staff members. Including the San Angelo teachers and administrators, about 150 guests attended the new event.
Future Science, Technology and Business Leaders Declare Science Symposium "Awesome!"
News Published at the UT College of Education Web Site, May 23, 2008Science is really so cool!
If you don’t believe it, ask the 150 students and teachers from San Angelo Independent School District who attended the Center for Science and Mathematics Education’s Young Scholars Science/Math Symposium at The University of Texas at Austin. "We hope that all of these students take many, many math and science courses and retain an interest in technology, science and math for their entire lives. It’s been such a pleasure to help empower San Angelo teachers and students in their quest for excellence in teaching and learning." — Dr. Kamil A. Jbeily, TRC founder and executive director This is the first year for the center to offer the symposium, and it was attended by students in grades 1-10 in San Angelo ISD’s Gifted and Talented Program. The half-day event featured age-appropriate, experiential learning activities taught by graduate students in science and mathematics education and staff members of the Texas Regional Collaboratives for Excellence in Science and Mathematics Teaching (TRC).
Area Science Teachers Honored at Ceremony
Region 12 TRC CollaborativePublished at KWTX.Com Channel 10 News
WACO, TEXAS--Twenty area science teachers will be recognized at an "Honoring the Teachers" breakfast and ceremony sponsored by the Texas Regional Collaboratives (TRC) for Excellence in Science and Mathematics Teaching, the AT&T Foundation, and the Education Service Center (ESC) Region 12. The special event will take place from 9 a.m. to Noon, today at ESC Region 12 in Waco. More
TRC Contributes to College of Education Top 10 Recongition
Texas Regional Collaboratives
College of Education National Rankings 2008
The University of Texas at Austin’s College of Education made a significant leap in this year’s U.S. News & World Report America’s Best Graduate Schools rankings, bounding up a remarkable four notches to become one of the top 10 colleges of education, overall, in the country.
Rediscovering Science
TAMU-College Station Regional CollaborativePublished in "theeagle.com, Bryan-College Station, Jan 29, 2008
Wanda Pagonis Awarded Distinguished Honor
Our lady of the Lake CollaborativePublished in "Leader News": November 16. 2006
Article Covering the 12th TRC Annual Meeting
Texas Regional Collaboratives
Published in "ON CAMPUS": August 3, 2006