TRC In the News
Submit TRC News Here: The Texas Regional Collaboratives for Excellence in Science and Mathematics Teaching is an award-winning statewide network of sixty 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.
SBOE Honors Stef Paramoure as a Finalist in the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching
 Dr. Carol Fletcher and Dr. Sandra West Congratulate Stef Paramoure |
On January 15th, 2010, the Texas State Board of Education honored TRC teacher Stef Paramoure as one of the six finalists for the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. Stef Paramoure is a TRC Science Teacher Mentor (STM) at the Region 13 TRC Science Collaborative and a middle school teacher at New Braunfels ISD. Jennifer Jordan-Kaszuba, Project Director for the Region 13 Collaborative states, "One of the most dynamic and effective teachers I have ever had the pleasure of working with, Stef Paramoure inspires others and improves the lives and teaching practices of those around her."
The National Science Foundation just recently announced the names of the Texas finalists in science and mathematics, secondary division, for the prestigious Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST). The 2009 PAEMST awards recognize grade 7-12 science and mathematics teachers whose innovative methods bring teaching to life in the classroom.
A state panel of master teachers, specialists, and administrators
reviewed the applications and chose the outstanding science and
mathematics teachers for the National Science Foundation to consider
for state finalist status. These state finalist awardees will be
recognized by the State Board of Education.
Teachers honored
for the PAEMST awards are identified from schools in the 50 states, the
District of Columbia, the U.S. territories, and the U.S. Department of
Defense Education Activity. Each year, after an initial selection
process at the state or territorial level, a panel of distinguished
scientists, mathematicians, and educators recommends about 100 teachers
to receive the award from a pool of these talented finalists.
The
National Science Foundation, under the direction of the White House,
approved the Texas candidates as finalists for the national PAEMST
award. If chosen as a national winner, the state finalists will
receive $10,000 and an all expense paid trip for two to Washington D.C.
for ceremonies that include recognition from the President of the
United States at the Capitol.
In addition to the PAEMST award, Stef Paramoure recently received the American Association of Petroleum Geologists
(AAPG) Teacher of the Year award for 2009. She will be recognized at
the AAPG meeting in New Orleans in April. Dr. Lyle Baie, Former
Executive Director AAPG, states, "Having had a chance to work with
Stef Paramoure for several years, I have a greater appreciation of the
qualities she brings to her profession as a science teacher. Stef is
always looking for new ways to bring science to life for her students,
including going well beyond the TRC requirements to learn and
experience the science herself and then sharing this knowledge and those
experiences with her peers, as well as her students."
Finally,
the TRC would like to recognize Stef Paramoure for playing a leadership
role in our state-wide Podcast network. Ms. Paramoure has mastered the
technogy of podcasting and frequently provides training for other
educators on the topic of Podcasts in Education. You can subscribe to
Stef's podcast series, "Science in the Real World," to access the
growing library of professional develoment content authored by Stef. To
find additional podcast series by Stef, visit the TRC Podcast Index.
Published 2/8/2010
Region 7 Math Collaborative Director Receives TCTM Leadership Award
The
Texas Council of Teachers of Mathematics (TCTM) is proud to announce
that it has chosen to honor Jane Silvey, of Region 7 Education Service
Center, with its annual TCTM Leadership Award. The TCTM Leadership
Award recognizes outstanding service at the local and/or state level in
the field of mathematics education.
"I have worked with Jane for a number of years," said Paul Gray, TCTM President. Gray presented Silvey with her award at the 56th Annual Conference for the Advancement of Mathematics Teaching (CAMT), held in Houston, Texas, on July 15-17, 2009. "Jane has been an inspirational leader across the state of Texas, always encouraging mathematics teachers at every grade level to look for ways to better serve their students. When you look at other states, Texas is at the cutting edge of mathematics education. We are in that position largely because of leaders like Jane."
Silvey began her teaching career in 1969 in Irving ISD as a special education teacher. She continued teaching special education both in Texas and out of state for many years. Then in the early 1990s, Silvey returned to school to complete a mathematics degree and begin a new teaching career in secondary mathematics. In 1996, Silvey attended the original TEXTEAM's Algebra I Institute presented by Dr. Susan Williams from University of Houston. Since that time Silvey has referred to herself as a "born again mathematician" crediting that training for changing her philosophy of teaching mathematics and providing her a deeper understanding of algebraic connections.
During the following years, Silvey has worked on numerous state committees and advisory boards. She has worked as a co-writer on several state mathematical trainings. Her most recent projects include working on the MTC Geometry and the professional development component for the Texas Response to Curriculum Focal Points. Silvey is also one of the sixteen national trainers for Stanford University's School Redesign Network.
Fourteen years ago, Silvey began working at Region 7 Education Service Center as an Educational Specialists in Mathematics and also served as Coordinator of the Math/Science Cooperative. She currently serves as the Assistant Director of the Center for Curriculum Services at Region 7.
Julie Pollard, Region 11 TRC Science Teacher Participates in Oceanographic Research off the Coast of New Zealand.
Julie
Pollard, a Science Teacher Mentor from the Region 11 Science Regional
Collaborative in Fort Worth, teaches 7th and 8th grade science at
Watauga Middle School in Watauga, Texas. Julie has been participating
in the TXESS Revolution
(www.txessrevolution.org) and was selected by Ocean Leadership to
participate in an oceanographic research cruise offshore New Zealand on
the drillship, JOIDES Resolution. The cruise will sail November 4, 2009
- January 4, 2010. It is part of the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP)
and she will sail on Expedition #317 to study the Canterbury Basin,
Eastern South Island, New Zealand. The operations plan assumes a start
in Papeete, Tahiti and an end in Wellington, New Zealand.
Find out more about Julie's adventures on IODP Expedition 317 (Canterbury Basin, NZ). Follow along! Read Jule's Blog.
Region 9 TRC Teacher Named Texas Elementary Teacher of the Year
Donna Patrick, a Math Teacher Mentor from the
Region 9 Mathematics Regional Collaborative in Wichita Falls was recently named
the 2010 Texas Elementary Teacher of the Year. Donna currently teaches sixth
graders at Southern Hills Elementary School in Wichita Falls ISD. Leslie
Patrick (no relation) is Donna’s proud Project Director for the Region 9
Collaborative. "Donna Patrick is a terrific Math Teacher Mentor. She truly
loves people and teaching children mathematics. I have heard her say to
students, "You are not allowed to give up" which encourages them to
keep trying to understand a concept until they get it. Eventually, the students
like math because they like Mrs. Patrick." said
Leslie. Donna has been an MTM for two years with the Regional Collaborative. “I joined the Math
Collaborative because I felt it was a great way to learn lots of new ideas
that I could teach my students and share with fellow teachers. I have
really enjoyed being a mentor teacher. My favorite part is going into
other classrooms and working with the students and the teacher. You learn
so much from others. The Collaborative is a great program and I hope to
see it continue for many years to come,” said Donna.
MORE>
NCTC Collaborative Teacher and Students Participated in the GLOBE’s Expedition to Mt. Kilimanjaro
The Era Elementary 5th grade classes participated in the GLOBE’s Expedition to Mt. Kilimanjaro recently. The students learned about climate change, global warming, and information about the mountain, people and the biomes of that area. They created information cubes, wrote expedition journals and created baggables showing all the information they had learned. Sara Flusche from the NCTC Collaborative came to the school and taught students how to create and read topographical maps and landforms. The students created their own 3 dimensional landform. GPS training was also taught. The students thought it was a lot of fun and really enjoyed learning about another place in the world. One student commented, “ It was like we were actually in Africa!”
Brenda Weiser Receives Award from International Education Group
Washington,
DC – Brenda Weiser, associate professor of science education in the
School of Education at the University of Houston - Clear Lake, has
received the highest honor from the North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE). The Jeske Award recognizes outstanding service to NAAEE and leadership within the profession.
Weiser attended the NAAEE conference in Portland, Oregon, on October 9, 2009, to accept the honor.
”As
an environmental educator, I have met many outstanding individuals,”
said Weiser. “I’ve read about former leaders and how each contributed
to our profession. I am in awe of the past recipients, but to receive
the Walt Jeske Award is most humbling and to be recognized
by your peers, in any profession, is the highest tribute one can
achieve. I am honored to be a Jeske Award winner.”
A member for 20 years, Weiser was instrumental in developing NAAEE’s professional standards known as the NAAEE Guidelines for Excellence. With these Guidelines as a base, NAAEE also is working with its Affiliates to develop a professional recognition system for nonformal environmental education providers to help enhance their standing with employers and their peers. Weiser chairs the Certification Advisory Council that is determining standards by which NAAEE will accredit the certification programs.
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.
