TRC: Science Collaboratives

UHCL Regional Science Collaborative / Houston

Mission

To create a science and technology learning community for the Greater Houston area teachers, schools, and districts through program development and sustained teacher professional development in science content, pedagogy, systemic school reform, and technology. The EIH/UHCL Regional Collaborative reaches out to school districts located in Southern Harris and Brazoria Counties along with the preservice educators of the University of Houston-Clear Lake. The professional development activities include strands focusing on Earth Science, Ecological Interdependence, Physical Science, and Scientific Inquiry and Technology.

Accomplishments

For 2005-06, the EIH/UHCL Collaborative reached out to hundreds of teachers and impacted thousands of students in the Greater Houston area. Over the course of the year, the Science Teacher Mentors averaged 124 hours of professional development and the Cadre Members averaged 12 hours of contact time. One of the biggest highlights was the number of preservice educators attending the workshops - some had over 60 hours of professional development.

Three STMs had the opportunity to explore and study the Amazon Rainforest and have presented their experiences at 2006 CAST and at the TRC Annual Meeting. They continue to integrate their new knowledge and experiences into their classes.

At the Annual TRC Meeting, Angela Ruggeri, a 3rd/4th grade teacher in Pasadena ISD, received an Oustanding Teaching Award sponsored by Shell.

An Honoring the Teachers Event was held at the Houston Zoo, September 2006, where Senator Mike Jackson recognized the science teachers and their schools for their dedication to science, teaching, and the children of Houston.

In 2006-2007 school year, 29 STMs attended an average of 125 hours of professional development. The workshops encouraged the interaction between inservice and preservice educators. In addition to the six-hour workshops, this year a week-long summer institute was conducted focusing on geology, earth science, and energy.

At the TRC Annual Meeting, Sally Wall, 8th grade science teacher for Clear Creek ISD and an ITM for the EIH/UHCL Collaborative, received an Outstanding Mentoring Award sponsored by El Paso Corporation.

An Honoring the Teacher Event was held in September 2007 at the University of Houston - Clear Lake. Representative John Davis spoke along with President Bill Staples, Provost Carl Stockton, and Kamil Jbeily. Each recognized the educators for their dedication to the excellence in science teaching, their schools, their districts, and their students.

In 2007-2008 school year, 27 STMs attended an average of 116 hours of professional development. The workshops encouraged the interaction between inservice and preservice educators. In addition to the six-hour workshops, two week-long summer institutes were conducted focusing on geology, earth science, and energy.

An Honoring the Teacher Event was held in September 2008 at the Houston Zoo. Representative Alma Allen spoke along with President Bill Staples, Provost Carl Stockton, and Kamil Jbeily. Each recognized the educators for their dedication to the excellence in science teaching, their schools, their districts, and their students. Cheryl Wegscheid from Westchester Academy for International Studies, Spring Branch ISD, was awarded the first EIH/UHCL Science Collaborative Outstanding Educator Award. The award was sponsored by LabAids.

Twenty- eight Science Teacher Mentors participated in the UHCL/EIH Science Collaborative for the 2008/2009 school year. These STMS averaged 124 hours of professional development. The workshops included week-long summer institutes focusing on Chemistry, watersheds and water quality, energy, and Earth Science. Six-hour workshops addressed Chemistry, Life Science, Earth Science, energy and the environment. In addition, Bea Long, ITM, received the TRC Outstanding Teacher Award sponsored by El Paso Corporation. She was also awarded the Texas Project Learning Tree Outstanding Educator and the National Project Learning Tree Outstanding Educator. Brenda Weiser, Project Director, was awarded the Jeske Award by the North American Association for Environmental Education.

In 2009/2010 twenty-five science teacher mentors completed the program averaging over 120 hours of professional development. Sally Wall, an ITM, was awarded outstanding science educator from the state science teachers association. The workshops included week-long summer institutes focusing on Chemistry, watersheds and water quality, energy, and Earth Science. Six-hour workshops addressed Chemistry, Life Science, Earth Science, energy and the environment. Several of our STMs were recognized for the efforts in science at the end of the school year by their school and/or their district including Lisa Nevins (CFISD). Several were selected to attend the G-Camp sponsored by Texas A&M University (Julie Archer, Don Becker, and Dee Delphiny - all from Pasadena ISD). Many of the past STMs continue to receive honors and awards for their science teaching.