SESSION 4A                         

Veramendi Salon A

Single-Topic Session

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Strand 2: Pedagogy & Curriculum          

Outsourcing the Doing: Using AI to be More Efficient and Productive

Andrea Beerwinkle, Sam Houston State University  

Lisa Brown, Sam Houston State University​

Rebecca Wentworth, Sam Houston State University

 

The presentation will introduce the concept of AI in education, contextualizing its significance within the broader framework of technological evolution. Attendees will gain insights into the diverse applications of AI in educational settings, setting the stage for a deeper exploration of its practical implications to improve productivity and efficiency.

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SESSION 4B                         

Spring Lake Salon C

Roundtable Session

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Strand 2: Pedagogy & Curriculum          

Roundtable 1:  Moving the Meter on YLR Students’ Pedagogical Competencies with Intentional Data Cycles

Ashley Brittain, Sam Houston State University

Valeece Simmons-Davis, Sam Houston State University

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This presentation is in alignment with the conference theme because it makes connections to Strand 2 (Pedagogy/Curriculum) concerning the utilization of comprehensive data to drive coaching cycles and seminar topics. Under this strand, the presentation will place emphasis on best practices (how to use data efficiently) and teacher preparation (field experiences and teacher quality). This presentation provides a strategic data cycle for practitioners to align important data points that inform action steps for student growth. By the end of the presentation, participants will have brainstormed how to use data cycles and key data points at their institution to grow students.

 

Strand 1: Program Support          

Roundtable 2:  Insight to Impact Dashboard: Educator Preparation Program Application

Heather Doyle, Texas Christian University​

Constance Sabo-Risley, University of the Incarnate Word

Sherri Harwell, Texas A&M University-Commerce

Mark Olofson, Texas Education Agency

 

The Insight to Impact Dashboard was presented to Educator Preparation Programs in April 2023 providing programs with access to actionable data sharing EPP process and outcomes. Upon the roll out of the dashboard individuals were selected to be members of the Insight to Impact Dashboard Governance Committee. The committee is assembled to share insight from EPP’s and organizations on how the data is being used and additional data that might be incorporated. The data provided on the dashboard can assist in program evaluation and improvement.

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Strand 2: Pedagogy & Curriculum          

Roundtable 3:  Literacy in the CTE Culinary Classroom

Sandra Schultz, Sam Houston State University

Patricia Durham, Sam Houston State University

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The purpose of this study is to define what literacy looks like in CTE, specifically in the discipline of culinary arts through technical application, information acquisition, and employability skills in the integration of core academic skills. Literacy is more than language arts, it is gaining knowledge about many different topics and being able to incorporate that knowledge with applicability and transferability to our everyday life – family, community, career. Literacy allows us to understand and make connections to the world around us (Hasselquist & Kitchel, 2019; McKim et al., 2016).

 

Strand 4: Diversity & Equity          

Roundtable 4:  Increasing Preservice Teachers’ Efficacy in Developing Equitable Science Lessons and Making Meaningful Modifications

Cynthia Lackey, Angelo State University

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Preservice teachers struggle to synthesize learning in special education, classroom management, and science methods coursework to develop engaging lessons that include modifications for learners of differing abilities and to embrace the diversity in a classroom of learners. The first step in encouraging preservice teachers to embrace the diversity of learners in their classrooms is to encourage them to understand the need for equitable, not equal, science teaching practices ​(Morales, 2011)​. This roundtable presentation will provide science methods professors with strategies for integrating instruction on supporting students with disabilities into their preservice science methods courses. Participants will receive a link to course lectures and activities that provide suggestions for maintaining rigor and scientific processes when developing equitable science lessons; outline processes for making meaningful accommodations; and challenge students to analyze existing lessons and collaborate with classmates to generate solutions to problems faced by students with disabilities in participating in science labs.

 

Strand 2: Pedagogy & Curriculum          

Roundtable 5:  Text Structures: What are they - and Why Do I Care?

Charlene Bustos, Angelo State University

 

There are five (5) text structures that writers/authors use, with key words for each different structure: description, cause & effect, problem/solution, sequence, compare/contrast. By teaching our students to identify these structures within the books they are reading -- they tend to improve their comprehension. Then giving them opportunities/guidance to use these same phrases/text structures in their own writing -- students become more creative and literate. This session will provide you examples of text structures and strategies for teaching in various grade levels.

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SESSION 4C                         

Veramendi Salon C

Single-Topic Session

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Strand 2: Pedagogy & Curriculum          

Small Tool – Big Job! Using Padlet to Embed Digital Literacy Standards in Engaging Lessons!

Joan Bowman, Schreiner University

 

This presentation will be a hands-on learning experience for the attendees. There will be a teaching-demonstration time which will allow the audience to actively participate as they learn a variety of ways to use Padlet in lessons.  Return to your classroom with plans to revamp lessons that are engaging, make learning fun and include digital literacy standards.

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SESSION 4D                         

Veramendi Salon D

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Sponsor Session        

Improve Student Outcomes with Authentic Assessments

Sam Butterfield, GoReact

 

Teacher educators are often asked—and expected—to do more with less. That means figuring out how to improve student readiness while juggling the realities of a challenging AI era. In this presentation, you’ll learn about how programs are leveraging video to allow students to practice, analyze, implement and eventually show true evidence of learning throughout the program.

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SESSION 4E                         

Spring Lake Salon A

Single-Topic Session

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Strand 2: Pedagogy & Curriculum          

Preparing Preservice Teachers and Principal Candidates to understand the needs of Emergent Bilingual Learners

Elizabeth J. Casey, Lamar University

Joseph Austin Vasek, Texas A&M University-Central Texas

Kimberly Kuklies, Texas A&M University-Central Texas

 

In schools across Texas, teachers and principals work with diverse groups of students and their family members on a regular basis. It is essential that preservice teachers and principal candidates are prepared to understand the unique needs of students who are emergent bilingual learners. Three faculty recently took preservice teachers and principal candidates to a remote village in central Mexico to immerse them in a culture where Spanish was the primary language. This type of experience may prepare educators with a better understanding of how language is learned and/or used to communicate by flipping the dominant language.

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SESSION 4F                         

Spring Lake Salon B

Single-Topic Session

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Strand 1: Program Support          

Texas Instructional Leadership (TIL) Coaching Framework Helps Prepare Candidates to be “Day-1- Ready” Teachers

Betty Coneway, West Texas A&M University 

Russell Miller, West Texas A&M University 

Rene Cano, Region 16 Education Service Center

Brenda Foster, Region 16 Education Service Center

Gilbert Antunez, West Texas A&M University

 

This presentation will describe how one Educator Preparation Program partnered with their regional Education Service Center to implement the Texas Instructional Leadership (TIL) coaching framework to improve the quality of the oral and written feedback provided to teacher candidates. Participants will learn the basics of the TIL framework and how it was used at the university level to foster continuous improvement by supporting candidates’ proficiency in the areas of classroom management and instructional rigor. The presenters will highlight how intentional and consistent feedback was used to help teacher candidates be “Day-1 ready” when they enter their first classroom.

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SESSION 4G                        

Veramendi Salon G

Single-Topic Session

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Strand 1: Program Support          

The Need for High-Quality and Diverse Pathways for Teachers from University-Based EPPs

Shea Culpepper, University of Houston

Amber Thompson, University of Houston

Samuel Brower, University of Houston

Calvin Stocker, US PREP/Texas Tech University

 

Recent impact data highlights the value of university-based programs in the Houston region and the need for these programs to do more to meet the teacher hiring needs of districts and schools. The University of Houston has set a path towards the development of a high-quality, scaled, ACP program that goes beyond merely compliance requirements to give districts, schools, candidates and students of the Houston region the teacher they deserve.

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SESSION 4H                        

Veramendi Salon H

Single-Topic Session

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Strand 2: Pedagogy & Curriculum          

Focus on Five: Supporting New Teachers to Develop Healthy Habits for Self-Care

 Anne Douglas-Rowald, Innovation Center 4 Educator Preparation at Region 4

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When you think about things you learned growing up, learning methods of self-care might not be on the list. How do we nurture ourselves? Self-care is what you do for yourself to reduce stress, while maintaining and enhancing health and wellbeing. We will focus on five areas of self-care that can be easily overlooked but make a huge difference in your wellbeing: eating, hydrating, sleeping, moving and relaxing. Knowing we cannot necessarily control stressors; we focus on dealing with stress in the areas of moving and relaxing. Learn about resources programs can use with their teams as well as embed into their teacher support.

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SESSION 4I                         

Veramendi Salon B

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Sponsor Session      

A Partnership with Guaranteed Success

Nacole Whittington, 240 Tutoring

 

240 Tutoring helps future teachers successfully pass their TExES exams by partnering with Educator Preparation Programs to provide quality, exam-aligned preparation resources and strategies. Our courses provide candidates with the content they need to know and the test-taking strategies necessary to overcome testing anxiety and achieve success.

 

We want to continue to be the partner who supports your program needs in terms of comprehensive preparation while also providing the enhanced solutions you need to support your future teachers. Join us as we discuss our recent updates, feedback and data we’ve gathered this year and plans for future product improvement.

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SESSION 4J                         

Veramendi Salon I

Multi-Topic Session

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Strand 3:  Policy & Leadership          

TCEP Advocacy Update

Kelsey Kling, Texas State University

Liz Ward, Texas State University

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TCEP members will present an update on the work of the coalition over the last year. We will highlight our legislative and policy actions and discuss ongoing issues affecting the educator pipeline, such as edTPA and residency programs.

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Strand 2: Pedagogy & Curriculum          

Robert Noyce Scholarship Program: Increasing Quality STEM Teaching and Leadership Pipeline

Liz Ward, Texas Wesleyan University

Sarah Hartman, Texas Wesleyan University

Jennifer Miller-Ray, Sul Ross State University

Ann Cavallo, The University of Texas at Arlington

 

Is your program interested in pursuing a National Science Foundation (NSF) Robert Noyce STEM Teaching grant? Have you already submitted an NSF Noyce grant, been denied, and are resubmitting? Or, maybe you’ve submitted your NSF Noyce proposal, have been awarded a grant, and are now wondering what the next steps are…you are not alone! Come to this session and collaborate with the presenters who have each been awarded various levels/tracks of Noyce grants. Participate in an in-depth discussion and collaborate on ideas to increase your program’s recruitment, retention, and success of high school math and science teachers serving high need public schools across Texas! Learn tips for success for your own Noyce program, from others who are already involved in Noyce grants, and share your ideas as well! Collective learning is the key!