Department of Curriculum and Instruction News
ETAMU Alumna Earns State Recognition for Dissertation on Bilingual Education
ETAMU graduate Dr. Rocio Almanza earned second place for Dissertation of the Year from the Texas Association for Bilingual Educators for her research on translanguaging in bilingual kindergarten classrooms.
Bill Martin Jr Symposium Celebrates 20 Years of Literacy, Learning and Legacy
The Department of Curriculum and Instruction at East Texas A&M hosted the 20th annual Bill Martin Jr Memorial Symposium, honoring the life and legacy of one of America’s most beloved children’s authors.
CBS Interviews ETAMU’s Dr. Kathryn Dixon on Urgent Need for Certified Teachers in Texas
Dr. Kathryn Dixon of East Texas A&M discusses the growing teacher shortage in Texas and the importance of certification in a CBS News interview.
Faculty Member Honored with TABPHE State Service Award
East Texas A&M faculty member Michele Anderson was recently honored with the Reby Cary Community Service Award by the Texas Association of Black Personnel in Higher Education.
Honoring Cultures Through Literacy: ETAMU Hosts First Culturally Relevant Literacy Seminar
The event brought together educators to explore effective strategies for integrating cultural perspectives into literacy instruction.
Preparing Bilingual Teachers for Texas Classrooms: A&M-Commerce Receives $2.7 Million Multilingualism Grant
The university will use the funding to launch the LeoTeach BEACON project.
A&M-Commerce Alum Selected as Region 11 Principal of the Year
Dr. Winston McCowan ('01, '08) will now represent ESC Region 11, vying for Texas Principal of the Year.
TAMUC Students Present at International Educator Convention
The students shared their experience establishing the first DKG student organization.
A&M-Commerce Education Students Compete Successfully at National Conference
Three A&M-Commerce students recently competed with future teachers from across the nation at the Educators Rising 2024 National Conference in Washington, DC.
Alternative Certification Empowers Career Changers and Retirees to Become Skilled Teachers
These online programs create pathways for professionals with non-education bachelor’s degrees to shift to a teaching career.
A&M-Commerce Faculty’s Research on Texas Districts of Innovation Posted on Brown University’s EdWorkingPapers Website
Dr. Kathryn Dixon, associate professor and assistant dean for the College of Education and Human Services at Texas A&M-Commerce, and Dr. Sarah Guthery with the University of Oklahoma have researched the first iteration of Texas Districts of Innovation (DOI). DOIs…
TAMUC Faculty Publishes Book for Children with Unique Names
A&M-Commerce faculty member Dr. Kamshia Childs recently authored the children's book, “I Am More Than My Name.”
Aimed at children from ages six to 10, the book celebrates the beauty of having a unique name through poetic storytelling. Illustrated by…
TAMUC Bilingual Education Info Session Draws Potential Teachers
An information session on May 20 at Texas A&M University-Commerce at Dallas extended an action call to end the statewide teacher shortage in bilingual education.
Almost 80 participants packed a meeting room at the university's Dallas site to learn about…
Black History Month Extended: Celebrating the Contributions of Five Impactful TAMUC Professors
Black History Month Series Part 3: Honoring and Recognizing Impactful Black Figures in the Lion Family
As the echoes of Black History Month fade, the legacy of trailblazers like Dr. David Talbot continue to inspire forthcoming generations of brilliant professors…
A&M-Commerce Aspiring Educators Compete at State Conference, Advance to Nationals
A&M-Commerce students representing Texas Educators Affiliate, the university's chapter of the Texas Association of Future Educators (TAFE), attended the TAFE Teach Tomorrow Summit in Round Rock, Texas, Feb. 8 through March 1.
Student members participated in several competitive events at…
A&M-Commerce Alum Receives Human Rights Award
The Texas Counseling Association recently honored A&M-Commerce alum Dr. Staussa Ervin ('98, '05) as the recipient of its 2023 Molly Gerold Human Rights Award, which recognizes contributions in one or more areas of human rights.
Ervin's background advocating for human…
TAMUC Students Advance to State Competition for Future Educators
A&M-Commerce students comprising Texas Educators' Affiliate—the A&M-Commerce chapter of the Texas Association of Future Educators (TAFE)—demonstrated their teaching skills at the TAFE Area 11 regional competition at the University of North Texas at Dallas on Nov. 11.
Pictured from left.…
A&M-Commerce Professor Offers Insight on Teacher Retention in Texas
Dr. Kathryn Dixon, professor and head of the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at A&M-Commerce, was recently featured in a Dallas Morning News article about teacher retention issues in the state of Texas.
The article indicates teacher burnout is at…
TAMUC Professor and Alum Promoted to Associate Dean of Grad School
Dr. Jennifer Dyer from A&M-Commerce's Department of Curriculum and Instruction has been selected as the associate dean of the Graduate School. Dyer received her Ph.D. in Integrated Teaching and Learning from Ohio State University in 2002. She attended A&M-Commerce as…
TAMUC Alum One of Six Finalists for Texas Teacher of the Year
The Texas Association of School Administrators (TASA) has selected A&M-Commerce alum Genesis Yougas as one of six finalists in its 2024 Texas Teacher of the Year program.
Yougas has spent the past three years of her 10-year education career teaching…
Texas A&M System Honors Former A&M-Commerce Professor
The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents bestowed Dr. Martha Foote with the title Professor Emeritus of Curriculum and Instruction at a reception on Sept. 6. The Emeritus designation is the top honor granted to retired A&M System employees…
Clark Middle School Selects A&M-Commerce Alum as Principal
Clark Middle School in Princeton, Texas, has selected A&M-Commerce alum Erica Anderson Haggard as their new principal. Haggard brings a rich educational background to her new role. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Sport and Recreation Management as well…
TAMUC Research Cited in Article Analyzing STAAR Test Results
A recent Fort Worth Star-Telegram article analyzing Fort Worth ISD's performance on the newly reformatted STAAR statewide test cites a 2019 study by researchers at A&M-Commerce.
The study—conducted by Dr. Becky Sinclair, a professor for the Department of Curriculum and…
U.S. Congressman Colin Allred Visits A&M-Commerce at Dallas
U.S. Congressman Colin Allred visited Texas A&M University-Commerce at Dallas on Tuesday, August 8, to commemorate the university's new Pride Pathway teacher certification program. A strong advocate for A&M-Commerce, Allred helped secure $516,614 in federal funds to establish the program…
A Lion’s Legacy: Sue McMichael McGown Elementary School Named in Honor of TAMUC Alum
Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District (CFISD) recognized Texas A&M University-Commerce alum Sue McGown in October 2022 for her contributions to the district by naming an elementary school in her honor. The district dedicated the new Sue McMichael McGown Elementary School on…
A&M-Commerce Well-Represented at Corsicana ISD Awards Ceremony
The Corsicana Independent School District recognized eight A&M-Commerce alumni and a current student at its year-end awards ceremony.
Five alumni received the Distinguished Teacher of the Year award:
Nina Arreola (‘16)
Hope Barton (‘16)
Crystal Jones ('11, ‘22)
Lora Ebadian…
A&M-Commerce Professor Appointed to ‘Kids Read Now’ Board
A&M-Commerce faculty Dr. Kamshia Childs is a recent appointee to the Kids Read Now (KRN) board of directors. The non-profit organization—which aims to help educators eliminate reading gaps among PK-5 students—delivers in-home reading programs encouraging students to read more frequently…
A&M-Commerce Student Profiled in Dallas Morning News Article on Mental Health Challenges
A&M-Commerce education student Abigail McGowan is featured in a recent Dallas Morning News article highlighting the growing mental health crisis among children and adolescents in Texas and beyond.
Noting the mental health challenges McGowan faced transitioning from high school to…
Three A&M-Commerce Students Receive Beginning Teacher Scholarship
The Texas Retired Teachers Foundation recently granted its Beginning Teacher Scholarship to three aspiring educators attending A&M-Commerce. The students received the awards at a May 9 ceremony at the university’s Alumni Center.
Grace Parsons (left), Angelica Basile (right) and Elizabeth…
Lewisville ISD Taps A&M-Commerce Alum as New Elementary Principal
Lewisville Independent School District has appointed A&M-Commerce alum Jennifer Driver as the new principal at its Indian Creek Elementary School campus. With 24 years in education, Driver brings with her more than 10 years of principal experience at the elementary…
Three A&M-Commerce Undergrads Earn Aspiring Educator Grants
The Alpha State Texas Educational Foundation (ASTEF) awarded three A&M-Commerce undergraduate students with individual $1,000 grants for the 2023-2024 school year.
Breanna Newton
Jennifer Stephenson
Kayla Taylor
ASTEF is the Texas State Organization of Delta Kappa Gamma, the international society…
A&M-Commerce Alum Earns Second Teacher of the Year Award
Cedar Hill ISD (CHISD) recently named A&M-Commerce alum Kellie Burchfield the 2022-2023 Collegiate Academy Teacher of the Year. Burchfield also earned the Collegiate Prep Elementary Teacher of the Year award in 2020-2021. She is only the second CHISD educator to…
A&M-Commerce Future Educators Attend State Conference
The A&M-Commerce chapter of Texas Association of Future Educators (TAFE) attended the TAFE Teach Tomorrow Summit in Round Rock, Texas, March 2-4. TAFE is a statewide co-curricular career and technical student organization allowing future educators to explore the teaching profession.…
Association of Literacy Educators and Researchers Dubs TAMUC Faculty Member as VP-Elect
Dr. Juan Araujo, associate professor and assistant dean for the College of Education and Human Services at A&M-Commerce, will serve as vice president-elect for the Association of Literacy Educators and Researchers (ALER), beginning in November.
ALER supports the professional growth…
A&M-Commerce Alum Named Next Superintendent at Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD
A&M-Commerce alum Dr. Wendy Eldredge is the sole finalist to become the next superintendent at Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD, following a unanimous decision by the district's board of trustees.
Eldredge earned her doctorate in supervision, curriculum and instruction at A&M-Commerce in…
A&M-Commerce Alum Wins Two Dissertation Awards
The American Educational Research Association (AERA) named A&M-Commerce graduate Dr. Meghan Gowin winner of the 2023 Selma Greenberg Outstanding Dissertation Award for her Research on Women and Education special interest group dissertation.
The dissertation, titled “Sister outsider: Lived experiences of…
A&M-Commerce Professor Featured on Early Childhood Podcast
Dr. Josh Thompson, professor of early childhood education in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at A&M-Commerce, is featured on an episode of the That Early Childhood Nerd podcast hosted by Heather Bernt-Santy.
Thompson and fellow guest Dr. Vivien Geneser…
A&M-Commerce Faculty Member Co-Authors Article Detailing Frequency of Teacher Misbehavior
A&M-Commerce faculty member Dr. Sarah Guthery is co-author—along with Dr. Meredith P. Richards of Southern Methodist University—of an article detailing a new study investigating why Texas teachers are sanctioned for misbehavior.
According to the article published at TheConversation.com, frequent news…
A&M-Commerce Kappa Delta Pi Chapter Celebrates 75 Years
The A&M-Commerce Zeta Mu chapter of Kappa Delta Pi recently celebrated its 75-year anniversary. The chapter was founded in 1948.
Kappa Delta Pi is an educational honor society. Students admitted to the teacher education program at A&M-Commerce who maintain a…
A&M-Commerce Editing Team Releases Newest Issue of Literacy Education Journal
The Texas Association for Literacy Education (TALE) has released the newest issue of the Texas Journal of Literacy Education.
The issue is the first to be edited by a team of A&M-Commerce curriculum and instruction faculty members, including Drs. Juan…
A&M-Commerce Faculty Members Co-Edit Literacy Association Yearbook
Drs. Juan Araujo and Kathryn Dixon are co-editors of the recently released Association of Literacy Educators & Researchers (ALER) Yearbook.
The yearbook is an annual double-blind, peer-reviewed publication of ALER, which encourages the self-development and professional growth of reading specialists…
A&M-Commerce Students Attend, Compete at Regional Educator Conference
A&M-Commerce students, Susan Macias, Reagan Shaw and D'Andre Harrison (pictured left to right), participated in the Texas Association of Future Educators (TAFE) Region 11 conference in Waxahachie, Texas on Nov. 12.
Harrison received a near-perfect score in the event's Educators…
A&M-Commerce Student Group Collects Holiday Cards for Troops
The A&M-Commerce chapter of the Texas Association of Future Educators hosted a table at the Rayburn Student Center on Nov. 17-18 to collect holiday wishes for troops deployed abroad.
The group collected 101 cards from students, faculty and staff, which…
TCU Professor Nona Batiste Graduates With Doctorate From A&M-Commerce at 75
Professor Nona Batiste pursued her life's goal across six decades before graduating from Texas A&M University-Commerce with a Doctor of Education degree at age 75.
Her inspiring tenacity is a testament to her philosophy: If you want something badly enough,…
A&M-Commerce Grad Student Receives Conference Grant
The Texas Association for the Improvement of Reading (TAIR) awarded A&M-Commerce student William Roby the TAIR Emerging Literacy Leaders Grant.
The $500 grant will fund Roby's attendance at the Texas Association for Literacy Education annual conference on Feb. 24-35, 2023,…
TAMUC Pride Pathway Program Helps Address Teacher Shortage
An article at HoustonPublicMedia.org highlights the Pride Pathway program at A&M-Commerce as an option for replenishing the teacher preparation pipeline in Texas.
“One of the huge areas that have been a focus is the fact that the pipeline to education…
TAMUC Students’ Children’s Book Places Third at National Competition
A children's book authored and illustrated by Texas A&M University-Commerce students Caitlyn Moniz and Cayce Parris placed third at the higher education level in a competition that culminated at the Educators Rising national conference in Washington, D.C.
The students represented…
TAMUC College of Education and Human Services Publishes Online Journal
The College of Education and Human Services at A&M-Commerce has published the first issue of Literature Reviews in Education and Human Services. The peer-reviewed, online journal endeavors to provide a collection of high-quality literature reviews for topics related to education…
A&M-Commerce Alum Named VP of Academic Affairs at Navarro College
The Navarro County Gazette reports that A&M-Commerce alum Jeanetta Johnson, Ed.D., is the new vice president of academic affairs at Navarro College.
Johnson earned three degrees from A&M-Commerce, including a bachelor's degree in interdisciplinary studies, a master's degree in elementary…
TAMUC Faculty Member Links Teacher Retention to Principal Longevity
A recent research article co-authored by Sarah Guthery, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at A&M-Commerce, indicates that principal longevity may influence teacher retention.
The research, published online in the Journal of Educational Administration, followed…