Dept. of Educator & Leadership Prep
Equity. Empowerment. Engagement. Today. Tomorrow. Together.
New Tagline
Mission Statements and Core Values
Stay tuned as faculty finalize the mission, vision and values of their program.
New ELP Faculty
Dr. Maria Acevedo-Aquino
Dr. Amanda Lindner
Dr. Gavin Watts
Dr. Esther Garza Returns to A&M-SA
ELP's Social Gathering to Start the New Year
New SAISD Cohorts Begin
New State Exam
The Educational Leadership Program has been working diligently to prepare for the upcoming changes in the Principal's Certification Exam. The team has been implementing consistent preparation activities to support their students to be successful on the new state exam. The state of Texas required a re-application to the certification process which the team completed in September.
Ed Leadership students have been implementing writing, reflection, and data analysis to best prepare for their future in leadership.
The Educational Leadership Program continues to have the highest passing rates on the Principal’s Certification Exam and Superintendent's in the A&M system.
New Peer Evaluation Process for Annual Year 2019
Man of the Year
Outstanding ELP Alumna
The Reading faculty enjoyed watching Ebony grow as a student and professional during her coursework! We look forward to the difference she will make in children’s and family’s lives.
Dr. Kearney Co-Authors a New Book
District 3's 6th Annual Early Childhood Training Held at A&M-SA
Drs. Melissa Jozwiak and Patrick McDaniel keynoted the plenary session. The presentation focused on why the caregiver is the essential element in continuity of care. Dr. Jozwiak highligted stories from her book that not only illustrated how caregivers can promote learning in young children via continuity but also the need for caregivers to care for themselves so that learning can happen.
Additionally, students enrolled in EDEC 5349 presented on various topics that illustrated the importance of play as an instructional strategy with young children. Presentations included:
- The Power of Play & Play and Emotions
-Elisa Olivarri, Stephanie Free, Maria Serna, Jessica Mar
- Gender Stereotypes & Sexism in Early Childhood & All Children Need Play
Rush & Robyn Swiney
- El aprendizaje y el juego se puede mezclar?
- Playing with STEM in the Early Years
Drs. Pittman and Scott Present in Oxnard California
Dr. Jasso Wins Teaching Award
Two Ed Leadership Students Present at Conference
Reading Students Present at TCTELA
Dr. Ramona T. Pittman presented, Increasing Teachers' Self-Efficacy in Writing Instruction; Giving Voice to the Many Faces of Students Who are Learning Literacy.
Vanessa Quiroz, Giselle Gonzales, and Dr. Ramona T. Pittman presented, Increasing Teachers' Knowledge of Early Reading Skills to Impact the Many Faces of Literacy in Texas, and Meagen Moody, Anne Gutierrez, Dr. Tasha Vice, and Tori Manley presented, Overcoming the Challenges that Forge Achievement Gaps with Moll's Funds of Knowledge.
Lastly, Christian Delgado, Samantha Montes, and Dr. Ramona T. Pittman presented, Beyond Boots, Borders, & Books Towards Increasing Teachers' Knowledge in the Science of Teaching Reading.
The theme of the conference was Beyond Boots, Borders, and Books: The Many Faces of Literacy in Texas. Drs. Pittman and Piper served as Local Arrangements co-chairs. The 2020 conference will be held in North Texas.
Dr. Krimbill Named to Editorial Board
Dr. Pittman Elected to the Medical Scientific Advisory Committee
MSAC is a group of volunteer medical and education professionals who meet regularly to help plan and promote learning disabilities outreach programs, including the Winston Learning Series and Annual Learning Symposium.
Drs. Vera and Garfield Receive Grant
Dr. Robert Porter, Director of Research Development at the University of Tennessee, presented a workshop on writing effective grants for the National Institute of Health (NIH) and the U.S. Department of Education.
Drs. Mariya Davis and Gavin Watts Present at Conference
The conference was held in Portland, Oregon. The 2019 CLD Conference will be held in San Antonio, Texas, October 3-4 at The Westin Riverwalk.
Great News for The Special Education Program's Student Chapter of Council for Learning Disabilities
Drs. Piper and Pittman Present at ALER, NCTE, and LRA
Fall Symposium
Special Education Program's Graduate Students Volunteer
Fiesta Especial® is also an official Fiesta® San Antonio experience created for children and adults with physical, cognitive and developmental differences and the family and friends who love them. Fiesta Especial® creates inclusive and educational experiences engaging individuals with disabilities in the culture, diversity and celebrations of Fiesta® through community instruction and training. Individuals with disabilities and our community are invited to take part in the Royal Court, Royalty Run 5K & Parade and Celebration day experiences.
Fiesta Especial® is organized and hosted by disABILITYsa, Fiesta® San Antonio, The Fiesta® Carnival (Wade Shows) and the City of Windcrest.
(Retrieved January 21, 2019 from www.fiestaespecial.com)
Jag Literacy Conference
Member of TEA Committee
Professional Development Opportunities
Wrightslaw Conference
WHEN:
Thursday, February 7, 2019, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
University of Houston, Student Center South
Ballroom 201, Student Center South
Houston, TX 77004-3049
Conference tickets include:
Three Wrightslaw books - A retail value of $62.85
Free Parking at the Welcome Center Garage with the provided voucher provided upon check-in
Free WiFi, Coffee, and Water
OBJECTIVES
Wrightslaw programs are designed for parents, educators, health care providers, advocates and attorneys who represent children with disabilities.
Special education law, rights, and responsibilities
Assessments to measure progress
“SMART” IEPs
Tactics and strategies for effective advocacy
The program is not disability specific.
For information, view the flyer.
Dyslexia Conference in Austin
IDA Austin invites you to join us for our 2019 annual conference. IDA Austin serves a wide area of Central, South, and West Texas. This conference is an exciting opportunity for educators, therapists, and families from Waco to Corpus Christi to Ft. Stockton to connect with the dyslexia community.
David A. Kilpatrick is the keynote speaker at this year’s conference.
Six breakout sessions have been added to the conference agenda, which will address in greater detail how to navigate the world of dyslexia.
"Navigating Dyslexia"
2019 IDA Austin Conference
30 Years of Serving the Central Texas Dyslexia Community
Saturday, February 23, 2019
Austin Marriott South
Austin, Texas
Texas Association for Literacy Education (TALE) Annual Conference - March 1 & 2 in Waco, TX
EARLY CONFERENCE REGISTRATION extended until Friday, Feb. 8. https://taleconference.weebly.com/
PRE-CONFERENCE WORKSHOPS REGISTRATION extended until Friday, Feb. 8. Check out our high-quality, low-cost pre-conference workshops on Thursday, Feb. 28 at https://taleconference.weebly.com/pre-conference-workshops.html
REDUCED RATE HOTEL REGISTRATIONS extended until Thursday, Jan. 31. https://taleconference.weebly.com/conference-hotels.html
Looking forward to seeing you at TALE on March 1 & 2!
For a list of featured speakers including: Stephanie Harvey, Ernest Morrell, and Richard Gentry, click the following link:
https://taleconference.weebly.com/HEC Collaborative
The Building RTI Capacity for Implementation in Texas Schools project is part of the Meadows Center for Preventing Educational Risk (MCPER) within the College of Education at the University of Texas at Austin. Funded by the Texas Education Agency for more than 10 years, the project promotes evidence-based practices and resources to build Texas schools’ capacity for implementing Response to Intervention (RTI). The team creates and disseminates information, resources, and tools to enhance instructional decision-making in the areas of reading, mathematics, and behavior. Explore the website at http://buildingrti.utexas.org.
Faculty can participate in the quarterly meetings by registering using the website.
- January 15, 2019: Bolstering Tier 1; evidence-based reading practices across the content areas
- April 23, 2019: Using data within an RTI framework
- July 23, 2019: Effective, evidence-based intervention
To support attendance, the project can reimburse mileage costs at the state rate (up to $150), provided the necessary paperwork is completed within the allotted timeframe.
Hot Topics in Literacy Series- The School to Prison Pipeline: The Problems with Inequities in Literacy and Schooling
Inequities exist in many forms across the United States’ public (PK-12) schools. African-American students represent only 16% of the student population, but African American students represented 32% of students who received an in-school suspension; 33% of students who received and out-of-school suspension; 42% of students who received more than one out-of-school suspension; and 34% of students who were expelled. Additionally, African American students represented 27% of the students who were referred to law enforcement, and 31% of students who were subject to a school-based arrest. (Source: ABA Coalition on Rachial and Ethnic Justice, 2018)
This presentation will focus on the inequities in schooling, as well as the disproportionate amount of African American students who end up in prisons. Many times teachers set low expectations for African American students because of the way in which they talk, and prisons can predict how many jail beds are needed based upon third grade readings scores. So, how does language and literacy impact this pipeline? Dr. Carr will pose thought-provoking discussion questions, for audience participation, that will attempt to address solutions to this negative phenomenon.
Please invite your students to attend.
Tuesday, Feb 26, 2019, 12:30 PM
Vista Room, CAB 402
RSVPs are enabled for this event.
Remaining Hot Topics for the Spring Semester
March 28, Thursday- 12:30 -1:45 Dr. Maria Acevedo-Aquino
Location: TBD
Young Children Responding to Global Literature
April 18, Thursday -11:00- 12:15 Dr. Amanda Lindner
Madla, Room 205
The Importance of Spelling Instruction (Especially for English Language Learners)
Call for Manuscripts
English in Texas, Vol. 49.1
Spring/Summer 2019
Theme: Reflections: Beyond Boots, Borders, and Books: The Many Faces of Literacy in Texas
Manuscript Deadline: April 1, 2019
Column Deadline: April 15, 2019
English in Texas, Vol. 49.2
Fall/Winter 2019
Theme: Teachers as Readers and Writers
Manuscript Deadline: September 1, 2019
Column Deadline: September 1, 2019
Click the link for more information: http://www.tctela.org/english-in-texas/
Selected Faculty Publications
*Cummings, A.E., Piper, R.E, & Pittman, R.T. (2018). The importance of preparing teachers to teach vocabulary to students in Prek – 12th Grade: The Whys and Hows. Read: An online journal for literacy educators, 4(6)-37-43. (*with A&M-SA student)
Piper, R.E. (2018). Preschool-Aged Children’s Identity Development: Exploring Gender through Multicultural Literature. In B.J. Guzzetti, T. Bean, & J. Dunkerly Bean (Eds), Literacies, Sexualities and Gender: Understanding Identities from Preschool to Adulthood, (pp. PGS). NY, NY: Routledge.
Rowe, D., McNaught, J., Yoho, L., Davis, M., & Mazzotti, V. (2018). Helping students make informed decisions about transition via web-based resources. Career Development and Transition for Exceptional Individuals, 41(4), 252-259.
Sharp, L.A., Diego-Medrano, E., Hughes, C., Raymond, R. D. & Piper, R.E. (2018). Overcoming the Challenges and Pressures Experienced by Literacy Teacher Educators. English in Texas, 48(1), 14 – 19.
Sharp, L. A., Raymond, Roberta D., & Piper, R.E. (2018). The Preparedness of Preservice Literacy Teachers: Viewpoints Among Literacy Teacher Educators. Journal of Teacher Education and Educators, 7(2), 101 – 122.
Sharp, L.A., Piper, R.E., & Raymond, R. (2018). Are we preparing teachers for literacy leadership? The Reading Teacher. 72(2), 223 – 272. doi.org/10.1002/trtr.1704.
*Zamora, V. & Pittman, R. T. (2018). The effects of two computer-based literacy intervention on students’ reading performance. 2018 TALE Yearbook, 5, 56-62. (*with A&M-SA student)
ELP Leadership
Dr. Debbie Vera- Chair
Dr. Theresa Garfield- Associate Chair
Dr. Ramona T. Pittman-Associate Chair