TCU offers new master’s program to certify teachers
The College of Education at Texas Christian University has begun a master’s program for recent college graduates and working professionals looking to start a career in education.
The TCU Teach program lets individuals earn a master’s degree and teaching certificate for grades 6-12 in less than one year. The 30-hour program offers on-campus classes and student teaching placement in one of the university’s partner districts as well as the opportunity to teach abroad.
“The TCU Teach program provides high quality clinical experiences and innovative pedagogy classes to arm future teachers with the skills and strategies to engage and teach adolescents,” said Jan Lacina, associate dean of graduate studies. “School districts across the country often struggle to staff classrooms with adequate numbers of teachers. TCU Teach meets the needs of our community by preparing high quality teachers for the demands of ever-changing middle and high schools.”
Applications are being accepted for the inaugural summer 2017 cohort. Candidates must have bachelor’s degrees in fields related to social studies, science, mathematics or English.
The College of Education received the Wisniewski Teacher Education Award in 2016 for its Language & Literacy Program and has received the Certificate of Distinction, the highest award for teacher preparation in reading, from the International Reading Association each year since 2009. The College of Education graduates about 100 teachers per year.
TCC PLEDGES SUPPORT
FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Tarrant County College Chancellor Eugene V. Giovannini recently signed the Presidents for Entrepreneurship Pledge, an initiative of the National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship, of which Giovannini is board chairman.
By taking the pledge, TCC is extending its commitment to supporting future entrepreneurs on campus as well as local startups and small businesses.
“Entrepreneurship and innovation represent a powerful combination to create new economic opportunities and new prosperity across the region and throughout the country,” Giovannini said. “Because of community colleges’ accessibility and close ties to the community, we are uniquely positioned to support entrepreneurs and entrepreneurial methods to our campuses and in the surrounding areas.”
As part of the pledge, TCC will expand internal and external teams dedicated to entrepreneurship, work to increase entrepreneurs’ engagement with TCC, incorporate industry trends into curriculum planning, host industry-specific entrepreneurship events and use college and community assets to support innovation and job creation.
TCC offers the Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management Program, which allows students to earn an associate of applied science, certificate or marketable skills award on Northwest Campus. Community and Industry Education Services provides an Entrepreneurship Certificate Program at South Campus.
UTA VOLLEYBALL COACH
RETIRES AFTER 12 YEARS
After an association of more than 30 years with the volleyball program at the University of Texas at Arlington, Mavericks head coach Diane Seymour has retired from coaching to pursue other professional interests.
Seymour, a graduate of UT Arlington, had been the Mavericks’ head coach since 2004 and has been involved with 505 total wins as a player, assistant and head coach. She compiled an overall record of 211-195 over 13 seasons. Her 406 total career matches as a head coach is second all-time in the history of the program.
DUNBAR STUDENTS RECEIVE
MUSICAL GIFT, UNVEIL ARTWORK
After a recent performance by the Dunbar High School band in Fort Worth, a group from Fidelity Investments surprised the music students with a donation of 41 much-needed new instruments.
The instruments, collectively valued at more than $32,000, are part of Fidelity’s support for public school programs and encouragement of the musical interests and talents of local students. The donation was facilitated by The Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation.
Dunbar art students unveiled a mural they designed and painted at a special event in the Historic Stop Six Neighborhood on Dec. 10. The mural is both a legacy and a gift to their community when the students graduate.
Guided by Dunbar art teacher Devyn Gaudet and muralist John Ortega, about 15 of Gaudet’s students had worked on the mural’s design since September. With help from the organization Dads of Dunbar, which constructed scaffolding, the students painted their mural on the wall of Ramey Market the week after Thanksgiving.
The project is part of the Historic Stop Six Initiative, whose partners include Dunbar High School, Historic Stop Six Initiative, Fort Worth Police Department, Healthy Tarrant County Collaboration/Plan4Health Grant, Blue Zones Project Fort Worth, Black Firefighters Association and the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Fort Worth.
AVIATION MUSEUM GETS GRANT
TO REACH LOW-INCOME STUDENTS
American Airlines C.R. Smith Museum received a one-year grant of $55,000 from the Boeing Co. that will let the museum extend its flagship “Flight Workshop” education program to students from low-income areas.
More than 5,000 students in nearby Title I elementary and middle schools will gain access to STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) content about flight and aviation, thanks to the grant.
The museum, an independent nonprofit organization in the American Airlines organization, targets its programs, workshops, field trips and summer camps on STEM, the science behind flight and careers in aviation.
CHILD CARE ASSOCIATES
BUILDING OUTDOOR CLASSROOM
Construction began in November on a natural playscape at Child Care Associates’ Southside Early Head Start facility in Fort Worth.
The 4,285-square-foot outdoor classroom was designed in October by Nature Explore, an Arbor Day Foundation program, alongside CCA teachers. The outdoor classroom will feature hills, plants, trees, flowers and even mud for children to explore. It will have an entry arbor, a gathering deck, log steps for climbing and balancing, a nature art zone, a music area with stage and musical instruments, an open lawn for playing and a wheeled toy track for children to ride through hoops.
“Children are less connected to nature than ever before, especially those in lower income, urban areas. We hope that this will be the first of many natural playscapes at our 23 facilities to provide young children with the opportunity to explore the outdoors as learners,” said CEO Kara Waddell. “Child Care Associates is funding the natural playscape ourselves as a pilot and hopes to partner with the broader community on building additional spaces in high-need neighborhoods in the months and years to come.”
Construction is expected to be completed this winter with plantings to be done in the spring.
MAKEOVER COMPLETED
AT FW BOYS & GIRLS CLUB
The Panther Branch of Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Fort Worth, 1500 Hempbill St. in Fort Worth, revealed its updated digs Dec. 5 during a grand opening. Lowe’s Home Improvement chose the organization as the signature club in Texas to complete a $50,000 renovation.
The funds were used to update spaces including the teen room, kitchen, cafeteria and art room. Lowe’s Heroes employee volunteers helped with the work.
The Renovation Across the Nation initiative focuses on K-12 public education and community improvement projects. Since 2007, Lowe’s and the Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation have contributed nearly $250 million to these efforts.
FWISD ELEMENTARY RECEIVES
GRANT FOR PLAYGROUND
Target Corp. and the national nonprofit KaBOOM! awarded the Fort Worth Independent School District’s M.H. Moore Elementary School a $15,930 grant to buy a playground equipment system from Imagination Playground.
The play equipment encourages creativity, communication and collaboration and allows children to build and re-build using their imagination.