Cove math, science teachers recognized at regional Honoring the Teachers Ceremony

By LYNETTE SOWELL
Cove Leader-Press 

Education Service Center (ESC) Region 12 recognized 68 area math and science teachers at a ceremony on June 7 for their commitment to be highly trained and to mentor other teachers in their content area through the Texas Regional Collaborative for Excellence in Science and Mathematics Teaching (TRC). 
Among them were Copperas Cove Independent School District teachers who received certificates of completion for Math, Kimberly French and Doug Vaughn. Joanne Dever, LaRissa Wilkinson and Margaret Sparrow Casanova each received a certificate of completion for science. 
Joanne Dever talked about the program with ESC and CCISD.
“Solid futures for our students require solid futures for our teachers. Mentoring provides opportunities to build a strong community and promote student learning, retain and support quality teachers, and develop a richness in resources, strategies, and experiences greater than any one of us could ever do alone,” said Dever. “I hope that those I have been able to mentor go forward feeling that it enriched their development and that I can continue to be an active part of their support network. I know they have enriched mine and made me excited for the future of science education in our district.”
Both Wilkinson and French collaborated together on their mentorship program at Clements Parsons Elementary School. 
“The mentoring aspect of the program helped better prepare math and science teachers to work together collaboratively and support each other in reaching goals set for each teacher,” said Wilkinson. “We worked together to prepare differentiated lessons and support one another in our subject areas.”
“A variety of apps, hands-on lessons, and technology all were taught to the teachers to use in their classroom,” said French. “For example, journals were used in both science and math to give the students resources to use in lessons with a hands-on approach.” 
During the 2017-2018 school year, all of the recognized teachers mentored at least two other teachers and completed a minimum of 100 hours of training in the latest methods and techniques for engaging students in math and science learning experiences. 
“The TRC has been changing the trajectory of teachers’, and therefore students’, lives for 24 years,” said Jeanine Wolf, ESC Region 12 education specialist. “TRC programs equip teachers to engage students in meaningful science and mathematics learning experiences that improve scientific, mathematical and technological literacy, and inspire them to pursue STEM careers.”
This is the final year for the TRC, which has previously been funded by the Texas Education Association (TEA) via the University of Texas for 24 years. 
“As the TRC comes to an end, I can proudly say that it has impacted more than four million students across Texas who have benefited from the improved instruction and performance of participating teachers,” Wolf added. “The program has developed the knowledge, skills, and leadership capacity of approximately 46,000 teachers of science and mathematics.”