The recently approved Southeast Regional T-STEM Center will be based at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, with Texas State University College of Education and Rice University as major collaborators. Other partners include: the Houston Museum of Natural Science, Moody Gardens, Galveston College, a variety of businesses and industry, Educational Service Centers (ESC’s), and the surrounding communities. Partnering independent school districts include Houston, Galveston, Cypress-Fairbanks and La Marque.

CENTER GOAL, MISSION, AND OBJECTIVES:

The overall goal of the SRT-STEM Center is to be a critical catalyst and advocate for systemic change in STEM education for intermediate and secondary students and teachers.

The Center will serve as a vital resource and source of support for the regional school districts, ESC’s, and evolving T-STEM Academies. The Center’s work will be realized using a dual approach that involves both professional development experiences for educators and STEM enrichment experiences for students. It is envisioned that the SRT-STEM Center will become a significant force for preparing Texas students for rewarding careers in the 21st Century economy by improving student achievement outcomes in math and science and increasing the number of students who pursue postsecondary studies and careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. In accord with the basic goals established for all T-STEM Centers, the SRT-STEM Center will conduct its mission via a set of key objectives that will ensure:

  • integrated stakeholder involvement
  • community support
  • professional development
  • resources and materials support
  • assessment and evaluation
  • educator leadership
  • research-based curriculum

These objectives will be enacted via a series of major activities, including the formation of STEM regional partnerships, school vertical learning communities, and a cadre of STEM Teacher Leaders and Teacher Fellows; establishment of an electronic STEM Solutions Network for building virtual connections among participants; development and presentation of a series of STEM professional development and curriculum design institutes; recruitment of in-service, pre-service, and adjunct teachers to STEM field experiences and teaching opportunities; and dissemination of research-based practices.

Stage 1 T-STEM Vision Quest, April–August 2007, building a shared vision and knowledge base for STEM reform and change. This will occur during a 2.5-day conference in July.
 
Stage 2 Constructing the T-STEM Vision, August-December 2007, will involve advancing the change process and expanding the breadth and depth of the professional development component by designing selected STEM curriculum. This includes a 2.5 day conference in August.
 
Stage 3 Living the T-STEM Dream, January–May 2008, follows through with the implantation of selected STEM content and practices in high school classrooms.
 
Stage 4 Sharing T-STEM Lessons Learned, June–August 2008, selected project “promising practices and products” disseminated to larger audiences (conferences summer 2008).

OTHER T-STEM CENTERS:

  1. East Texas STEM Center, http://www.etxsc.org/
  2. El Centro del Futuro T-STEM Center, http://www.esc1.net/1293109151616840/site/default.asp
  3. El Paso T-STEM Center, http://www.epcae.org/tstem/home.asp
  4. North Texas STEM Center - Texas A & M University, http://nt-stem.tamu.edu/
  5. Texas Tech T-STEM Center, http://www.tstem.ttu.edu/
  6. Transformation 2013 T-STEM Center, http://www.transformation2013.org/