Teaching and Learning Council
TLC 87th Legislative Session Recommendations Document
At Educate Texas, we recognize that teachers are the most important in-school factors affecting student learning. To achieve the goal of placing an effective teacher in every Texas classroom, we must collaborate directly with teachers in developing policies that effect change related to teacher preparation and pathways.
To that end, the Teaching and Learning Council (TLC) convenes practitioners and a focused group of diverse stakeholders committed to improving the public education system in Texas. The TLC acts as a resource to Texas legislators, state agencies and other regulatory bodies by sharing its research and evidence-based recommendations related to effective teaching policy.
Teaching and Learning Council Activities
- Convenes to review research, policy and practices
- Participates in facilitated discussions to address college and career readiness and effective teaching impact areas
- Determines recommendations for legislature, state agencies, school districts, institutions of higher education and/or alternative certification programs
- Engages key audiences and provides research, information and advocacy as appropriate
The council is comprised of a variety of practitioners and stakeholders, including principals, superintendents, and representatives from education preparation programs, institutions of higher education, and advocacy groups. Leveraging this diversity of experiences and perspectives allows the council to inform policies that affect the college and career readiness of Texas students and the effectiveness of Texas teachers.
Teaching and Learning Council Members
| MEMBER NAME |
MEMBER TITLE |
MEMBER ORGANIZATION |
| Woodrow Bailey |
Chief of Human Capital Management |
Midland ISD |
| Dr. Sarah Beal |
Executive Director |
US Prep National Center |
| Lucia Borrego |
Chief Academic Officer |
Socorro ISD |
| Davida Burks |
Principal |
Centennial Elementary, Lubbock ISD |
| Angela Burley |
Teacher |
Saran Zumwalt Middle School, Dallas ISD |
| Robert Carreon |
Vice President of Public Affairs for Texas |
Teach for America |
| *Dr. Art Cavazos |
Superintendent in Residence |
Educate Texas, Council Chair |
| Don Dunn |
Superintendent |
Van ISD |
| Dr. Stacey Edmonson |
Dean |
Sam Houston State University |
| Jonathan Feinstein |
State Director |
Ed Trust Texas |
| Amanda Fransham |
Program Officer |
Meadows Foundation |
| Helen Hailemariam |
Executive Director |
Relay ESG |
| Dr. Doug Hamman |
Director of Teacher Education |
Texas Tech University |
| Dr. Valerie Hill-Jackson |
Assistant Dean |
Texas A&M University |
| Dr. Saul Hinojosa |
Superintendent |
Somerset ISD |
| Dr. Diane Huber |
Founder & Strategic Advisor |
iTeach |
| Cody Huie |
Vice President of Programs |
Charles Butt Foundation |
| Dominique McCain |
Managing Director |
Commit Partnership |
| Ericka Olivarez |
Principal |
CAST Teach High School, Northside ISD |
| Nicole Moore-Kriel |
Program Officer |
Powell Foundation |
| Yvette Peña |
Teacher |
International School of the Americas, North East ISD |
| Dr. Gisela Saenz |
Superintendent |
La Joya ISD |
| Dr. Beverly Sande |
Director of Panther Teaching Academy |
Prairie View A&M |
| Dr. Sharon Shields |
Superintendent |
La Vega ISD |
| Patrick Steck |
Senior Director of Policy |
Deans for Impact |
| Dr. Clifton Tanabe |
Dean |
University of Texas at El Paso |
| Tania Tasneem |
Teacher |
Kealing Middle School, Austin ISD |
| Dr. Amber Thompson |
Associate Chair, Teacher Education |
University of Houston |
| Carlos Villagrana |
Program Officer |
Houston Endowment |
| Dr. Pam Wells |
Executive Director |
Region 4 Service Center |