At Educate Texas, we recognize that teachers are the most important in-school factors affecting student learning. Any long-term plan for student academic success, and college and career readiness must include strategies for improving the effectiveness of our teachers. 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. Council members combine their wealth of experience and variety of perspectives to inform policies that attract, prepare, develop and retain our most effective teachers.
The Council 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. The Council engages with all actors in the policy pipeline in a multi-pronged approach that aims to achieve the ultimate goal of placing an effective teacher in every classroom.
Specifically, the Council:
- 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 inaugural Council is co-chaired by Dr. Patricia Alverez McHatton, Vice President for Academic Affairs, Student Success, and P-16 Integration at the University of Texas at Rio Grande Valley and David Anthony, former Superintendent and former CEO of Raise Your Hand Texas. 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 will allow the Council to inform policies that affect the college and career readiness of Texas students and the effectiveness of Texas teachers. The Teaching and Learning Council is part of ongoing efforts to effect positive change through informed policy, partnerships and programs taking place at Educate Texas.
Teaching and Learning Council Members
| MEMBER NAME |
MEMBER TITLE |
MEMBER ORGANIZATION |
| Patricia Alvarez McHatton, Council Co-Chair |
Executive Vise President |
University of Texas at RGV |
| David Anthony, Council Co-Chair |
Former Superintendent |
|
| Shari Albright |
President |
Raise Your Hand Texas |
| Jennifer Blaine |
Superintendent |
Spring Branch ISD |
| Kathleen Burke |
Principal |
Early College High School, Killeen ISD |
| Leslie Correa |
Elementary School Teacher |
Tom C. Gooch Elementary, Dallas ISD |
| Don Dunn |
Superintendent |
Van ISD |
| Monty Exter |
Government Relations |
Association of Texas Professional Educators |
| Steve Flores |
Superintendent |
Roundrock ISD |
| Chairita Franklin |
Assistant Superintendent |
Cypress Fairbanks ISD |
| Shonda Gibson |
Executive Director |
Texas A&M System |
| Charles Glover |
Senior Program Officer |
Meadows Foundation |
| Timothy Hise |
Partner |
TNTP |
| Michael McFarland |
Superintendent |
Crowley ISD |
| Rhonda Pena |
Elementary School Teacher |
Bryan Elementary, Mission CISD |
| Lindsay Sobel |
Senior Executive Director |
Teach Plus |
| Carlos Villagrana |
Program Officer |
Houston Endowment |
| Jeff Wheatcraft |
Middle School Teacher |
Alamo Heights, Junior School, Alamo Heights ISD |
| Aletha Williams |
High School Teacher |
Mayde Creek High School, Kay ISD |