The National Science Foundation has adamantly proclaimed something that two faculty members at North Central Texas College have known for a long time—that the U.S. system of public education must have the resources to lay the foundation for developing a workforce that is literate in mathematics and science.

Over the past six years, Lisa Bellows and colleague Sara Flusche of the NCTC Science Department have combined a passionate personal devotion with grant funding to help make that foundation-building process happen among more than 150 local and area public school teachers.

Many of the teachers involved in this year’s program of mentoring and professional development led by Bellows and Flusche came to campus this past week for a Shell Oil Company-sponsored “Honoring the Teachers” dinner which recognizes and honors their participation in a special program designed to enhance science and math education.

That program is an ongoing partnership between NCTC and the Texas Regional Collaborative for Excellence in Science and Mathematics Teaching (TRC), an award-winning, nationally recognized network of 60 P–16 partnerships that provide sustained, research-based, high intensity professional development to P–12 teachers.

The NCTC/TRC partnership is one of 60 statewide, many of them involving universities, but NCTC has earned special recognition for its success and is the only community college in Texas to have a mathematics as well as a science collaborative.

“TRC enables us to provide participating teachers not only content knowledge,” Bellows said, “but also tools, materials, supplies and hands-on practice for actually applying that knowledge and passing it on to their students through in-class and place-based instruction and practices.

“This is professional development using research-based instructional models, materials and best practices that, in many instances, teachers could take back and implement in their classrooms the very next day.”

A particular benefit of the program is that it brings these continuing education opportunities much closer to home for teachers who previously had to travel far distances and take time away from the classroom as well as their own families to acquire needed professional development.

Bellows and Flusche also arranged for evening and weekend schedules to further facilitate access for working teachers.

Bellows, chair of the NCTC Science Department, said the annual “Honoring the Teachers” event is also aimed at bringing together education and business leaders, policy makers and legislators to share, network, communicate and celebrate the achievements of the collaboratives.

Although numerous teachers in the area participate in the NCTC/TRC collaborative, teachers earning 105 hours of training in science and/or 75 hours of training in math were recognized and awarded certificates of accomplishment. Certificates were awarded not only from NCTC but also from Dr. Carol Fletcher, statewide TRC assistant director, as well as from the offices of State Senator Craig Estes and State Representative Rick Hardcastle.

“We admire these teachers so much for their dedication, their persistence, their determination and their devotion,” Flusche said. “They are not content to be just teachers, they are committed to being the very best teachers they can be, and the positive impact they can and will have on our children is beyond measure.”

“Quality math and science education is the foundation and the single most important factor in equipping students to be successful and competitive in an increasingly global economy,” Bellows said.

She added that it is critically important to equip students with better skills in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) and that it all begins in the classroom.

“As we face the challenges of the future, each of those challenges point directly at STEM for answers,” she said. “Just think about it—the environment, energy, health care, national security—they all require STEM education. We can no longer merely teach facts, we have to be passionate, life-long learners and that is precisely what the NCTC/TRC collaborative is all about.

“Our teachers are learning and teaching STEM in engaging, innovative ways to better equip students for their futures and for ours.”

For more information, contact Lisa Bellows at 940-668-7731 or by email: lbellows@nctc.edu.