The recruitment and retention of teachers demand attention with estimates of two million new teachers needed in the next decade. Hiring under qualified teachers necessitates adequate induction programs. Development of a recommendation for a teacher induction program comprises the purpose of the study. The recommended induction and support program addresses the activities perceived as valuable by both mentors and mentees. The researcher describes the mentor programs currently in place in Region XI in northern Texas by surveying the mentors and mentees; of particular relevance is a determination and description of the program model in place. Data sources include the literature review and information obtained from Region XI mentors/mentees. Data shows the model in Region XI is primarily a colleague model. Mentors and mentees are matched for grade level, content area and physical proximity. Three of the most frequently occurring activities are in the category emotional support, three in logistical concerns, two in systems information, one in student management, and one in instructional support. Mentees believe those activities associated with classroom management and organization and developing confidence and self-esteem are most important. Mentors concur. Specific recommendations for structuring a comprehensive beginning teacher induction and support program include reexamining the program currently in use, prioritizing timing of implementation, articulating campus mentoring goals, adhering to logistical areas of concern, providing training for the mentors in a program of psychological support that focuses on the psychological needs of the beginning teacher, providing time within the day, and evaluating current programs at the end of each year using those beginning teachers involved.

The purpose of this study is to determine the impact on student use of electronic information systems when teachers have been given instruction on their use. By providing teachers with a solid introduction to the technology, a handy reference book, and an easy-to-use evaluation tool, it is expected that they will incorporate information found on the internet into their lessons at least twice a month. In addition, teachers will allow students to access information on their own, provided computers and Internet access are available, at least once a month.

This study characterizes the mathematical knowledge upon which secondary school algebra teachers draw when pondering problem situations that could arise in the teaching and learning of solving algebraic equations, as well as examines the potential connections between teachers' knowledge and their academic backgrounds and teaching experiences. Seventy-two middle school and high school algebra teachers in Texas participated in the study by completing an academic background questionnaire and a written-response assessment instrument. Eight participants were then invited for followup semi-structured interviews. The results revealed three topic areas in equation solving in which teachers' mathematical subject matter understanding should be strengthened: (a) the balancing method, (b) the concept of equivalent equations, and (c) the properties of linear equations in their general forms. The participants provided a wide range of instances of student misconceptions and difficulties in learning how to solve linear and quadratic equations, as well as a variety of strategies for helping students to improve their understanding. Teachers' subject matter knowledge played a central or prerequisite role in their reasoning and decision-making in specific contexts. When the problem contexts became broader or more general, teachers drew from across the three basic domains of mathematical knowledge for teaching (knowledge of the mathematical subject matter, knowledge of learners' conceptions, and knowledge of didactic representations) and showed individual preferences. Overall, teachers tended to rely more heavily upon their knowledge of students' specific or general learning characteristics. Statistical analyses suggest that teachers who majored in mathematics and who had the most experience in teaching first-year or more advanced algebra courses performed significantly higher on the assessment than their counterparts, and there is a linear relationship between teachers' performance and the number of advanced mathematics course they have taken. Neither course-taking in mathematics education nor number of years of algebra teaching made a significant difference in their performance. Results are either unclear or inconsistent about the role of teachers' (a) use of algebra textbooks, (b) prior experience with a method or a manipulative, and (c) participation in professional development activities. Teachers also rated (a) collaborating with and learning from colleagues and (b) dealing with student conceptions and questions as highly influential on their professional knowledge growth.

The problem with which this study is concerned is to analyze the impact of the local cooperative teacher education centers on teacher education programs at institutions of higher education in Texas. A survey instrument was designed around seven research questions; after the instrument was evaluated by a panel of experts, it was sent to 142 individuals who are involved with the Texas teacher centers, 111 of whom responded.

To determine professional and educational backgrounds of photography teachers in Texas secondary schools, a questionnaire was sent to all eighty-seven. Sixty-five responded. The study found that the majority (a) were not certified to teach industrial arts as required by the state; (b) taught only three classes of photography; (c) did not handle publication photography; (d) had less than the required twelve hours of photography education; (e) had some professional experience; and (f) planned to continue their photography education although their school systems did not require it. The study (a) concluded that students receive a basic, technical education in photography, but the program suffers from lack of money and administrative support; (b) recommended that the state agency reevaluate its approach to and implementation of the program.

Graduates who responded to the survey indicated that the undergraduate music education curriculum between 1967 and 1972 was generally adequate in preparing students to teach music in the public schools. Areas such as administration, supervision, student teaching, and professional education were deemed weaker than other areas by both the vocal and instrumental graduates. In comparing vocal and instrumental graduates' responses in certain areas of the questionnaire it was found that in most cases opinions of both groups agreed regarding importance of listed competencies. The curriculum was equally effective in training vocal and instrumental teachers, with the exception of secondary instrumental methods, which appeared to be an outstanding weakness. A low positive correlation (r=.107) existed between selected graduates' academic success and their success as teachers in public schools. This correlation was, however, not statistically significant and it was accepted that there was only a slight relationship between students' success in undergraduate training at North Texas and their success as public school music teachers. Graduates who responded to the survey indicated that the undergraduate music education curriculum between 1967 and 1972 was generally adequate in preparing students to teach music in the public schools. Areas such as administration, supervision, student teaching, and professional education were deemed weaker than other areas by both the vocal and instrumental graduates. In comparing vocal and instrumental graduates' responses in certain areas of the questionnaire it was found that in most cases opinions of both groups agreed regarding importance of listed competencies. The curriculum was equally effective in training vocal and instrumental teachers, with the exception of secondary instrumental methods, which appeared to be an outstanding weakness. A low positive correlation (r=.107) existed between selected graduates' academic success and their success as teachers in public schools. This correlation was, however, not statistically significant and it was accepted that there was only a slight relationship between students' success in undergraduate training at North Texas and their success as public school music teachers.

This qualitative research study investigated the role of the principal in implementing change in the professional development school (PDS). The study involved 7 elementary schools and 4 school-university collaboratives in the Texas network of 17 Centers for Professional Development and Technology (CPDTs). The research questions focused on the role, leadership, and management concerns of the PDS principal.

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The purpose of this study was the design of a curricular model for the undergraduate preparation of Texas high school coaches. The model was based on the perceptions of Texas coaches concerning the adequacy of their professional preparation. The issue of a state certification for coaching was also examined.

Texas programs in pre-service art teacher preparation vary little. Since 1970, the National Art Education Association (NAEA) has created voluntary standards in hopes of decreasing variability among programs. In 1999, the NAEA published Standards for Art Teacher Preparation, outlining 20 content areas that art pre-service programs should provide their students. To obtain information on the implementation and the extent to which these 20 standards are being implemented, a questionnaire was sent to all programs in Texas. The 20 standards were the dependent variable for the study. The four independent variables used in this ex post facto study were: the size of the institution where the program exists; the number of full-time art faculty; the number of full-time art education faculty; and, the number of undergraduate art education students who graduated last year. The 20 standards or provisions were scored on a Lickert scale with six options: zero (not taught) to five (comprehensively taught). The response size (N = 23) was 47% of the state's 49 approved programs. The results from the survey suggest no significant difference among programs. However, the results showed a significant difference in the number of provisions taught between programs with no art educators and those with 1 to 3 art educators. One art educator seemed to increase the number of pedagogical provisions taught but did not increase the extent or enhance the degree to which each provision was taught. A comprehensively taught response to the NAEA provisions on the questionnaire was further investigated through analysis of catalog course descriptions and correspondence with participants. The results are estimated in credit hours and indicate that there may be a point where time on task decides the limit that constitutes a comprehensive preparation. Perspectives on content are discussed and regarded as too subjective to define comprehensive preparation. Comprehensive time on task varies with content, which may imply an unconscious marker of time shared by educators that defines a comprehensive preparation for each provision. Changing and local standards in art pre-service programs may have produced a range of interpretations regarding the meaning of "comprehensively taught.";