Texas Graduate Center Newsletter www.TxGradCenter.org
February 2014
TGC Broadcasts Live Harvard Lectures
The Texas Graduate Center is excited to offer graduate courses broadcast live from Harvard University. Cohort II students participate in a live broadcast of Math and the Greeks on Wednesday evenings. In this course students seek to understand how the ancient Greeks thought about mathematics by focusing on finding solutions and proofs for simple numerical problems, drawing geometrical constructions using compasses and straightedge, and reading brief historical abstracts by and about early Greek mathematicians. On Thursday evenings Cohort I views a Calculus II course live. The course covers integration, differential equations, and Taylor series with applications. All graduate students taking this course also participate in weekly pedagogical seminars designed for current and future K-12 teachers. Math with a Historical Perspective is taken by members of Cohort I not currently taking Calculus II. This class focuses on important mathematicians and philosophers throughout history such as Archimedes, Zeno, Cavalieri, Newton, Leibniz, and Cauchy, among others. Each week this course considers a different math subject and pinpoints a moment when something interesting happened. This moment is condensed into a specific and concrete mathematical problem that is connected to a specific mathematician.
HARVARD CLASS OF 2017 -- Cohort II Standing L-R Gilbert Maldonado (Associate Vice President, Texas Valley Communities Foundation), Jose Villagomez, Jose Constantino, Dr. Rolando Balotro, Homer Colunga, Crystal Chagoya, Dr. Mary Alice Reyes (Executive Director, TGC) Seated L-R Dayanara Garza, Queen Martin, Reynaldo Jope.
TGC Expands Math for Teaching Harvard Masters Program The Texas Graduate Center (TGC) welcomed eight new teachers to its Harvard MATHTEACH Collaborative, which now consists of 16 educators from various school districts across the Rio Grande Valley. The newest members of the TGC represent La Joya ISD, McAllen ISD, Mercedes ISD, PSJA ISD, and Weslaco ISD. All 16
students will travel to Cambridge, MA this summer to attend Harvard University during the summer 2014 semester. In conjunction with distance learning classes taken at the TGC, the graduate students travel to Cambridge, MA each summer to fulfill their summer residency requirement at Harvard University.
Texas Graduate Center Jose Villagomez
TGC Math for Teaching Masters Cohort II
Jose Raul Constantino Mercedes ISD
Mr. Constantino was born in Weslaco, Texas and spent most of his childhood in Tamaulipas, Mexico, where his parents moved shortly after his birth. His family moved back to the Rio Grande Valley in 1992 and he graduated from Weslaco High school four years later. He attended the University of Texas - Pan American and graduated with a double major in Mathematics and Computer Science. He is married and the father of six wonderful children. He currently teaches Math at Mercedes High School where he is also the Mathematics Department Head and Head of the Girls Soccer team. He has been teaching for 11 years. His future goals include completing his master’s degree from Harvard University and one day becoming an administrator in an educational institution.
Queen Claire R. Martin La Joya ISD
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Ms. Martin grew up loving Mathematics. She graduated Cum Laude from the University of San Carlos in Cebu, Philippines. Shortly after graduation she began teaching at the University of the Philippines. While teaching, she was accepted to be a Monbusho Scholar in Japan and pursue her Masters degree in Mathematics, however, a teaching opportunity in the United States arose and at the age of 22 she decided to move to the United States. She has been teaching now for 12 years. She hopes her Harvard experience will serve as a living example to her students here in the Rio Grande Valley that somebody from this community, an immigrant, like herself, can graduate from Harvard University.
Weslaco ISD
Mr. Villagomez and his family moved to the United States when he was six years old. With the encouragement of his father, who was a veterinarian in Mexico and someone who always encouraged his son’s education, Mr. Villagomez focused his attention on his schoolwork in hopes of one day becoming an educator. He graduated from Weslaco High School and went on to receive his bachelor’s degree from Devry University and his master’s degree from Kller Graduate School in Irving, TX. Along with teaching Engineering Math at Weslaco High School, Mr. Villagomez is the UIL Academics Coordinator and sponsors Math, Calculator Applications, and Robotics. After he completes his Masters degree from Harvard University he hopes to pursue a Doctoral degree.
Crystal Chagoya La Joya ISD
Ms. Chagoya is a graduate from La Joya ISD where she currently teaches at Cesar Chavez Middle School. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Texas - Pan American with a bachelor’s degree in Science with Middle School Math Concentration. She was inspired to become a math teacher by the many dedicated math teachers she encountered in her academic journey. She finds continuous inspiration from her mother, who always stresses the importance of education.
Rey Jope McAllen ISD
Mr. Jope was born in General Santos City, Philippines. He immigrated here in 1993 and has been living in the RGV ever since. He completed his Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from Mindanao State University in the Philippines. Mr. Jope finds continuous inspiration and joy watching his students develop their mathematical ability in his classroom. He is also a recent author of a children’s book titled Feyesper and the Rogue Kite. He currently teaches at Achieve Early College High School in McAllen. He has been with the district for 11 years.
Dayanara Garza PSJA ISD
Ms. Garza was born and raised in McAllen, TX. She received her Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from the University of Texas – Pan American. She has been teaching for nine years at PSJA North High School. Ever since she was a little girl, Ms. Garza enjoyed working with numbers. It was her love of children and mathematics that inspired her to pursue her teaching certification. She looks forward to continuing to help students discover the beauty and challenges of mathematics as she pursues her master’s degree in Mathematics for Teaching from Harvard University.
Dr. Rolando S. Balotro PSJA ISD
Dr. Balotro received his Doctor of Science from Kyushu University in Fukuoka, Japan. He has 15 years of teaching experience and has been teaching mathematics since 2008. He has taught at the College Career and Technology Academy (CCTA), a special purpose school designed to help students ages 18-26 obtain their high school diploma and transition into college. He served as chairman of CCTA and received the Teacher of the District award shortly before transferring to PSJA North High School where he currently teaches.
Homer Colunga Weslaco ISD
Mr. Colunga graduated from Weslaco East High School as the class valedictorian. He went on to receive his Bachelors and Masters of Science in Mathematical Sciences from the University of Texas - Pan American. Before returning to his high school alma mater to teach, Mr. Colunga taught at South Texas College. His experience working with underprivileged migrant children motivated him to become an educator. His goal is to change student’s lives by giving them the advantage they need to succeed in college-level, gatekeeper math courses. He plans to grow and expand the inhouse dual enrollment offerings at Weslaco East High School and ultimately work in secondary mathematics curriculum and instruction.
TGC:Math for Teaching Cohort II Cohort II Receives Laptop Computers TGC held Student Orientation on December 18, 2013 welcoming its second cohort to the Harvard MATHTEACH Collaborative. TGC Executive Director, Dr. Mary Alice Reyes, addressed the new cohort and reviewed program requirements and expectations. Each student in Cohort II was given a new Acer S7 Aspire Ultrabook laptop to use throughout the graduate program.
MATHTEACH -- Cohort II students Jose Constantino, Queen Martin and Crystal Chagoya in the photo above along with Jose Villagomez and Homer Colunga in the bottom left photo unwrap their laptop computers at the Texas Graduate Center. Each student in the program receives a personal computer to help them with their graduate studies. In the photo on the immediate left Executive Director Dr. Mary Alice Reyes addresses the class during their orientation.
Coming Soon to the Texas Graduate Center TEXAS GRADUATE CENTER IN PARTNERSHIP WITH HARVARD UNIVERSITY
MATHTEACH COLLABORATIVE COHORT III FORMING FOR JANUARY 2015
RECIEVE A MASTERS OF PETROLEUM
ENGINEERING From Texas A&M
• World Class Teacher Development through Harvard University • Mathematics Workshops for Teachers by Harvard Faculty • Leadership Workshops for Administrators by Harvard Faculty • Student College and Career Readiness Sessions • Parent Engagement Sessions
OFFERED THROUGH DISTANCE LEARNING
DR. EDWIN LEMASTER
PROGRAM ADVISOR: DEAN OF THE COLLEGE OF SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING-UTPA (RETIRED)
@ THE TEXAS GRADUATE CENTER IN MERCEDES, TEXAS ● IN PARTNERSHIP WITH TEXAS A & M UNIVERSITY
For More Information About These Programs Contact Adriana Lopez: Ph: 956.903.4231
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TEXAS GRADUATE CENTER
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT 2014
MATHTEACH COLLABORATIVE Featuring Harvard University Faculty @ Region One ESC
MARCH
20 2014
Confronting Mediocre Teaching from the Perspective of Superintendents and Building Administrators Presented by Dr. Katherine Merseth
Director - Harvard Graduate School of Education
K. Merseth
8:30-12:00 (Workshop #41737-Falcon Dam & Sal de Rey Rooms) Audience: MATHTEACH Collaborative & GEAR UP High School Principals/Deans of Instruction
Confronting Mediocre Teaching from the Perspective of Superintendents and Building Administrators Presented by Dr. Katherine Merseth Director - Harvard Graduate School of Education 1:00-3:00 (Workshop #41738- Falcon Dam & Sal de Rey Rooms) Audience: MATHTEACH Collaborative & GEAR UP Superintendents / Directors
Mathematics for Teaching Algebra Presented by Srdjan Divac
MARCH
21 2014
Senior Lecturer - Harvard University 8:30-4:00 pm (Workshop #42313-Sal de Rey Room) Audience: MATHTEACH Collaborative, GEAR UP 9th Grade Algebra I Teachers, Texas Graduate Center Students (8:30-12:00)
S. Divac
Leading from the Classroom Presented by Dr. Katherine Merseth
Director -Harvard Graduate School of Education 1:00-4:00 (Workshop # 42548-La Lomita Room) Audience: Texas Graduate Center Students / GEAR UP Staff MATHTEACH COLLABORATIVE DISTRICTS Donna ISD Edinburg CISD Hidalgo ISD La Joya ISD Lyford CISD
McAllen ISD Mercedes ISD PSJA ISD San Benito CISD South Texas ISD
Weslaco ISD
Nov.
14
2014
Exploding Dots!
SAVE THE DATE
Presented By: Dr. James Tanton 8:30-4:00 pm (Workshop #TBD) Audience: MATHTEACH Collaborative, GEAR UP Mathematics Teachers
TEXAS GRADUATE CENTER
A public-private initiative of the Texas Valley Communities Foundation
www.txgradcenter.org 4