University Student Tour 2015 Harvard Summer Residency Girls Engaged in Mathematics
June - July 2015 Annenburg Hall, Harvard University
President Dr. Roland Arriola Executive Director Dr. Mary Alice Reyes
About Us:
The Texas Graduate Center (TGC), a component of the Texas Valley Communities Foundation, has been established to support programs in higher education that will guide new and emerging leaders in education to implement transformational change that will impact schools and communities. TGC will offer distance learning graduate programs from outstanding universities in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. The TGC will make available the latest telepresence technology and virtual classrooms with direct connection to world-class undergraduate and graduate programs from across the country. TGC will also serve as a college and career readiness facilitator offering assistance in selecting, preparing and enrolling in nationally recognized graduate programs.
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ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR/Editor-in-chief Adriana V. Lopez Designer/ PHOTOGRAPHER David Alvarado TGC OFFICES 1098 W. Expressway 83 Mercedes, Texas 78570
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In this issue... Harvard University Extension School
The Texas Graduate Center has partnered with the Harvard University Extension School to implement the Math for Teaching Graduate Program. Harvard Extension School is one of the twelve degreegranting schools of Harvard University, offering professional certificates and liberal arts-based undergraduate and graduate degree programs aimed at nontraditional students, as well as openenrollment continuing education courses.
04 University Student Tour 2015
The Texas Graduate Center (TGC) traveled to Boston with 46 high school students from the Rio Grande Valley on its premiere Student University Tour. The tour included stops at Harvard University, MIT, Brown University and Boston University.
08 Harvard Summer Residency 2015
All three Texas Graduate Center cohorts traveled to Cambridge, MA to fulfill their summer residency requirement as part of their Math for Teaching Graduate Program at Harvard University.
12 Girls Engaged in Mathematics
La Joya ISD brought Girls Engaged in Mathematics (GEM) Camp back to their district for a second summer. This year’s camp focused on rising 3rd and 4th grade girls. The camp focuses on STEM and works to build girls’ confidence in math.
Brown University is a private Ivy League research university in Providence, Rhode Island. Founded in 1764 as “The College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations,” Brown is the seventh-oldest institution of higher education in the United States and one of the nine Colonial Colleges established before the American Revolution.
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Written by Adriana V. Lopez
University Student Tour 2015 E xcitement was high as 46 students representing eleven school districts from across the Rio Grande Valley prepared to fly to Boston for the Texas Graduate Center’s (TGC) first-ever Student University Tour. The tour was exclusive to MATHTEACH Collaborative partners who currently support a math teacher in TGC’s Math for Teaching graduate program in partnership with Harvard University. The students visited four universities including Harvard, MIT, Brown University and Boston University. The purpose of the tour was to provide area students an opportunity to explore universities they would otherwise have overlooked when considering options for their postsecondary education. The hope was that exposing students to campus life at ivy league universities would demystify these universities and students would no longer feel that an ivy league education is something unattainable. Roel Tovar, a migrant counselor at PSJA High School and one of the attending chaperones on the tour, re-
alizes the importance of experiences like the university tour, “I think you have to plant a seed of a dream in a student’s mind so that they can then know what to shoot for,” said Tovar. “Typically most of our students attend UTPA or STC. I have had some students who do go out of the Valley, typically very few go out of state, so this trip was very important to convince the kids to attend, to apply,” said Tovar. Each tour included an informational session with current students and admission officers, a Q&A session, and guided tour of the campus. Victoria Rojas, a Social Studies teacher at Mission High School and tour chaperone, immediately saw the benefits of the tour, “After going through the information sessions, talking to some of the tour guides, and walking around the campuses, these students are definitely much more confident in applying to these schools and researching other schools,” said Rojas. After a day of touring, one of Rojas’ students was eager to share her experience with friends back home, “I actual-
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ly heard one of the students from my district talking to a friend of hers from back home, and she was telling her ‘OK, we need to make sure we’re taking AP Classes, get ready to apply to Harvard and other schools!’ ” This left a great impression on Rojas, “I thought, what an awesome inspirational moment! She [the student] felt inspired enough to try and inspire one of her classmates. And I think that’s exactly what this program is all about, not just for the students who attend these trips but bringing that culture back to the school,” continued Rojas, “one student can be the catalyst for promoting this type of education and promoting that culture.” Of the four universities he visited, Orlando Ochoa, a PSJA Memorial student, was most impressed with Brown University, “I really liked how culturally diverse it was,” he said. “This was a really prestigious opportunity and I’m just glad we had the chance to view these four universities,” said Ochoa, “Being from the Valley I never thought I’d
have the opportunity to visit these colleges, and it just really opened my eyes and now I know I can make it to an Ivy League University.” The information sessions at each university covered topics such as course selection, financial aid and admissions,
learning about admissions and financial aid to get into these ivy league schools because financial aid is very important to me to earn the education I want and be able to afford it,” said Cruz. Now that she’s more informed, Cruz believes her chances of getting into an ivy league have improved, “After learning about what they’re looking for in admissions and how their financial aid will help me out, I think I have a better chance of entering and attending one of these schools,” Cruz said.
“Being from the Valley I never thought I’d have the opportunity to visit these colleges, and it just really opened my eyes and now I know I can The tour was organized in partnership make it to an Ivy League with GoCampusing, a premier college University.” tour company with years of experience Orlando Ochoa, PSJA Memorial Student
in conducting college tours all across the nation. Along with visiting the four universities, students also had the opportunity to explore Boston. Students were treated to the world famous Boscollege life, and extracurricular activ- ton Duck Tour which is conducted in a ities. Rebecca Cruz, a Weslaco East WWII style amphibious landing vehiHigh School student found the infor- cle. The tour ended with a ride into the mation on financial aid most helpful, Charles River for a breathtaking view of “My favorite part of the whole trip was the Boston and Cambridge skylines.
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Cohort IV now forming...
• 3 Year Master’s Program in partnership with Harvard University Extension School • Mathematics for Teaching Program • Cohort Learning Model • Summer Residency at Harvard University • Classes Begin January 2016 WWW.TXGRADCENTER.ORG
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H A RVA R D SUMMER SCHOOL
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his year’s summer residency was a special one. The Texas Graduate Center (TGC) added a third cohort this year which meant 22 teachers from the Rio Grande Valley traveled to Cambridge for their summer residency, the most TGC has ever sent. This is also the final summer for Cohort I; by the end of the summer they will have completed their Math for Teaching Program. The next time they travel to Cambridge will be for their Harvard Commencement. To celebrate Cohort I’s accomplishments, TGC hosted a special dinner in their honor. All three cohorts were in attendance as well as Andy Engelward, Director of the Math for Teaching Program at Harvard University Extension School. Cohort I was presented with a special gift on behalf of the TGC. Dr. Mary Alice Reyes, Executive Director of TGC, recognized their accomplishment Written by Adriana V. Lopez with a congratulatory toast, “Thank you for being such an amazing group of people. We’re going to miss you so much. And thank you for being out in the schools making a difference, doing great things for our kids and trying to change the system.” She also thanked Dr. Engelward for being an integral part of the success of Cohort I and for his continued support of the Texas Graduate Center.
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Andy Engelward, Director of the Math for Teaching Graduate Program at Harvard University Extension School with Cohort I members. Members of Cohort II and Cohort III in Cambridge, MA Thania Chapa, Cohort III member, at the famous John Harvard statue Rey Jope, Cohort II member, Cambridge, MA Crystal Chagoya and Queen Martin, Cohort II members and Juan Barrera , Cohort I member, with Harvard Professor Otto Bretscher. Cohort II and Cohort III members with Harvard Professor Graeme Bird Homer Colunga, Cohort II member, Cambridge, MA
“I enjoyed the summer and all it has taught me. I cannot wait to bring back and share everything I have learned with my students and co-workers. I’m grateful for the opportunity the TGC has given me.” Juan Barerra Cohort I PSJA isd Mathematics teacher Dr. Engelward had some special words for the group as well, acknowledging not only Cohort I’s efforts but Dr. Reyes’ as well, “There’s no question that you are beneficiaries of someone with an amazing amount of energy and vision in the things that she does,” said Engelward. “But what really amazes me is the passion of what she does with all of you. She’s never lost that passion. It’s been years since we started Cohort I and every time I see Mary Alice, just listening to her right now congratulate you, reminds me that if it takes a village to raise a child, it takes a Mary Alice to raise all of us!” On the second day of their arrival, the group headed to Adams house to check into their dorms and prepare for classes. Adams house is named after the historical Adams family, including John Adams, the second president of the United States. Cohort’s I and II were familiar with the house; they stayed in the same house during last year’s residency. This year’s summer residency courses include MATH S-599 Math for Teaching Capstone; MATH S-323 Vectors: A Tool for Teaching Algebra, Geometry and Trigonometry; MATH S-301 Math for Teaching Number Theory; MATH S-318 Groups and Symmetry; MATH S-AR Precalculus.
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Written by: Adrianna V. Lopez
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he Texas Graduate Center, in partnership with La Joya ISD, and The Organization of Women Executives, launched GEM Camp for a second year this summer. Girls Engaged in Mathematics is a math camp focused on improving girls’ ability and confidence in math. Dr. Alda Benavides, La Joya ISD superintendent, initiated the creation of GEM Camp when she expressed an interest in preparing the districts young girls to have greater confidence and skill in mathematics. With the support from Texas Valley Communities Foundation, a local non-profit organization with a mission to further education in South Texas, her vision was realized. This year’s camp focused on rising 3rd and 4th grade girls. This year’s camp saw the return of all three teachers from last summer’s camp. Irene Vega, La Joya ISD, Denise Rivas, MISD and Maribel Berrones, South Texas ISD were joined by returning university mentor Jocelyn Olmedo and first-year GEM mentors Pamela Matias and Ydana Gracia. The week-long camp focused on math
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content as well as building confidence in math and reducing math anxiety. Each morning, the girls participated in a Career Connection in which the girls were exposed to leading professionals in various STEM Careers such as architecture and robotics. The idea was to expose girls to careers in STEM and show them how math ties into each career. “ I love how the direction taken was one of architecture, robotics, medicine and forensic science instead of baking or fashion design,” said Vega “The idea that resonated with the young ladies was, anything is possible. It’s not just for boys!” Vega believes camps like GEM are essential for young ladies because it instills in them a sense of confidence and self worth, “Often times they fear math because they have struggled with it for so long. 14 | Texas Graduate Center
This camp proves to them that not only is math fun, but it is relevant in our everyday life. What we can do with math is amazing, but it’s imperative that we, as educators and role models get this message across.” One such role model was Pamela Matias, a GEM Mentor currently studying Biology at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. “For me, every morning meeting and lunch period, when all the girls were together, was the best part,” said Matias. “You can really see them learning to work together and how excited they were to be in GEM camp. They were always talking about what they did in the labs, which was a good sign that they were learning and also having fun,” added Matias. The 5-day camp culminated with a Pi Party to
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celebrate the girls’ progress and accomplishments. The Pi Party, a reference to the mathematical term “pi,” included refreshments and colorful boas for each guest. Accomplished female guest speakers addressed the audience and encouraged the girls to work hard and pursue careers in the area of STEM. This years speakers included Dalinda Alcantar, co-founder of Border Kids Code and board member for the RGV chapter of The Organization of Women Executives and Dr. Barbara Baggerly-Hinojosa, CEO of Leadership Empowerment Group, LLC and full time professor of leadership studies with the School of Business at Our Lady of the Lake University.
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Thank you to our MATHTEACH Collaborative Partners:
The Texas Graduate Center is a public-private initiative of the Texas Valley Communities Foundation. 16 | Texas Graduate Center