CEHD

Teacher Summit Speakers

Teacher Summit 2008 involves a slate of speakers committed to discovering why science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) careers are so critical to our future. Our speakers are committed to translating STEM into real world examples so teachers can absorb the latest research on preparing their students.


Karen L. Butler-Purry, Professor, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Karen L. Butler-Purry received her bachelor's degree (summa cum laude) in electrical engineering in 1985 from Southern University in Baton Rouge, LA. She was awarded her master's degree in 1987 from the University of Texas at Austin. She was awarded her doctorate in electrical engineering in 1994 from Howard University, Washington, D.C. She joined Texas A&M University in 1994, where she currently serves as a professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.

Her research interests are in the areas of distribution automation and intelligent systems for power quality, equipment deterioration and fault diagnosis.

Dr. Butler-Purry is a member of the Power Engineering Society, the American Society for Engineering Education and the Louisiana Engineering Society. She is a registered professional engineer in the states of Louisiana, Texas and Mississippi. She received the National Science Foundation Faculty Career Award (1995) and the Office of Naval Research Young Investigator Award (1999).


Mary Margaret Capraro, Associate Professor, Department of Teaching, Learning and Culture, College of Education and Human Development

Mary Margaret Capraro has been teaching Texas A&M University students since 2000 where she has been both a clinical assistant and clinical associate professor. She is now an assistant professor who is continuing her commitment to teaching Aggie graduate students.

She is an expert in elementary mathematics and plays an important role in conducting research and recruiting master's level students. Dr. Capraro received her bachelor's from Barry University in Miami, Florida, her master's from the University of Miami and her doctorate from the University of Southern Mississippi.


Robert Capraro, Associate Professor, Department of Teaching, Learning and Culture, College of Education and Human Development

Robert M. Capraro, is past associate editor of American Educational Research Journal (2004-2007) and associate editor of the journal for the School Science and Mathematics Association. He is also on the editorial boards of Middle Grades Research Journal and Research in Middle Level Education-Online. He is the author or co-author of 5 book chapters and 34 journal articles on mathematics education, quantitative research methods, and teacher education.

Dr. Capraro was selected as a minority scholar for 2007 by the Educational Testing Service and selected as president-elect and program chair for the Southwest Educational Research Association. In collaboration with two others faculty members in Education Administration and Engineering he recently was awarded a 1.2 million dollar grant from the Texas Education Agency to establish the North Texas Science, Technology, and Mathematics Center, and $349K for the New Traditions program.


Jalynn Chapman, Campus Technologist and Instructor, Waxahachie Global High School

Jalynn Chapman originally came to education from the business world. She received a bachelor of business administration degree in management from Texas A&M University in 1982.  She holds teaching certifications in vocational office education/business education, technology applications and technology education. She is also a certified technology coordinator.

Jalynn currently teaches computer applications at Waxahachie Global High where she serves as the campus technologist and sponsors the WGH Technology Students Association.   As a veteran teacher of 23 years, she has taught secondary computer and business education courses at Cedar Hill High School, Venus High School, and Maypearl High School. She also has served as district technology director for Maypearl ISD and district technology coordinator for Venus ISD.  She is currently working on a master of arts in learning and technology.


Karl Fisch, Director of Technology, Arapahoe High School in Centennial, Colorado

Karl Fisch has been a teacher for 19 years. He has taught middle and high school math and is currently Director of Technology at Arapahoe High School in Centennial, Colorado. He is the project leader of Arapahoe's Curriculum Innovation Team, leading the staff development efforts for 21st Century Learners, a group of teachers exploring constructivism and 21st century learning skills.


Deborah Floyd, Instructional Specialist, Conrad STEM Academy

Deborah is currently the STEM Grant Coordinator at the Conrad STEM Academy.  She brings experience in developing a small learning community in the STEM fields from her twelve years at the award-winning Science and Engineering Magnet in the Dallas Independent School District.  While there she was involved in many campus leadership positions.  She served on the 2005 No Child Left Behind Blue Ribbon Application Committee and went to Washington D. C. to accept the award on behalf of her school.  In the fall of 2006 she was a guest on the U. S. Department of Education program, Education News Parents Can Use, which emphasized the need for math and science education in the United States.

Deborah Floyd received a bachelor of science degree from Baylor University and a master of education degree from Texas A&M Commerce.  She is currently enrolled in a doctorate program in curriculum, instruction and supervision at Texas A&M Commerce.


Brian Hatak, Chemistry and Astronomy Teacher, Arapahoe High School in Centennial, Colorado

Brian Hatak has been a teacher at Arapahoe High School for nine years and currently teaches Chemistry, A.P. Chemistry and Astronomy. He is a member of the Curriculum Innovation Team and a participant in the first cohort of 21st Century Learners.



Mark Holtzapple, Professor, Department of Chemical Engineering, Dwight Look College of Engineering

Mark Holtzapple is a professor of Chemical Engineering at Texas A&M University, where he has taught and performed research for over 22 years.  As a passionate teacher, he has won numerous teaching awards offered by Texas A&M University, including the Former Students Teaching Award.

Dr. Holtzapple is equally passionate about his research, which he uses to highlight his classroom teaching. His research interests are broad, and include the following: fuels and chemicals from biomass, feed and food processing, water desalination, high-efficiency engines and air conditioners, and vertical-lift aircraft.  His research has been recognized by national awards including the Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award, the McGraw- Hill Environmental Champion Award, and the Sigma Xi Walston Chubb Award for Innovation.


Carla Hoyer, Science Teacher, Houston, Texas

Carla Hoyer has been a science teacher with the Houston Independent School District since 2000. Her most recent presentations include a week-long summer ecology workshop as well as Understanding Climate Change: Student Experiments, Manipulative-Assisted Chemical Formula Writing, and Chemistry Made Comprehensible.

Carla earned a bachelor's in polymer science from the University of Southern Mississippi, completed graduate studies in chemistry at Rice University in Houston.


April Moon, Engineering Instructor, Waxahachie Global High School

April Moon teaches engineering at Waxahachie Global High.  She graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from Texas A&M.  After college, she worked for Accenture in telecommunications, project management, process development, and then cost recovery.  In 2006, she changed careers and spent the next year serving on a planning team to prepare for the opening of Waxahachie Global High, a new T-STEM Academy that is part of the Texas High School Project initiative.  Now, she leads their engineering program and currently teaches Introduction to Engineering Design in conjunction with Project Lead the Way. She also serves as sponsor for Global High's Technology Student Association chapter.


Jim Morgan, Associate Professor, Zachry Department of Civil Engineering, Dwight Look College of Engineering

Jim Morgan is an associate professor of civil engineering at Texas A&M University. Jim has been with Texas A&M University for more than 25 years and has been active with the freshman engineering program for more than 15 years. He was an active participant in the National Science Foundation (NSF) Coalition from 1993 to 2003 and has received funding for his engineering education research from the Department of Education FIPSE program and from the NSF CCLI program. He is the chair of the Freshman Chairs Programs Division and currently serves on the executive board of the Educational Research Methods and Freshman Programs divisions of the American Society for Engineering Education.  In addition to his teaching in engineering, Jim currently serves the co-principal investigator for the North Texas Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics Center at Texas A&M University. He has conducted workshops at Texas A&M University, and at various other universities, on teaming and active learning. He earned his bachelor's, master's and doctorate degrees in civil engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign.  His research interests include structural dynamics, earthquake engineering, and engineering education.

Tim Scott, Associate Dean for Undergraduate Programs, College of Science

Tim Scott is Associate Dean for Undergraduate Programs in the College of Science at Texas A&M University.  He holds faculty appointments in the biology department at Texas A&M and in the Department of Human Anatomy and Medical Neurobiology at the College of Medicine in the Texas A&M University System Health Science Center.  He also serves as a co-director of the Center for Mathematics and Science Education in the College of Science at Texas A&M University.  

In addition to these duties, Dr. Scott serves as a co-principal investigator for the Texas Collaborative for Excellence in Teacher Preparation, a five year National Science Foundation (NSF) grant.  Through this grant, Dr. Scott constructed the university's Math and Science Scholars (M.A.S.S.) Program to address the shortage of teachers in Mathematics and Science.  He serves as assistant director of the NSF funded Information Technology in Science Center for Teaching and Learning, a center shared by the College of Science and the College of Education and Human Development at Texas A&M University.  He is also a co-principal investigator on a Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Talent Expansion Program and a Teacher Professional Continuum Grant from the National Science Foundation.  

Dr. Scott has contributed to mathematics and science education projects that have been awarded over $20 million of external funding.  He has been involved in both State of Texas Mathematics and Science Initiatives and assisted with oversight of biology and science textbook review processes.


Jim Scheurich, Head and Professor, Department of Educational Administration and Human Resource Development, College of Education and Human Development

Jim Scheurich is a professor and head of the Department of Educational Administration and Human Resource Development at Texas A&M University.  His research interests include equity in education, schools that are successful with diverse and low-income students, educational accountability, and qualitative research methodologies.  He is the editor of a research journal, serves on editorial boards of several research journals, has written over 35 articles for research journals, and has published five books. He has served on several committees for national research organizations and is currently on the Executive Committee for one. 

In 2006, he received the Master Professor Award from one of these national organizations for helping prepare so many successful young professors in his research field, and he is a 2008 nominee for President of the American Educational Research Association (AERA).  Finally, as a professor, he has raised over $5 million in grants and contracts.


F. Michael Speed, Professor, Department of Statistics

Professor Michael Speed is the Director of Online Learning in the Department of Statistics at Texas A&M University. Mike's research interests are in the fields of linear models and the use of technology in the classroom. As the Associate Dean of Technology Mediated Instruction in the College of Science, he assists the university faculty in improving the learning environment by using technology.

Mike has considerable consulting experience, principally in the application of statistical methods to business, environmental and ecological data. He consults with state and federal agencies as well as individuals and corporations.

In 2006, Mike was named a fellow of the American Statistical Association. He received the Shewell and the Jack Youden awards as well as the H. O. Hartley and the W.S. Connor awards. As a NASA engineer, he received the Sustained Superior Performance Award in 1969.

In addition to the usual service activities to the statistical profession, Mike has been very active in the civic and business community. He has held public offices and has worked on committees at the local, state and national levels. Michael holds a bachelor's and a master's degree from St. Mary's University in San Antonio and a doctorate from Texas A&M University.


Jennifer Stitt, GIS/CAD Teacher, Emmett Conrad High School, Dallas, Texas

Jennifer is an integral part of the science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) program at Emmett Conrad High School. She has been with the school for nearly two years after leaving a successful career in geographical information systems (GIS). She loves teaching and watching the children in her class learn about the world. Having come from industry, she believes it is important to recruit others from industry to teach - they have a different perspective on the professional needs of the world and are invaluable to the education of our future.

Jennifer loves having a niche in teaching. GIS enhances spatial literacy, and through improved spatial literacy, students perform better in math, English, science and social studies. Jennifer earned her bachelor's degree in geology with an emphasis in GIS from Texas Tech University.


Winfried Teizer, Associate Professor of Physics, Materials Science and Engineering, College of Science


Special remarks to be made by:

G. Kemble Bennett, Vice Chancellor and Dean of Engineering, The Texas A&M University System

G. Kemble Bennett is Vice Chancellor and Dean of Engineering for The Texas A&M University System. As Vice Chancellor for Engineering, he coordinates engineering academic and research programs at universities throughout the A&M System and administers research programs and extension services of three state agencies: the Texas Engineering Experiment Station (TEES), the Texas Engineering Extension Service (TEEX), and the Texas Transportation Institute (TTI).  As Dean of the Dwight Look College of Engineering, he heads one of the largest and highest ranked engineering colleges in the nation.
 
Dr. Bennett joined the Texas A&M Engineering Program in 1986 where he has held several leadership positions and is holder of the Harold J. Haynes Dean's Chair Professorship.

An elected Fellow of both the Society of Logistics Engineers and the Institute of Industrial Engineers, he has been honored with the Eccles Medal and the Albert G. Holzman Award. Dr. Bennett was named an Eminent Engineer by Tau Beta Pi and named a Distinguished Engineer by the College of Engineering at Texas Tech University. A registered professional engineer, he was appointed by Governor Rick Perry to a six-year term with the Texas Board of Professional Engineers.  He also is serving a four-year term as chair of the FEMA National Advisory Council.

He received his bachelor's degree from Florida State University, master's degree from San Jose State University and doctorate degree from Texas Tech University.


Jo Howze, Associate Dean for Academic Programs, Dwight Look College of Engineering

Jo W. Howze received his both a bachelor of arts and a bachelor of science in mechanical engineering and his doctorate in electrical engineering from Rice University in 1965, 1966 and 1970 respectively.  In 1966, he worked as a production engineer for Shell Oil Company in New Orleans, and following his graduation in 1970 he held a teaching and research position with the Catholic University in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, under the auspices of the Organization of American States. 

In 1972, he joined the Department of Electrical Engineering at Texas A&M University as an assistant professor.  He became department head in 1984, a post he held until 1992 when he returned to teaching and research.  His professional interests include control systems, systems modeling, hybrid vehicles, engineering design, distributed energy systems and engineering education.  He was appointed Ford Motor Company Professor of Electrical Engineering in 1999.

In 2002, he was appointed Associate Dean for Engineering Academic Programs at Texas A&M and Assistant Director of the Texas Engineering Experiment Station.  He is currently Senior Associate Dean for Engineering Academic Programs, and is responsible for oversight and new enhancement initiatives associated with the undergraduate and graduate academic programs, including recruitment, retention and enrichment programs, as well as freshman engineering and design across the curriculum.


Cesar Malave, Associate Dean for Recruitment and International Programs, Dwight Look College of Engineering

Dr. César O. Malavé is the associate dean for Recruitment and International Programs at Texas A&M University.  He has taught in the Department of Industrial Engineering since 1987.  Dr. Malavé's current research interests are on process and production planning for electronic assembly.  He teaches graduate courses and conducts research in the area of manufacturing systems modeling and control. At the undergraduate level, Dr. Malavé has taught the freshman introductory course in fundamentals of engineering, engineering economy, manufacturing operations analysis, and robotics. 

He was the Texas A&M principal investigator on an NSF Coalition Foundation grant, the objective of which is the redesign of engineering curriculum for undergraduates.  The main thrusts of the Foundation Coalition are integration of subject matter, active/collaborative learning, teaming, and continuous improvement through assessment and evaluation.  Dr. Malavé is a member of the ASEE and IIE. 

In his capacity as Assistant Dean for Recruitment and International Programs in the Dwight look College of Engineering, Dr. Malavé is responsible for the recruitment of students to the College and leads engineering efforts in Study Abroad Programs, international agreements and the Qatar campus.


H. Joseph Newton, Dean, College of Science

Joe Newton, who joined the Texas A&M faculty in 1978, has served as dean of the College of Science and holder of the Richard H. Harrison III/External Advisory & Development Council Endowed Dean's Chair in Science since July 2002. Prior to that appointment, he spent two years as interim dean, two years as executive associate dean and eight years as head of the Department of Statistics.

A native of Syracuse, New York, Dr. Newton holds a doctorate in statistical sciences and a master of arts in statistics from the State University of New York (SUNY) in Buffalo. He earned his bachelor of science in mathematics from Niagara University.

He is the author of numerous research articles and two books in the areas of time series analysis, computational statistics and technology-mediated instruction. Elected a Fellow of the American Statistical Association in 1995, he currently serves as American co-editor of Computational Statistics and as editor of The Stata Journal.


Doug Palmer, Dean, College of Education and Human Development

Douglas J. Palmer is dean of Texas A&M University's College of Education and Human Development in May 2006. Experienced in international education, Dr. Palmer is director of a collaborative teacher preparation project in Qatar that is funded by the State of Qatar.  This program has been developed and is being implemented by faculty in Texas A&M's College of Education and Human Development with faculty colleagues at The University of Qatar. 

Prior to serving as the college's dean, Dr. Palmer was executive associate dean and, before that, head of the Department of Educational Psychology. He joined the faculty in 1977 and was promoted to professor in 1988 and holds the Sydney and J.L. Huffines '44 Endowed Chair.

Dr. Palmer's research, grant and contract activities have brought nearly $19 million toward the preparation and training of leadership personnel in areas such as school psychology, special education, Hispanic children with disabilities and special education for culturally diverse populations.

He received his master's and doctorate from the University of California, Los Angeles, and his bachelor's from California State University.