Officers

President

Jamie Flemmer

It is with great enthusiasm that I take this opportunity to introduce myself as the President of TCES, K-8.

I begin my fifteenth year in education during which time I have served the elementary community as a fourth-grade teacher, science facilitator, assistant principal, and elementary science coordinator. I am an active member of Science Teachers Association of Texas, National Science Teachers Association, and Metroplex Area Science Supervisors serving the DFW area. I look forward to serving as President of TCES alongside our Vice-President, Sheila Greene.

TCES brings with it a rich history that has served the K-8 community since 1984. The heart of TCES has always been communication among teachers across the state with a focus on student success. As some of you know, TCES has been working on some changes that include a quarterly newsletter, new mailing listserv, electronic collection of dues, and two levels of sponsorship for our organization. We will also begin a focused outreach to colleges and universities. Our vision is to be able to continue to provide our members with resources that support collaborative structures that lead to student success.

It is our hope that our new quarterly newsletters will assist in keeping you updated on topics such as education reform, TEKS streamlining, job opportunities, and professional learning opportunities that will impact your classrooms.

For those new to TCES and those that have been members for some time, it is an exciting time to be a member of TCES! We look forward to seeing what the future holds.

Warm regards,

Jamie E. Flemmer, M.Ed

Frisco ISD Elementary Science Coordinator

txcouncilelementaryscience@gmail.com

Vice-President

Alan Small

Alan Small is a STEM Coordinator, Science Club organizer, dissection aficionado, biology teacher, bug eater, and fossil hunter. As the author of The Science Club Handbook, Alan supports the expansion of quality OST (out of school time) and informal science learning options for teachers and students, and is always on the lookout for ways to make classroom instruction more interesting and engaging.

Alan has been in education for over 23 years. After teaching science in all grades k-12, Alan now coordinates Castleberry ISDs STREAM and Coding program. Alan is an Eagle Scout, and has earned a Master's degree in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of North Texas.

Executive Board Secretary

Dawn-Nursick-Rubio

Dawn is a follower, wife, mother, leader, teacher, and scientist. She currently supports elementary science as a curriculum and instructional specialist in Arlington ISD. She has been supporting Pre K-6th Grade science for 8 years. Dawn previously served as a high school and junior high school science teacher. She works with 100's of elementary teachers to identify the science concepts and instructional strategies that students need the most.

Dawn says that she has benefited from the leadership of Dr. Ten Brink and TCES Learning Symposiums and is proud to promote the growth of the organization by serving as an officer and representing TCES at CAST.

Treasurer

Katie Braden

Katie graduated in 2000 from the University of North Texas with a 1st - 8th teaching certification. In addition, she also has 4th - 8th Science certification. Katie completed her Masters’ in Special Education in 2004 through Texas A&M-Commerce. She began teaching in August of 2000 in a large district in North Texas. Charged with 32 6th graders in a self-contained classroom arrangement, she soon realized the challenges facing elementary teachers. After eleven years in the classroom in 5th and 6th grades, Katie decided she wanted to try something new and began serving as an Instructional Technology Specialist. In 2015 an opportunity presented itself to move to the district level as an Elementary Science Coordinator. Katie states that she can’t imagine a better role for me. I’m in classrooms and with teachers and students working to improve our scientific literacy district-wide.

Media Specialist

Xavier DeRod Lewis

Katie graduated in 2000 from the University of North Texas with a 1st - 8th teaching certification. In addition, she also has 4th - 8th Science certification. Katie completed her Masters’ in Special Education in 2004 through Texas A&M-Commerce. She began teaching in August of 2000 in a large district in North Texas. Charged with 32 6th graders in a self-contained classroom arrangement, she soon realized the challenges facing elementary teachers. After eleven years in the classroom in 5th and 6th grades, Katie decided she wanted to try something new and began serving as an Instructional Technology Specialist. In 2015 an opportunity presented itself to move to the district level as an Elementary Science Coordinator. Katie states that she can’t imagine a better role for me. I’m in classrooms and with teachers and students working to improve our scientific literacy district-wide.

Pre-service Teacher Outreach Co-Chairs

Dr. Omah M. Williams-Duncan

Dr. Omah M. Williams-Duncan earned her Doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction, with an emphasis in Multicultural Education and Science Education, from Texas A&M University. She is an Assistant Professor in Curriculum and Instruction - STEM emphasis at the University of Houston-Clear Lake where she teaches undergraduate Science Methods for EC – 6 courses. Omah has experience as an elementary curriculum writer for Houston ISD and Region 4 Education Service Center, a state education service agency. She taught middle school science in grades 6 - 8. Her research interests include engagement and increased representation of underrepresented students in STEM and cross-cultural mentoring with pre- and in-service educators. She is a current member of TCES and NSTA.

Allison Burney

Allison's experience as a classroom teacher includes Kindergarten, 2nd grade, and 8th grade science in both public and private schools. She has written and aligned curriculum and been a textbook reviewer for the State among other leadership roles. Allison is currently working on my Ed.D. in Curriculum and Instruction at Texas A&M University, concentrating on determining the effectiveness of professional development focused on integrating computer science into early childhood curriculum. Her current adventure as Director of School Programs at the Perot Museum of Nature and Science in Dallas has her overseeing all school engagement at the Museum. School engagement includes field trips, on site and on campus programs, and professional development. Allison is able to work with teachers (pre- and in-service) and students from all over the DFW metroplex.

TCES Officers and Committee Members Expectations:

    • Must be a current member of TCES
    • Work as a collaborative team to serve the teachers of the TCES community
    • Promote the membership growth
    • Share TCES responsibilities at CAST (booth and presentations)
      • Ft. Worth-2018
      • Dallas-2019
    • Share TCES responsibilities with additional professional learning opportunities
    • Work as a team to produce the TCES quarterly newsletter and update the TCES website by submitting articles and/or information.

PAST PRESIDENT

Denise Fisher

Media Contributor

Gianna Colson

Gianna.Colson@gmail.com

Science Teacher

Gianna Colson is currently a teacher for 5th & 6th grade science at Dominguez Elementary in La Feria ISD, where she has been teaching for the last ten years. She was La Feria's District Teacher of the Year for the 2011-2012 school year. Gianna is the sponsor for her campus' Science Club which competes in Science Olympiad, codes with Google CS First and Scratch, and uses Project Ignite for 3D printing. Gianna places an emphasis on girls and Hispanics in science. Gianna received her M.Ed. in Elementary Education with an emphasis in Science from the University of Texas Pan American.

Recently, Gianna served on the Science TEKS Streamlining Committee representing District 2 for grades 6-8. Currently Gianna serves as the marketing chair for Texas Science Educational Leadership Association (TSELA), the treasurer for the Rio Grande Valley Science Association (RGVSA), and has been the workshops and short courses chair of the Conference for the Advancement of Science Teaching (CAST) for the past two years. Recently, Gianna served on the State Board of Education's Streamlining the Science TEKS committee as a 6th-8th grade representative.