What is the TEACH Program?
The TEACH (Teaching Effectiveness And Career enHancement) Program, which is modeled after the national Preparing Future Faculty movement, is geared toward Ph.D. students with teaching appointments. The TEACH program assists graduate students in further developing teaching skills and exploring faculty roles on a college or university campus. Past TEACH fellows estimate that the program required 30 – 40 hours per semester for workshop attendance, videotaping, project work with a faculty mentor, and other program activities. Fellows selected for this program are paid a $500 stipend per semester for their active participation. Many departments at Texas Tech currently offer their TAs excellent opportunities for development and training. The TEACH program does not replace those programs in any way, rather it seeks to supplement their efforts.
TEACH Program Goals
The TEACH program offers individualized attention from consultants who specialize in pedagogical development and faculty mentors who are committed to teaching excellence. The program provides a myriad of opportunities for self-reflection through workshop participation, videotape observation, Small Group Instructional Diagnosis (SGID), SoTL research, independent projects, and the development of a teaching portfolio. Through these experiences, each successful fellow can expect to:
- Identify and apply new instructional strategies to improve student learning in his/her courses;
- Acquire knowledge, develop skills, and prepare documents to facilitate the transition to a career in academia; and
- Develop relationships with university faculty, staff, and peers to maintain a spirit of collegiality in the pursuit of professional development.
TEACH Staff
Suzanne Tapp, M.A.
TLTC Assistant Director
Suzanne has been with the TLTC since its humble beginnings in the library basement years ago. She now serves as the TLTC Assistant Director directing TLTC programming and continuing to work as a faculty and graduate student development consultant. She loves attending classes around campus and talking practically about what works well in the classroom from both the student and faculty perspectives. Her research interests include classroom management strategies, teaching portfolio development, and instructor perception of classroom evaluation. She is the incoming chair of the Texas Faculty Development Network and is also active in the Professional and Organizational Development Network in Higher Education (POD). When Suzanne isn’t running around the TLTC, she’s trying to catch up with her busy family and keep their chocolate Labrador from eating their pet toads.
|
Allison Boye, Ph.D.
TEACH Program Director
Allison serves as director of the TEACH program and enjoys working one-on-one with doctoral students and faculty members to offer insights on effective teaching. She also provides consultation services for teaching philosophy statements and portfolios, leads the Faculty Book Club, and assists with the organization and facilitation of teaching and learning conferences and workshops. Some of her research interests include writing across the curriculum, classroom management, and active learning. Allison earned her B.A. from William and Mary, her M.A. from Bowling Green, and her Ph.D. in English from Texas Tech, specializing in contemporary American literature, Women’s Studies, and Cultural Studies. Her work examining the intersection of whiteness and the female body is currently under consideration for book publication. Allison has won a number of honors for scholarship and writing, including membership in Phi Beta Kappa, and has published both scholarly and creative pieces. In her free time she can be found voraciously reading and writing mysteries, watching The Office, or ballroom dancing.
|
David Forrest, Ph.D.
TEACH Program Consultant
David has a passion for the teaching/learning process. As a TEACH consultant he encourages TEACH fellows to reflect on their teaching and prepare for faculty interviews. He enjoys discussing various instructional strategies and cultural considerations in the university classroom.David holds a Ph.D in Fine Arts, a M.M in choral conducting and B.M in Music Education, all from Texas Tech. David has taught Music Theory, aural skills and choir at the high school and univeristy level. He currently conducts the music program at Forrest Heights United Methodist Church. David's research interests include learning styles, aural skills pedagogy and Schenkerian music analysis. David currently sits on the program committee for the South Central Society for Music Theory. The spring 2010 issue of Music Theory Spectrum will feature an article by David entitled, "Prolongation in the Choral Music of Benjamin Britten." You can often find David at the park or the pool with his wife and three-year-old daughter.
|
Mekiva Callahan, M.Ed.
TEACH Program Consultant
As a TEACH Program Consultant, Mekiva works with graduate students to provide them with the information and support they need to become better classroom instructors. She enjoys visiting classes and offering feedback thay will positively impact their teaching anfd increase student success.Currently, her research interests focus on student motivation. Mekiva earned a B.A from the University of Texas at Austin and a M.Ed .in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Houston. She has over ten years of experience in education on both the secondary and post-secondary levels. Some of her favorite pastimes include running,watching major sporting events, and spending time with family and friends.
|