PRISE Scholars

PRISE Scholars:

The PRISE Research team is comprised of principal investigators, post-doctoral graduate research fellows, advisory board members and scholars. PRISE Scholars are highly motivated high school science teachers and/or science supervisors who are selected to come to Texas A&M University to join the PRISE Research Team while pursuing full-time doctoral degrees.

• T. Dane Bozeman

(M.Ed. Texas A&M University) Dane comes to us from West Texas where he taught high school science and mathematics in both public and parochial settings. Dane has also owned his own business and worked in a variety of fields from construction to dog-training. In his leisure time, Dane writes classical and popular music for guitar, producing four albums in the past 13 years. Dane’s research interests include statewide education policies, the role of categorical data analysis techniques in education research, and the effect of student enrollment issues upon science teacher professional decisions.

• Toni Ivey

(M.Ed. Texas A&M University) Toni comes to us from MacArthur High School where she taught IPC, Chemistry, and Physics for 3 years. There she gained knowledge of teaching in large urban schools, teaching diverse populations, most with low socio-economic status. Prior to MacArthur, she taught as a graduate assistant for physical geology and geological field methods courses. Her research interests include science teacher education, science teaching and learning, and education policy.

• Jane Metty

(M.S. Texas A&M University) Jane is a doctoral student in Curriculum Instruction, with an emphasis in science education. She brings over 25 years of science teaching experience to the PRISE project. She has collaborated with scientists to bring authentic science experiences into the classroom. Her interests are: the structure of the learning environment, science as inquiry, and bridging the gap between how science is done and how it is taught. • Ra’sheedah Richardson

(M.Ed., Texas A&M University) Ra’sheedah is a doctoral student in Curriculum and Instruction. Her decade of experience in science and science education include work as a biology Research Technician studying regulatory genes in E.coli and curriculum designer of the website Stepping into Biotechnology. Ra’sheedah received her teacher certification in biology in 2003. Her current interests include the development of instructional strategies emphasizing authentic science and specialization of school recruitment practices for science teachers.

• Susan Troncoso-Skidmore

(B.A. Texas A&M University) Susan is a Masters Candidate for 2007 and has been accepted as a doctoral student in Curriculum and Instruction. Susan Skidmore has over a decade of experience teaching science in public high schools. Prior to beginning her teaching career, Susan enjoyed working in various laboratories including Soil Analytical Inc., Food Protein R&D Center, and the Department of Animal Science, Beef Cattle, at Texas A&M University. Her research interests include professional commitment, reflective practitioners, chemistry education and environments that support science teacher’s growth.

• Robert Wilson

(B.S. Sam Houston University) Robert is currently a Masters Candidate and has been accepted as a Doctoral student in Curriculum and Instruction. He spent eleven years presenting science education to children of all ages in both private and public school settings. His experience spans from teaching science to pre-school children to teaching physical and life science to junior high students. Through his own passion for science education and use of technology in his classrooms, he actively engaged students of all ages in scientific learning. His research interests lie in the realm of informal science.