The Department of Curriculum and Instruction at Texas A&M University-Commerce, in collaboration with the region’s public schools, offers students an opportunity to learn the craft of teaching through field-based experiences in K-12 educational settings.
Our faculty is comprised of outstanding educators who have earned doctoral degrees from universities throughout the United States. In addition to publications in academic journals and presentations at professional educational conferences, many faculty have published textbooks and other professional material. But the greatest tribute to the faculty in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction is their continuing involvement, through our field-based programs, with the public school districts of Texas.
The department also teaches courses for the post-baccalaureate program for those with degrees in fields other than education.
LeoTeach Programs
Early Childhood Education Major with Certification in Early Childhood - 3rd Grade
The Bachelor of Science (BS) with a major in Early Childhood Education is a state approved degree program which prepare candidates to meet minimum academic requirements for the Texas Elementary Teaching Certificate EC-3. The degree program requires the completion of 123 hours. Early childhood is a unique developmental period, requiring specialized teacher strategies. This program will prepare you to be highly-qualified to help lay the critical foundation for cognitive, emotional, and physical growth.
The university reserves the right to change the curriculum or requirements for degrees or certificates to comply with state laws/regulations. The student assumes full responsibility for meeting all university requirements and for keeping current with all curriculum changes that might affect graduation and/or certification.
Education Major with Certification in Elementary & Middle Level Education
The Bachelor of Science in Education (BS) and Bachelor of Arts in Education (BA) degrees with a major in Education are the state approved degree programs which prepare candidates to meet minimum academic requirements for the Texas Elementary Teaching Certificate. The degree program requires the completion of a minimum of 120 semester hours (number of hours varies by program).
This outstanding program has won the Christa McAuliffe Showcase for Excellence Award from the American Association of State Colleges and Universities and other prestigious recognitions. Students spend the second half of their sophomore year and their junior year in education major courses that prepare teachers in the content of the elementary school curriculum and specializations such as math, science, math/science, social studies, English/language arts (4-8 grades) or EC-6 Core Subjects, or EC-6 Core Subjects with Bilingual or Special Education areas of emphasis. During the junior year, students begin professional development courses that incorporate 50 hours of field experience in public schools. During the senior year, students spend extended time working with a team of public school teachers and university faculty.
The university reserves the right to change the curriculum or requirements for degrees or certificates to comply with state laws/regulations. The student assumes full responsibility for meeting all university requirements and for keeping current with all curriculum changes that might affect graduation and/or certification.
Secondary and All-Level Education
The Department of Curriculum and Instruction offers undergraduate professional development courses for students seeking Secondary certification (7th/8th through 12th grades) or All Level certification (Early Childhood through 12th grades). Students major in a content-based teaching field while obtaining pedagogy and educational professional development course work through the Department of Curriculum and Instruction. The student should obtain advising from both the advisor in his or her major department and from a LeoTeach Advisor. Students with bachelor’s degrees who want to teach should consult the Graduate Catalog for requirements leading to certification.
Students seeking a bachelor’s degree along with teacher certification at the secondary level must complete all university requirements for the Bachelor of Science degree or Bachelor of Arts degree for the area of your major listed in the bachelor’s degree requirements section of this catalog, and any additional requirements established by the university.
The university reserves the right to change the curriculum or requirements for degrees or certificates to comply with state laws/regulations. The student assumes full responsibility for meeting all university requirements and for keeping current with all curriculum changes that might affect graduation and/or certification.
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Becky L. Adams
Clinical Instructor
B.B.A., M.Ed., East Texas State University.
Michele Anderson
Clinical Instructor
B.A., Ottawa University; M.A., George Washington University
David L. Brown
Professor
B.S., M.Ed., Ph.D. (Federation), East Texas State University.
Ana Castillo
Clinical Instructor
B.A., University of North Texas, M.Ed.; Southern Methodist University
Kamshia Childs
Assistant Professor
B.S., M.S., Kansas State University; Ph.D., Texas Southern University
Rhonda Clark
Clinical Instructor
B.A., Louisiana College; M.Ed., East Texas State University.
Sherri Colby
Professor
B.A., M.Ed., Ph.D., University of North Texas
Amy Corp
Associate Professor
B.S., Kennesaw State University; M.E.D., Texas A&M University-Commerce; Ed.D., Baylor University
Kathryn Dixon
Associate Professor
B.S., University of Texas at Austin; M.P.H., University of North Texas Health Science Center; Ph.D., University of North Texas
Jennifer Dyer
Professor
B.A., University of North Texas; M.E.D., Texas AM University-Commerce; Ph.D., Ohio State University.
Melanie Fields
Assistant Professor & Interim Department Head
B.S., M.Ed., Texas A&M University-Commerce; Ph.D., University of North Texas
Kay Hong-Nam
Professor
B.S., Konkuk University; M.L.S., Texas Woman’s University; Ph.D., University of North Texas
Janet Kimbriel
Clinical Instructor
B.S., SUNY College at Fredonia; M.Ed., San Diego State University
Melanie Loewenstein
Assistant Professor
B.S., University of North Texas; M.Ed., Texas A&M University – Commerce; Ph.D, Texas Woman’s University
Shannon Manley
Clinical Instructor
B.S., M.Ed., Texas A&M University-Commercee
Donna McCrary
Associate Professor
B.S., Texas Tech University; M.S., Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary; Ph.D., University of North Texas.
Joyce E. Miller
Professor
B.A., M.Ed., Ph.D., University of North Texas.
Karyn Miller
Assistant Professor
B.A., Colorado College; M.S., Pace University; Ph.D., Michigan State University
Julie Mills
Assistant Professor
B.S. MEd. Texas A&M University-Commerce; Ph.D. University of North Texas
Lindsay Morgan
Clinical Instructor
B.S., M.Ed., West Texas A&M University; Ed.D., Tarleton State University
Tami Morton
Professor and Assistant Department Head
BA., University of Virginia, Master of Teaching, University of Virginia, Ph.D., University of North Texas
Gilbert L. Naizer
Professor
B.S., M.Ed., Ph.D., Texas A&M University.
Kristan N. Pearce
Assistant Professor
B.S., M.A.T., The University of Arkansas at Fayetteville; Ph.D., The University of Oklahoma at Tulsa
Julia Persky
Assistant Professor
B.S., Houston Baptist University; M.Ed., Texas A&M University-Commerce; Ph.D, Texas A&M University
Carol Revelle
Assistant Professor
B.A., Augusta State University; M.Ed., Ph.D., University of North Texas
Becky Sinclair
Professor
B.S., Texas A&M University; MAT, University of Texas at Dallas; Ph.D., Curtin University of Technology
Laura Slay
Assistant Professor
B.A., Hiram College; M.Ed., Baylor University; Ph.D., University of North Texas
Bonnie Still
Assistant Professional Track
BEEd., Ed.D. Texas A&M University-Commerce; MEd. Grand Canyon University
Josh Thompson
Professor
B.M., Trinity University; M.Ed., Dallas Baptist University; Ph.D., University of Texas-Arlington.
Susan Williams
Assistant Professor Professional Track and Director of AM-Commerce; Mesquite ISD Partnership
B.S., Stephen F. Austin; M.S., Texas AM University-Commerce, Ed.D., Texas AM University-Commerce