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Teacher teaching elementary student on a computer

Building on longtime strengths, TXST breaks new ground in improving the educational field for students and educators

December 18, 2024
Rodney Crouther

From its founding as a training school for teachers, education has been at the core of Texas State University’s mission. This mission has grown along with the university as the College of Education flexes its research expertise to meet the demands of a rapidly changing educational landscape.

“Our researchers are looking at the long-term needs in education—issues that have been intractable,” said Michael O’Malley, dean of the College of Education.

That includes research on topics such as reading and education for youth with dyslexia, improving services for kids with autism, and expanding access to and resources for STEM education.

male kneeling next to small table helping young child with her classwork

Texas State is also working to address the teacher shortage plaguing communities coast to coast. In rural Texas, for example, almost 75% of new teachers hired in 2023–24 were unlicensed, up from 17% in 2013–14.

“We have researchers looking at teacher workforce development,” O’Malley said. “What does it take to remove barriers and place what we call ‘day one ready’ teachers in more classrooms?”

TXST placed 117 undergraduate “teacher residents” in Texas public schools this year for yearlong residencies. It’s an approach designed to offer more experience and field-based preparation than typical one-semester student teaching programs, O’Malley said. This group of teacher residents has been funded at almost $2 million.

Our researchers are looking at the long-term needs in education — issues that have been intractable.

Michael O'Malley
Dean, College of Education

On the research front, TXST’s work has attracted millions of dollars in grant funding in recent years.

Dr. Jim Van Overschelde and Dr. Minda López, faculty in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction and co-founders of the Research for EDucator Equity & Excellence Collaborative, have received grants totaling $2.7 million to study ways to improve the quantity, quality, and diversity of future teachers.

Dr. Shetay Ashford-Hanserd, chair and associate professor in the Department of Organization, Workforce, and Leadership Studies, is leading a $4.9 million National Science Foundation grant-funded effort to leverage community and faith-based organizations to increase participation in STEM+C (Computer) education for historically underrepresented minorities and women.

In the Department of Agricultural Sciences, Dr. Doug Morrish received a $5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture/National Institute of Food and Agriculture for a workforce preparation program. The project aims to provide hands-on learning activities, scholarships, and paid internships to build a highly qualified food, agriculture, natural resources, and human sciences workforce.

In Round Rock, the Texas State Round Rock Campus has received a total of $2.5 million in federal funding for the STEM-for-All Partnership and Research Initiative. Dr. Leslie Huling, a professor of Curriculum and Instruction and executive director of the LBJ Institute for STEM Education and Research, is overseeing the initiative, which includes a study of the region’s current and future workforce needs to identify gaps and to promote collaborative planning to better meet those needs.

“It’s incredibly important to study the processes, the environments, the structures and systems that help students learn and thrive. We need to continuously improve education, how teachers teach and how students learn."

Dr. Carlton Fong, an associate professor who studies postsecondary student success, leads and collaborates on a variety of sponsored research projects aimed at improving outcomes for college undergraduate and graduate level students. He said continued support for education research is crucial to giving future students their best chance to succeed.

A student working out math formulas on a white board at Alkek Library.
TXST student working at Alkek Library.

With Dr. Taylor Acee, a professor in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction, Fong is working on an NSF-funded study of the impact of psychosocial factors on students’ success in math. Fong is also working on a study funded by the National Institutes of Health to investigate whether targeted interventions promoting student agency and engagement can lead to sustained success in science courses for underrepresented undergraduate students.

“It’s incredibly important to study the processes, the environments, the structures and systems that help students learn and thrive,” Fong said. “We need to continuously improve education, how teachers teach and how students learn, not only for a democratic society, but for an equitable society tomorrow.”

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Rodney Crouther

Rodney Crouther is the marketing brand writer for Texas State University. He provides content support across the various TXST Division of Marketing and Communications channels including social media, podcasts and Hillviews.