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Janice Nath Chairs a Consortium Critical to Texas Education

Never let it be said that the University of Houston-Downtown lags in its support of education in Texas.   The proof of the pudding can be seen in the ongoing efforts of Urban Education faculty members for the Consortium of State Organizations for Texas Teacher Education (CSOTTE).   CSOTTE is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the continued support and refinement of preparation and development programs for certificated school personnel in Texas.   To learn more about its purpose and activities, check out the consortium's web site, www.csotte.org.

This year, UH-Downtown Associate Professor Janice Nath has taken on the honor (and hard work) of chairing CSOTTE.    Her tenure on the Executive Board will help to promote quality programs in teacher education.   She comes to the consortium from her work with member organization Texas Coordinators for Teacher Certification Testing (TCTCT), where she has served in many capacities including President, Past President, and (presently) Treasurer.   Her broad experience will benefit CSOTTE as it works toward its goals.

One of the roles of CSOTTE is to bring the various teacher organizations together at the CSOTTE annual conference.   Nath's goal for the conference was "to create the best possible forum to encourage communication among members and between state entities, provide excellent research, and to work together to enhance teacher preparation throughout our state." 

Nath will be aided by another UH-Downtown associate professor presently on the CSOTTE board, Jane Thielemann.   Thielemann comes to CSOTTE from one of its member organizations, The Middle School Educator Preparation Association (MSEPA), where she presently serves as Vice President.   As an Executive Board member of CSOTTE, Thielemann helped plan the annual CSOTTE conference.

Two years ago, UH-Downtown Urban Education department chair Myrna Cohen also served as chair of CSOTTE.   She came to the consortium from the member organization Texas Directors of Field Experience, where she served as President in 2004-2005.   Cohen also worked with another member organization, the Texas Association of Teacher Educators (TATE), where she served as a board member and as editor of the Texas Association of Teacher Educators Journal.   In fact, she received the Ben E. Coody Distinguished Service Award from TATE in the fall of 2005.

CSOTTE has undoubtedly benefited from the energy and guidance of UH-Downtown Urban Education faculty.   Janice Nath has defined a clear-cut path for her remaining engagement with CSOTTE.   Her outlook for the remainder of the year is one of support and encouragement.

"I hope to work closely with our members to make the processes of becoming a quality teacher positive and smooth in a time of numerous changes," Nath says.  

UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON-DOWNTOWN
UH-Downtown is a public university of nearly 12,000 students, offering a wide variety of bachelor’s degrees, as well as master’s programs in criminal justice, professional writing, security management and teaching. One of four distinct universities in the UH System, Houston’s Downtown University is nationally recognized for its student diversity, wireless campus, outstanding academic opportunities and productive community partnerships. At UHD, the emphasis is on excellence in teaching and student success.

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