(John is doing great work to help organize Democratic activists for the two State Board of Education elections in Travis County in November 2010. Get involved early and help make a difference! - promoted by Katherine Haenschen)
State Board of Education Forums at Yarborough
For Saturday May 2, 11:45-1:15 pm
"Why You Should Care about the State Board of Education"
Julie Cowan is the proud mother of three Anderson high school students. She has served as PTA president at Anderson High School (currently), Murchison Middle School, and Doss Elementary School. She has served AISD in numerous capacities, most recently participating on the 2008 Citizens' Bond Advisory Committee, 2007 Middle School Strategic Planning Task Force, and 2007 and 2008 Budget Committees. In addition to supporting public education, Julie served the Travis County Medical Alliance as president. A graduate of Southern Methodist University, Julie has a BA in Political Science, a BFA in Public Relations, and a Texas Teaching Certificate. Julie is married to Dr. Rob Cowan, a board certified OB/Gyn.
Alana Morris works in K-12 public education in suburban Houston. Her over twenty years of public school experience in Texas, includes work both as a classroom teacher and as a district-literacy specialist. She is author of Vocabulary Unplugged, and past president of both the Texas Council of Teachers of English Language and the Coalition of Reading and English Supervisors of Texas. Alana was appointed by the SBOE as a work-group specialist for the most recent revisions of TEKS for English Language Arts and Reading. This service led her to testify before the SBOE, and got her fired up enough to testify before both education committees of the Texas legislature. Because of their leadership, Alana and two colleagues were given an Intellectual Freedom award from the National Council of Teachers of English.
Dr. Ronald Wetherington is professor of anthropology, and director of the Center for Teaching Excellence at Southern Methodist University. He received a B.A. in zoology from Texas Tech and an M.A. and Ph.D. in anthropology from the University of Michigan. In the Spring of 2009 he served as one of six special science advisors to our State Board of Education. The Texas Freedom Network gave its 2009 Grassroots Hero Award to Dr. Wetherington, saying that he is :a "dedicated individual who exemplifies Texas Freedom Network's work to Stand Up for Science", and adding that "whether working behind the scenes to patiently educate board members or in front of the cameras making a vocal case for science standards free from creationist ideology, Dr. Wetherington has worked tirelessly to ensure Texas students have a rigorous science curriculum that will prepare them for the 21st century."
Forums are at Yarborough Public Library, 2200 Hancock Dr., Austin, TX 78756, on the first Saturdays of each month from February-November, 2009, except for July and September when the library is closed for holidays. Forums are always from 11:45am - 1:15pm. All forums are free, and open to the public.
Coming in August: Laura Ewing(D) from Galveston county, and Patricia Hardy(R) from Tarrant county on "What You Should Know Before You Run for the State Board of Education". Each has run for the SBOE, where Ms. Hardy represents SBOE-11.
For more information, contact John Keohane keohane@prodigy.net (512) 371-3853
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