Faculty Research
Due to the nature of CCEs work in West Dallas, research partnerships will focus on studies of the effects of early intervention on children, schools and families, and interventions that support improved academic, social, and language outcomes for English language learners and children in poverty.
CCE staff members are available to work with faculty to integrate research into the curriculum of a course or to assist with developing service-learning opportunities for undergraduates. CCE staff can also assist students with locating and evaluating sources of census and demographic information that will help them complete course assignments.
Current Projects:
The Metrics Project
Dr. Paul Yovanoff, Simmons School of Education and Human Development
Dr. Kyle Roberts, Simmons School of Education and Human Development
The Metrics Project works with the Dallas ISD research office to equip partners of The School Zone – currently 20+ not-for-profit agencies, 12 public schools in the Pinkston High School Feeder Pattern, and three non-traditional schools – with student data to enable them to measure the impact of their work, collectively and individually, on student academic performance, character development and quality of life.
Supporting Mathematics Instruction
Dr. Leanne Ketterlin-Geller, Simmons School of Education and Human Development
Dr. Yetunde Zannou, Simmons School of Education and Human Development
Lindsey Perry, Simmons School of Education and Human Development
SMU supports mathematics instruction in West Dallas schools in two ways:
- Middle School Students in Texas Algebra Ready (MSTAR): Research in Mathematics Education (RME) is using the MSTAR program to assist teachers with improving their instructional skills. It features professional development - the MSTAR Academy II - supported by ongoing coaching. RME will work with the Texas Education Agency (TEA) and Region 10 to secure MSTAR resources for participating teachers, including setting up an account with Project Share to enable data driven planning for each student. The project will provide resources to math teachers at Thomas Edison Middle Learning Center and Dallas Environmental Science Academy in West Dallas. Targeted professional development will also include training in the use of a universal screener to accurately measure student knowledge and skills in algebra.
- Professional development for teachers of mathematics in grades K-8: Research in Mathematics Education (RME) staff and faculty members will assist math teachers in two areas: 1) Instruction – teacher knowledge, teacher confidence and resources for instruction; and 2) Assessment – how to design tests, how to interpret tests and how to change instruction based on data gathered.
Supporting Reading Instruction
Dean David Chard, Simmons School of Education and Human Development
Dean Chard is working with one of The School Zone’s partners – Readers2Leaders – and the principal at George Washington Carver Learning Center to fully implement the I-Station Project to improve student reading skills, as well as teacher use of reading curricula.
Healthy West Dallas: Exercise Programs
Dr. Lynn Romejko Jacobs, Simmons School of Education and Human Development
Dr. Paul Yovanoff, Simmons School of Education and Human Development
SMU faculty members are providing an evaluation of the exercise programs at Uplift Education’s Heights Preparatory School in West Dallas to assist them in maximizing the impact of exercise on student academic performance. Upon completion of the evaluation, a set of improvements will be recommended.