Transition To Teaching Faculty

Transition to Teaching is proud to work with the following members of the University of Houston College of Education faculty.

Experience & Expertise

Dr. Eileen Westerman

Dr. Eileen R. Westerman is a Visiting Assistant Professor in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction. She is the Director of Field Experiences, the Director of the Internship Program as well as the Principal Investigator of the $ 2 million Transition to Teaching grant from the U.S. Department of Education.

Dr. Westerman’s research interests are related to her degrees in Gifted Education and Supervision, and Administration. She has written several book chapters for educational use on a wide range of topics. Dr. Westerman is actively involved with the Association for Teacher Educators, the largest national group of teacher educators. She also has had a presidential appointment to the Commission of High Stakes Testing and is the Chair for the Commission for the Educating the Whole Child.

Dr. Nicole Andrews

Dr. Andrews is an assistant professor in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction and is program lead for the Early Childhood Program Area. She serves as Co-Director on the Transition to Teaching grant from the U.S. Department of Education and has the responsibilities of curriculum development for the program.

Dr. Andrews’ research interests include children’s mathematics, specifically in spatial ability of young children. She is involved in developing instruments to measure spatial skills of young children. Additionally, Dr. Andrews focuses on the professional development of pre-service and inservice teachers.

Dr. Eugene Chiappetta

Dr. Chiappetta has been the lead researcher of numerous science textbook analysis studies published in leading science education research journals- focusing on the nature of science. He received the 2007 National Association for Research in Science Paper Award for “Examination of Science Textbook Analysis Research Conducted on Textbooks Published Over the Past 100 Years in the United States”.

Dr. Chiappetta is the Senior author of Science Instruction in the Middle and Secondary Schools by Chiappetta and Koballa (2006), which is the longest running science methods textbook in the nation. He is dedicated to teaching science methods in all disciplines, and serving the scientific education community at large.

Dr. W. Robert Houston

At the University of Houston, W. Robert Houston has served as Professor of Education (1970-present), Associate Dean of Education (1973-1991), Executive Director of the Texas Center for University School Partnerships and the Institute for Urban Education (1990-present), and was honored as a John and Rebecca Moores Professor in 1996 (1996-present). After receiving the B.S. and M.Ed. degrees from North Texas State University, he served as a teacher and principal in Albuquerque, New Mexico and Midland, Texas. Following the Ed.D. from The University of Texas-Austin, he joined the faculty of Michigan State University in 1961 and nine years later, came to the University of Houston.

His research and development activities have been supported by more than 53 externally funded grants, most for multiple years and totaling several million dollars. He has evaluated a number of programs such as the Greater Houston Collaborative for Children, Child Advocates, 21st Century Community Learning Centers, Bright Beginnings, and Teaching and Learning, Houston Annenberg Challenge Beacon Schools, serves on the Board of Directors for Healthy Family Initiatives, Communities in Schools, and CanCare Foundation.

Dr. Richard Olenchak

Using the psychological and educational research foundation underscoring the social and emotional aspects of gifted and talented individuals, my inquiry focuses on this population’s affective development and psychosocial uniqueness. Of particular interest are appropriate identification processes and accommodations for children and adolescents who have the potential for gifted and talented behavior. In addition, my research embraces issues that serve to camouflage talents in young people, including concomitant attention, learning, behavioral problems, poverty, and gender-based stereotypes and ways that parents and schools can unmask and develop potential. Viewing giftedness and talent less as a permanent trait and more as a set of flexible behavioral characteristics, my research lends support to the notion that, while a certain degree of native potential is surely requisite, gifted-like behavior can be nurtured in many more individuals than has traditionally been believed.

Dr. John Ramsey

Dr. John Ramsey is Associate Professor of science education at the University of Houston. He has served as department chair, director of teacher education, doctoral and masters advisor and principle investigator for funded projects. His professional experience includes more than thirty years in middle, secondary and higher education. He has co-authored or co-edited nine books and published twenty-five refereed research articles. He has received the highest university teaching award granted at the University of Houston and was honored with the 2001 Research Excellence Award from the North American Association of Environmental Education. He has conducted more than 300 international and national professional development workshops and presentations, and has served as a consultant for the United Nations, national and state agencies, international governments, non government organizations and business.