Phone: 512.471.5055
Email: tmramirez@austin.utexas.edu
Dana Center Role
Tracey works within local and state educational systems to foster equity and access for all students in science. Using current research on science teaching and learning, she designs, develops, and facilitates professional development for science teachers and leaders. Tracey provides expert in-district, on-site support as well as ongoing maintenance and technical assistance for science instruction. In addition, she collaborates with districts and states to best address their specific concerns at a system level and capitalizes on their unique resources.
Tracey works with to schools ensure that the curriculum resources and materials they use align to the state and national standards. She also helps districts modify and adjust their resources when curriculum materials do not align.
Before Joining the Dana Center
Tracey served three years as an elementary math and science curriculum facilitator. Her duties included creating and providing professional development in math and science, creating and aligning curricula and assessments, and modeling lessons in classrooms.
Prior to becoming a curriculum facilitator, Tracey spent 20 years as a classroom teacher, working with students in grades 1–5. She has also worked as an independent consultant for various school districts around the state of Texas. Tracey has been a frequent presenter at state and national math and science conferences, both in her previous work in public schools and in her current work for the Center.
Education
B.A., Elementary Education, The University of Texas at San Antonio
Selected Publications
Elementary core science units: Earth processes. (2012). Austin, TX: The Charles A. Dana Center at The University of Texas at Austin.
Elementary core science units: Force and motion. (2012). Austin, TX: The Charles A. Dana Center at The University of Texas at Austin.
Coauthored/Facilitated Professional Development Sessions
OpenSciEd Virtual Sessions: Using Crosscutting Concepts to Support Sensemaking, Using the Driving Question Board to Support Coherence, Assessing Student Understanding to Inform Teaching and Learning
Using Formative Assessment to Improve Science Teaching and Learning
Using Recurring Themes/Crosscutting Concepts to Improve Science Teaching and Learning
Integrating the Scientific and Engineering Practices and Crosscutting Concepts into Science Instruction
A Study of the Standards—Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)
NGSS and A Framework for K–12 Science Education/An Overview
NGSS and A Framework for K–12 Science Education/Integrating the Crosscutting Ideas into Instruction
NGSS—Integrating Technology and Engineering K–12
Building a Strong Foundation: Developing Curriculum Framework Documents
Elementary Core Science Units—Earth Processes, Earth Science, Force and Motion, and Physical Properties
The Professional Teaching Model
Professional Memberships
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics
National Science Education Leaders Association
National Science Teachers Association
Science Teachers Association of Texas
Texas Council of Elementary Science
Texas Science Education Leaders Association