Texas Leadership Initiative for
Inquiry Science Teaching

About TLIIST

The Texas Leadership Initiative for Inquiry Science Teaching (TLIIST) is a 5-year program for K-12 science teachers that serve to further science content knowledge and pedagogical skills of exemplary teachers while transforming them into effective leaders who can support change at the school, district, and state level. Funded by the National Science Foundation, the Rice Office of STEM Engagement (R-STEM) has partnered with Houston ISD, the University of Houston, Houston Community College, and the Science Teachers Association of Texas (STAT) to provide a wealth of opportunities for teachers who are seeking to develop leadership opportunities while impacting their students in the classroom.

The goal of the TLIIST program is to develop and recognize Master Teaching Fellows (MTFs) as intellectual science leaders at their campuses, in their districts and throughout Texas. The TLIIST program will support these outstanding teacher-leaders who will create and support inquiry-based learning experience and environments while using results-based leadership training to improve the quality of science teaching and learning in high-needs schools in the Greater Houston community and beyond.

To learn more about their individual experiences visit our Meet the Fellows page!

TLIIST Program Structure

Yearly Objectives

TLIIST will accomplish its goals by addressing the following objectives each year:

1. Leadership for Knowledge Integration
2. Leadership in Classroom and Schools
3. Leadership for Future Science Professionals
4. Leadership on a Statewide Scale

Current Year

TLIIST is currently in year four of this five-year program. The focus this year is biology instruction using inquiry-based practices. In response to the current educational climate, the fellows have developed skills in leading online PD, as well as taking active roles in the 2020 CAST conference by presenting, volunteering, and evaluating presentation sessions. Fellows are also further cultivating their leadership skills at the classroom and school level through ICS personality training, active book studies, and the development of an action research project.

Mentoring Sessions for New Science Teachers

The Rice Office of STEM Engagement is excited to announce a series of FREE workshops designed to mentor novice science teachers. These workshops are designed to support a novice teacher's ability to do the following:

• Help support quality inquiry science teaching while developing an in-depth knowledge of pedagogy.
• Serve as an integral part of the school community so that they can help students develop the attitudes and skills necessary to navigate a rapidly changing world.

These workshops will be taught by Master Teaching Fellows who are participants in the National Science Foundation funded Texas Leadership Initiative for Inquiry Science Teaching (TLIIST). TLIIST is a 5-year Noyce fellowship program for K-12 science teachers that serves to further science content knowledge and pedagogical skills of exemplary teachers while transforming them into effective leaders who can support change at the school, district, and state level.

Please join us for these FREE virtual workshops this spring. There will be two FREE trainings in person at Rice University.

Register here.

TLIIST Spring 2023 Free Mentoring Sessions

Establishing Your Classroom Environment
Saturday, January 7, 2023
Virtual Meeting
9:00 - 10:00 a.m. CST

Equitable Classrooms
Saturday, January 14, 2023
Virtual Meeting
9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. CST

Inquiry in the Classroom
Saturday, February 18, 2023
In-Person Meeting
8:00 - 9:30 a.m. CST
Location: Rice University

Supporting Science Literature
Saturday, January 7, 2023
Virtual Meeting
10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. CST

Science Talks
Saturday, January 14, 2023
Virtual Meeting
10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. CST

Building Bridges
Saturday, February 18, 2023
In-Person Meeting
10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. CST
Location: Rice University

Workshop Flyer

Below is a copy of the TLIIST spring 2023 mentorship workshop. Download a PDF copy here.

TLIIST Administration

If you have any questions about TLIIST, you can contact the program lead.

Matthew Cushing, M.S.
Executive Director
713-348-8210 | mcushing@rice.edu

_{*This program is made possible by funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF) Robert Noyce Scholarship.}