Welcome Educators

Experts agree that education in science, technology, engineering and mathematics — STEM — is the key to the future. According to the George Lucas Educational Foundation, 80 percent of the fastest growing occupations in the United States depend upon mastery of mathematics and scientific knowledge and skills.

The LBJ Institute for STEM Education and Research at Texas State University aims to equip students to satisfy this growing need through improved teaching and learning in the STEM disciplines for students from kindergarten to graduate-level college studies (K–20). Through wide-scale sharing and implementation of effective approaches, the LBJ Institute prepares university students and faculty for STEM education outreach and intellectual research efforts that:

  • enhance teacher preparation and faculty professional development
  • contribute to the recruitment and production of more scientifically and technologically literate professionals
  • support Texas students with innovative approaches to excel as science, technology, engineering and mathematics majors

Education Goals

Over the past 10 years, growth in STEM jobs was three times greater than that of non-STEM jobs.
The LBJ Institute for STEM Education and Research has established the following goals for enhancing STEM education in Texas:

  • organize and share STEM resources for teachers and faculty via a website
  • develop innovative new curriculum materials, use of technology, and professional development approaches to improve STEM education efforts
  • increase student, community and teacher excitement for learning STEM
  • provide professional development to better prepare K–12 teachers and university faculty in the crucial STEM areas of inquiry, active learning, project-based and problem-based learning,integrated technology and integrated subjects
  • secure external funding to support K–20 outreach and teacher/faculty professional development

Research Goals

To achieve its research goals, the institute will:

  • support faculty interdisciplinary and collaborative teaching, research and service activities, bringing together professionals from the sciences, technology, engineering, mathematics and education to share expertise and knowledge from their fields
  • investigate the effectiveness of innovations in the fields of STEM education
  • inform researchers, teachers, scientists and policymakers by publishing research and other materials to support continued improvement in both understanding and outcomes in the field
  • publish STEM education whitepapers commissioned by the LBJ Institute and guide interested faculty to contribute to peer-reviewed STEM education journals and present their research findings at state and national STEM education conferences
  • seek external funding and support other university grant writers in efforts aimed at conducting K–20 STEM education research

Araceli Martinez Ortiz, Ph.D., Director of the LBJ Institute for STEM Education and Research and assistant professor of engineering education in the College of Education at Texas State University. She has bachelor’s and master’s degrees in engineering and a master’s and Ph.D. in education. She teaches and conducts research with teachers and students in engineering education as a learning context and instructional strategy. She works with traditionally under served populations to understand challenges and solutions for improving motivation and academic readiness for students’ college and career success.

Leslie Huling, Ed.D., Senior advisor of the LBJ Institute for STEM Education and Research and serves as Project Director in the NASA STEM Educator Professional Development Collaborative project. She received her bachelor’s degree at Angelo State University, her master’s degree at University of North Texas and her doctorate at Texas Tech University. She works with colleagues to conduct research on teacher preparation, induction and development.