H.R. No. 2257
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, CSTEM Teacher and Student Support Services is
contributing to the future success of Texas by engaging students in
the concepts of communication, science, technology, engineering,
and mathematics, or CSTEM; and
WHEREAS, The organization seeks to close achievement gaps in
those areas by developing, implementing, facilitating, and
sustaining hands-on, project-based learning experiences that are
customized to fit the individual needs of campuses; the idea for
CSTEM came out of the doctoral research of Dr. Reagan D. Flowers, a
former biology teacher at Jack Yates High School in Houston, and she
founded the group in 2002; she serves as chief executive officer of
CSTEM and remains a driving force behind the program's efforts
statewide; and
WHEREAS, CSTEM accomplishes its goals through several
initiatives, including the annual CSTEM Sea Turtle Robotics
Challenge; the only event of its kind in the nation that combines
pre-K through 12th-grade students using a feeder pattern, it allows
students to collaboratively solve problems in science, technology,
engineering, and mathematics while learning about the needs of sea
turtles and designing robots for competition; other CSTEM programs
that can be applied to any campus include the Girls Exploration
Team, FIRST/VEX/LOGO Robotics, and Summer STEM Enrichment Camps;
and
WHEREAS, In addition, CSTEM offers extensive teacher support
services, ranging from curriculum development to professional
development workshops, and it brings together such community
stakeholders as colleges and corporations; moreover, CSTEM has
partnered with the RainbowPUSH Coalition Energy & Science Project
to award two $2,500 college scholarships to students participating
in the Sea Turtle Robotics Challenge; and
WHEREAS, Currently supporting more than 70 schools, CSTEM has
developed a track record for connecting with minority, low-income,
at-risk, and gifted and talented students; in fact, more than 80
percent of program participants are minority and some 45 percent
are female; and
WHEREAS, Countless young Texans have benefited from the
innovative efforts of CSTEM and its founder, Dr. Reagan Flowers,
and these students' newly acquired knowledge, skills, and
self-confidence will improve their lives as well as the world
around them; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas
Legislature hereby recognize September 2009 as Texas CSTEM
Awareness Month and extend to Dr. Reagan Flowers and all those
associated with CSTEM Teacher and Student Support Services sincere
best wishes for continued success.
Olivo
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 2257 was adopted by the House on June
1, 2009, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House