O’Neal named ‘College Teacher of the Year’ during Texas conference

By Kristina Kenney
University News Service
February 2, 2012

Texas State University-San Marcos Associate Professor of Curriculum and Instruction Sharon O’Neal was named the 2012 “College Teacher of the Year” at the 47th annual Texas Council of Teachers of English Language Arts Conference and Exhibition on Jan. 20.

The Conference titled “Nurturing Lifelong Learning” was held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in San Antonio Jan. 20-22.

O’Neal teaches undergraduate and graduate courses at Texas State’s Round Rock campus and leads the Central Texas Writing Project Summer Institute. She received a bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Texas in 1972, a master’s degree in reading education from the University of Alabama in 1977 and in 1982 gained a doctorate in curriculum and instruction from the University of Texas. She has served as a leader of teacher-educators in Texas through her work with TCTELA, the Texas Education Agency (TEA), the Texas State Reading Association and the Texas Association for the Improvement of Reading. Through these positions she has helped make it possible to bring teachers to the policy table and enable them to share their expertise in the development of statewide curricular decisions. O’Neal has also helped organize and present innovative and inspiring ways to engage children in literature and in considering challenging ideas.

TCTELA seeks to advance the literacy growth of all Texas students by developing a network of professionals, providing research-based professional development and transforming public understanding of the connection between teacher knowledge and student learning.

For more information, contact Edna Rehbein at (512) 716-4422 or at edna@txstate.edu.