Two UHCL alumni receive SERA research awards

April 6, 2017 | Jean Rudnicki

University of Houston-Clear Lake alumni Eric Tingle and Andrew Lowry, were awarded the 2017 Southwest Educational Research Association’s (SERA) Deans’ Awards for Exceptional Graduate Student Research.

Tingle, principal at Marcellus Elliot Foster Elementary School in the Houston Independent School District, earned a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership from UHCL in December 2016, and a Master of Science in Educational Management in 2011. Lowry is an assistant principal at Obra D. Tompkins High School in Katy ISD. He is currently enrolled in the university’s Doctor of Education in Curriculum & Instruction with STEM Focus program, anticipating completion by fall 2018. He, too, holds a MS in Educational Management from UHCL.

SERA is a regional educational research association dedicated to furthering the advancement of research in education.

Tingle’s dissertation research, titled “The Influence of a District Leadership Development Program on 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Year Principals,” is focused on the components of district leadership development programs that principals find influence their development as school leaders. The quantitative portion of the research answered the question to what extent did the leadership development program influence the principals’ effectiveness as a school leader related to cohort support, instructional leadership, human capital, executive leadership, school culture, and strategic operations.

Tingle explains that four themes emerged from focus group and interview data responses:  principals found that their supervisor and other peers were effective throughout the cohort experience; some principals had no recollection of some of the trainings they attended; principals stated some of the shortcomings of the program, and some principals stated ways the program prepared them for school leadership. 

Among Tingle’s long-term goals is that of becoming a district superintendent, where he can utilize his research, as well as his past administrative experience to supervise and support principals. In the meantime, he says he enjoys his role as a building principal, but would also like to be an adjunct professor at a Texas university, teaching aspiring teachers or aspiring principals. 

Lowry is in the early stages of his research, which is titled “Self-Efficacy of Pre-Service STEM Teachers: Traditional University versus UTeach.” He reports that initial results indicate that early immersion in authentic teaching experiences/field experience (tutoring, teaching a lesson, etc.) indicate a significant difference in pre-service teacher's self-efficacy for student engagement, instructional strategies, and classroom management skills.

Teaching at the university level, specifically in the College of Education preparing new teachers is one of Lowry’s goals, but he is also interested in providing educational consulting and/or presenting professional development around the globe. 

The two SERA Dean’s Award winners received monetary awards and certificates, in addition to being recognized at the annual conference.

To find out more about UHCL College of Education educational opportunities, call the College of Education Office of Academic Advising, 281-283-3615.