The Teacher Enrichment Initiatives (TEI) is a teacher outreach project that encompasses grant funded programs for teacher professional development. Seeking to improve science education, the project generates partnerships among area school teachers, scientists, health professionals, and educational researchers. We are housed in the Department of Medicine at the UT Health Science Center at San Antonio.

We provide teacher summer intensives, professional development, workshops, and a teacher academy. Our network of empowered, enthusiastic teachers seek to collaborate to improve science and health education through research based pedagogical practices.

Our curriculum is cross-disciplinary, providing hundreds of free K-12 curriculum: science, health, math, reading language arts, social studies, fitness, and fine arts content. Materials are rich with visual, kinesthetic, tactile, and auditory experiences. Emphasis is on critical thinking, data analysis, enriched scientific vocabulary, and appreciation for scientific investigative processes.

Our training opportunities are varied and grounded in educational and science research, resulting in cadres of teachers with increased scientific knowledge and pedagogical skills, as well as long-lasting peer mentor relationships. Our conferences provide a venue to showcase area teachers, scientists, and programs, as well as networking opportunities, professional work groups, and challenging dialogue.

Our research seeks to understand the dynamic nature of teacher professional development, teacher efficacy, and
student attitudes.