Sharon Duncan, Director

A native Austinite, Sharon is an educational consultant and former high school English teacher in Georgetown ISD and Social Studies teacher in Austin ISD. Sharon was selected as Teacher of the Year at Georgetown High School and awarded the Favorite Sophomore teacher and the Excellence in Teaching Award by the Senior Recipients of the Academic Excellence Award. Sharon is the co-author of "Writing in Color with Character: The Process that Works!" and author of two genealogy project books. She believes that all students can learn; teachers must engage students and provide the critical thinking tools for student success. She wrote the Austin Community College Teacher Certification program in 2002 and is currently assisting the fifth cohort of teachers for Austin area schools.

Melaina Wilkin, Coordinator

Melaina Wilkin joined the Teacher Certification Department as the coordinator in June 2007. Melaina is a former teacher in Tucson, Arizona, former trainer for the College Board, and field supervisor for Region XIII and ACC's interns. She brings incredible skills for training, support, and success for interns and students.

 

 

Leticia Gomez, Administrative Assistant III

Leticia is the Administrative Assistant III for the Teacher Education program. Before joining our team she worked with our Workforce Continuing Education team. She has been an employee of the college for 10 years and is always committed to customer service and problem solving. Letty enjoys being out in the wilderness where it is peaceful and relaxing away from the everyday city life. Letty believes that where there's a will, there's a way and all things are possible. The word CAN'T is not in our vocabulary - just means you have to try a little harder.

 

Mary Chipley, PhD, Advisor

Dr. Chipley has worked with our program in some capacity since the beginning. Her background in Social Work, Education, and as Adjunct Faculty of Anthropology gives valuable expertise. She has taught Methods to 4-8 Generalists at the Summer Institute, TExES Exam Preparation, and EDTC 3000 Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities. Her dedication to educators and their students keeps her learning and sharing. Dr. Chipley takes ACC students on trips to Mexico to experience other cultures and enhance her own understanding of people and what makes them "tick."

 

Peggy Semingson, M.Ed, ABD, Bilingual Specialist

Peggy Semingson, Ph.D. of Language and Literacy Studies at the University of Texas at Austin. She earned her BA in Philosophy at the University of California at Santa Barbara, Elementary Teaching Certificate from Westmont College, and her Master’s in Reading Education from Texas State University in San Marcos. She has extensive experience as a classroom teacher, tutor, reading intervention specialist, presenter, consultant, writer, volunteer, and university level teaching assistant and student teacher facilitator. She is a curriculum writer for ACC’s bilingual curriculum, a TOPT intervention specialist, and celebrated Summer Institute Bilingual instructor. After teaching in AISD and completing her doctorate, she is off to the University of Texas at Arlington.

Gloria Gonzales, M.Ed, Technology Specialist

Gloria has worked with the Teacher Certification program from the beginning. Her expertise in technology and education allows her to assist students with all technology applications such as creating and maintaining a personal website as an electronic portfolio. She is the mother of three boys and is also an adjunct professor at St. Edward's University in Austin. She is also working on her doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction with a concentration in Instructional Technology. She makes technology easy!

 

 

Abel Villarreal, M.Ed, Math Specialist

Abel taught for 32 years, and still remains active in teaching and training both teachers and students. Passionate about math and students reaching their full potential, Abel has piloted Teacher Certification's tutoring project called "Teachers With Vision" (TV) and has begun planning a pilot called "Twilight TAKS" for students who meet all graduation requirements but still need to succeed on the TAKS to be awarded a diploma. He also worked with the University of Texas Blazers as a mentoring group for high school math students. Abel also works with the University of Texas (Jumpstart), teaches developmental math to ACC credit students, and worked with the UT College of Engineering's Achievement in Mathematics project (AIM) to improve the math competencies for middle and high school students.

Lora Netherland, M. Ed, Special Education Specialist

Lora has extensive experience providing educational programming for students with autism, mental retardation, and emotional disturbance. She graduated from Columbine High Schoool in Littleton, Colorade, was awarded her BS/Elementary Ed. at Lubbock Christian University, and was awarded her Master's in Special Education from Texas State University. She has taught in Lubbock ISD and Austin ISD, presently at Nan Clayton Elementary. She has a beautiful daughter who attends ACC.