Sharon Duncan, BA, 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 sixth cohort of teachers for Austin area schools. She is active in the Higher Education Collaborative at UT, the Advisory Committee for the State Board for Educator Certification, and the Texas Community College Consortium for Teacher Education Programs.

Melaina Wilkin, BA, 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, Assistant

Leticia is the Assistant 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, EDTC 3000 Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities, and EDTC 3004, Supporting the Teaching Experience. 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." Primates Journal

Gretchen Whitehill, BA, Coordinator

Gretchen received a Composite Science Teaching Certificate in 1994 and enjoyed teaching Life Science and Biology to middle school and high school students in the Houston area.  She helped coach a Science Olympiad team to victory at Cy-Falls High School in Houston, Tx.  Her love of kids is apparent in the classroom as well as the community where she volunteers with them in several capacities.  As the newest coordinator in the Teacher Certification Dept., she is excited about having the opportunity to touch the lives of children and budding teachers. 

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.

Tina Waddy, BA, Liberal Arts

Tina is a graduate of Texas State University and completed her Master's in Education candidate at Concordia University. She trained for her teacher certification at Region XIII and has taught at the Texas Academy of Excellence, Elgin High School, and Austin Independent School District's Pecan Springs Elementary. Her background in Special Education provides valuable insight into student differentiation and intervention. Tina believes that creating a hands-on environment with differentiated activities produces high levels of achievement. She currently has her Administrative certificate and is ready for the future!

Heather Hatton

Jodi Leach

Jodi has worked with ACC during the past two years as a supervisor, COOL Grant Supervisor, and now EDTC 3004 instructor. Before joining Austin Community College, Jodi taught kindergarten for eight years here in Austin. Although she misses teaching greatly, she feels very fortunate to be able to join the interns in their classrooms each week to be a part of their incredible efforts and enjoy the students’ learning process. While teaching Kindergarten for AISD, Jodi was selected to the Cadre for Teachers Teaching Teachers.

Prior to moving to Austin, Jodi taught in Richardson, Texas. She taught second grade in a magnet school. It was a most excellent experience as her students came from all over the district. She enjoyed the opportunity to teach a superbly diverse group of students each year. Jodi also enjoyed the opportunity to serve as a Teacher Mentor to teachers in the district as well as plan and Facilitate Professional Development for all elementary teachers in RISD. She completed the first portion of her “reading recovery” training to be a Campus Reading Specialist for Richardson Independent School District as well.

Jodi’s first teaching experience was just outside of Atlanta, Georgia. She taught a self- contained special education class of students ranging from first to fifth grade with a variety of needs. She did so for three years before returning to Dallas. It was a terrific way to begin a teaching career.  Jodi learned a great deal from her students and their families.  This cemented her belief in the power of education and the life-changing affects a good teacher can offer.

Peggy Semingson, PhD, Reading/Bilingual Specialist

Peggy Semingson, Ph.D. of Language and Literacy Studies at the University of Texas at Austin, 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. During 2009-2010, Peggy will participate in a special program at Harvard. Congratulations!

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!

Updated 9/21/09