Teresa J. Kennedy is a Professor of Bilingual/ELL/STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Education at the University of Texas at Tyler. She has a Ph.D. in Education, with a concentration on international / bilingual science education, content-based foreign language, ESL/ELL education, and also has a M.A. degree in the Spanish language. Her K-12 teaching experience includes 8 years at the secondary level, 7 years at the elementary/middle school level, with over 15 years teaching in higher education. During her teaching career, she has held K-12 teaching certificates in the states of Idaho, Oregon and Washington, with secondary teaching certification in Science (Earth Science and Natural Science), Social Studies, Spanish, English as a Second Language and Bilingual Education, also certified to teach all subjects at the elementary level. She has served as a content-based ESL instructor in Spain, and has taught English, science and social studies lessons in classrooms around the world. She has visited 88 countries (see list below) through her work and educational experiences, presented at more than 300 events, authored/co-authored 7 book chapters, over 30 journal articles and features, and over 50 proceedings and reports. In addition, she was as a writer as well as editor for 278 STAR stories posted to the GLOBE Program website from 2003-2012, and served as the editor for seven issues of Learning Languages, the professional journal of the National Network for Early Language Learning from 2002-2005. ![]() Teresa is a PADI Dive Master (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) and serves on the SCUBAnauts International Board of Directors (2007-present) as well as on the NOAA National Marine Sanctuaries Ocean for Life Program Steering Committee (2008-present). She is the President-Elect of the International Council of Associations for Science Education (Presidential Term: 2014-2016), serves on the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) International Advisory Board (2013-2016), and is the National Network for Early Language Learning (NNELL) Texas State Representative (2011-2014). She is the Vice President of the EnviroGen International Foundation, a nonprofit charitable organization striving to assist the development of the next generation of environmental leaders by providing opportunities to develop skills to deal with environmental challenges of local, regional and global relevance. Teresa has been involved with the GLOBE Program since 1996. Currently, she is Co-Director of the University of Texas at Tyler GLOBE U.S. Partnership, responsible for recruiting, training and mentoring K-12 teachers and university pre-service education students to implement GLOBE activities with their students. She served in several different capacities on the GLOBE Program Office (GPO) management team from October 2001-December 2012, including the following positions: Director of the GPO International Division and U.S. Country Coordinator (2009-2012 located on the University of Texas at Tyler campus); Deputy Director of GLOBE / Director of the International Division and U.S. Country Coordinator (2006-2009 at the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) in Boulder, Colorado); Director of International / U.S. Partnerships and Outreach for the GLOBE Program and U.S. Country Coordinator (2003-2006 at UCAR in Boulder, Colorado); and the Deputy Chief Educator and Assistant Director of U.S. Partnerships (2001-2003 at the former GLOBE headquarters office in Washington D.C.). From 2003-2012, Teresa also managed all activities related to the GLOBE Help Desk as well as Star historical summaries posted to the GLOBE website. Prior to that time, she served as the Co-Director of the University of Idaho GLOBE Partnership (1996-2002) and continues serving as a national as well as international Master Trainer for the GLOBE Program (1996-present). See her complete GLOBE bio.
While an Associate Professor at the University of Idaho (1996-2003), she created and led the bilingual/foreign language teacher education program in the College of Education and directed a content-based FLES Program focusing on Earth and space science, mathematics and social studies for the Moscow School District (Idaho) for 5 years. While at the UI, she also worked for several NASA Education Programs for the College of Engineering from 1996-2003, serving as the NASA Broker Facilitator for the State of Idaho (2001-2003), as the Director of the NASA Idaho Regional Educator Resource Center (1997-2003), and as a member of the NASA Idaho Space Grant Consortium (1996-2003).
Teresa received the Outstanding Dissertation Award from Phi Delta Kappa International in the District 1 Doctoral Dissertation Competition (Alaska, Alberta, British Columbia, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Saskatchewan, & Washington) in 1998 for her doctoral research entitled “FLES: The cognitive and attitudinal effects of content-related foreign language instruction" which documented a district-wide FLES program that incorporated GLOBE and other NASA science education materials into learning activities focusing on acquisition of Arabic, French, German, Japanese, Russian and Spanish languages. In 2012, Teresa received the University of Texas at Tyler Researcher of the Year Award. Prior to that, she was added to the Honor Roll of Inspirational Teachers at the University of Idaho in 2003, and received the Alumni Award for Excellence as an Influential Faculty Member at the University of Idaho in 1999. She was the recipient of the 2002 ACTFL/FDP-Houghton Mifflin Award for Excellence in Foreign Language Instruction Using Technology with IALLT (International Association for Language Learning Technology) at the University Level. She was also the recipient of the 2002 Pacific Northwest Post-Secondary Teacher of the Year Award from the Pacific Northwest Council on Foreign Languages (PNCFL) for implementation of content-based science programs for students learning through multiple languages. Early in her teaching career, she received the Outstanding Middle School ESL-Bilingual/Foreign Language Teaching Award (Beaverton School District, Oregon, 1988) for her work to promote achievement in science, mathematics and social studies through the study of languages.
Teresa's research interests include online teaching and learning; content-based second language teaching and learning focused on science, mathematics and social studies; brain research in relation to second language acquisition and bilingualism; and Earth science, space science and engineering education. She has published articles in journals such as The Astronomical Society of the Pacific; Children, Youth and the Environment; Teaching Children Mathematics; The Journal of Interactive Online Learning; NWATE Journal of Education Practices; Brain and Language; The International Reading Association; The Reading Teacher; Foreign Language Annals; The Language Educator; Learning Languages; TESOL; Hispania; as well as articles for several NASA publications and different international organizations such as the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).
Past accomplishments include:
Dr. Kennedy is a current member of the following educational organizations:
Science Education: Council for Elementary Science International (CESI); International Council of Associations for Science Education (ICASE); National Alliance of State Science and Mathematics Coalitions (NASSMC); National Science Teachers Association (NSTA); and the Texas STEM Center Coalition (T-STEM). Internationally a member of the Association of Science Education (ASE) in the United Kingdom. General Education (including Literacy and Language Learning): America Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese (AATSP); the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL); Kappa Delta Pi International Honor Society in Education; National Network for Early Language Learning (NNELL); Phi Delta Kappa International (PDK), and Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL). She has presented scholarly papers and/or conducted educational workshops and meetings in the following locations around the world: 43 U.S. states, 1 U.S. territory and the District of Columbia Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington D.C., Washington State, and West Virginia.
88 countries presented/visited
Argentina: Buenos Aires, Iguazu & Ushuaia-Antarctica; Australia: Cairns, Canberra, Melbourne & Sydney; Bahrain: Manama; Bangladesh: Dhaka; Belguim: Eupen; Bhutan: Paro & Thimphu; Brazil: Brasilia, Rio de Janeiro, & São Paulo; Burundi: Bujumbura; Cameroon: Yaoundé; Canada: Antigonish-Nova Scotia, Calgary, Alberta & Vancouver-British Columbia; Czech Republic: Prague; Chile: Arica & Santiago; China: Beijing, Nanjing, Yangzhou; Hong Kong; Costa Rica: San José; Croatia: Šibenik; Denmark: Copenhagen & Eckernförde; Dominican Republic: Cabarete & Santo Domingo; Ecuador: Galapagos Islands & Quito; Egypt: Cairo; Estonia: Tallin & Tartu; Ethiopia: Addis Ababa; Haiti: Port-au-Prince; Finland: Helsinki; France: Bordeaux, Nice & Paris; Germany: Berlin, Bonn, Bremen, Kiel & unna; Greece: Athens & Samos Island; India: Agra, Bagdogra, Calcutta, Darjeeling, Delhi, Gantok-Sikkem & Kalimpong; Ireland, Dublin, Killarney; Israel: Eilat, Tele Aviv; Italy: Mantova; Japan: Kitakyushu, Kyoto, Nara, Osaka & Tokyo; Jordan: Amman & Aqaba; Kenya: Nairobi; South Korea: Seoul; Kuwait: Kuwait City; Latvia: Riga; Lebanon: Beiruit & Ramlief-Aley; Macedonia: Ohrid & Skopje; Madagascar: Antananarivo; Malaysia: Boreno Island, Kuala Lumpur, Kuching, Penang & Sarawak; Maldives: Male; México: Campeche & Mexico City; Nepal: Kathmandu & Pahupat Fatek; Netherlands: Amsterdam & Utrecht; Norway: Oslo; Oman: Muscat; Panama: Saber City & Panama City; Paraguay: Asunción; Perú: Aguas Calientes -Machu Pichhu & Lima; Philippines: Iloilo & Manila; Poland: Warsaw; Portugal: Lisbon; Qatar: Doha; Russia: Korolev, Moscow & Vladimir; Rwanda: Kigali; Saudi Arabia: Jeddah City & Riyadh; Scotland: Glasgow; Senegal: Dakar; South Africa: Cape Town & Johannesburg; Spain: Cáceres, Madrid & Valencia; Sri Lanka: Colombo; Sweden: Stockholm; Switzerland: Buelach & Geneva; Tanzania: Arusha & Kilimanjaro; Thailand: Bangkok, Chang Rai & Phuket; Trinidad and Tobago: Port of Spain & Scarborough; Turkey: Istanbul; Ukraine: Kiev & Odessa; United Arab Emirates (UAE): Dubai; United Kingdom: Coventry, Hertfordshire & London; United States (see list above); Uruguay: Montevideo; and Wales: Cardiff.
Countries visited that are U.S. Territories (2): Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Countries visited as a tourist (13): Andorra; Aruba; Austria; Bahamas; British Virgin Islands; Canary Islands; Grand Cayman Islands; Liechtenstein; Luxembourg; Monaco; Morocco; New Zealand and Singapore.
Contact Information Teresa J. Kennedy, Ph.D. Professor, Bilingual/ELL/STEM Education University of Texas at Tyler, USA http://www.uttyler.edu/education/faculty/kennedy.php Email: tkennedy@uttyler.edu
Last Updated: May 2013 |


