AUSTIN – August 15, 2012 - Teachers gained first-hand experience from experts in the coal mining fields at the Texas Mining and Reclamation Association’s 21^st annual coal mining teacher workshop conducted June 17-22 in Hallsville, Texas. Twenty-one teachers spent six days with industry experts learning the ins and outs of mining coal at the North American Coal - Sabine Mine.  Teachers learned about permitting, mining exploration and extraction techniques, groundwater protection, electricity generation, and land reclamation.

“TMRA is committed to providing a first class, fact-based educational opportunity for classroom teachers,” said Trey Powers, Executive Director of TMRA.  “This workshop gives teachers the opportunity to see first-hand how a natural resource like coal is found, extracted, used and how the land is put back to a state better than it was before.  Teachers learn how important natural resources are to our modern lifestyle and how vital jobs are in this field.”

Highlights of the workshop included tours of the NAC Sabine Mine, AEP’s Pirkey Power Plant, and reclaimed mined land. The workshop curriculum is aligned with Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS), and teachers will receive state-approved professional development credit for their participation.  For more information about how to apply for future workshops, please visit www.tmra.com.

Participating teachers included:

·       Baytown, TX, Alamo Elementary, Alyssa C. Dodson, 4^th Grade, Self-Contained GATE

·       Cedar Park, TX, Vista Ridge High School, Cheryl L. Pitt, 9-12^th AP Environmental Science, Pre-AP Biology

·       Dallas, TX, The Academy for the Academically Gifted & Talented, Shannon Lea Brown, 6^th Grade Science

·       Dallas, TX, Kleberg Elementary, Mary L. Walker, 5^th Grade Science & Math

·       DeKalb, TX, DeKalb ISD, Wilma Lois Crim, 5^th Grade Science

·       Flower Mound, TX, Coram Deo Academy - Upper School, Mary E. Ligon, 9^th and 11^th Grade Biology and AP-Environmental Science

·       Fort Worth, TX, Hillwood Middle School, Ron Fred Motley, 7^th Grade Science

·       Freeport, TX, RO Lanier Middle School, Kelli J. McBrayer, 5^th Grade Science

·       Gilmer, TX, Gilmer High School, Criss Bartley,  11^th Grade Physics & Chemistry

·       Houston, TX, Beneke Elementary, Althea H. Menard, 4-5^th Grade Science Lab

·       Katy, TX, Morton Ranch High School, Aljeau Perdon, 11-12^th Grade AP Environmental Science, Environmental Systems

·       Lindale, TX, Lindale High School, Audrey J. Klein, 12^th Grade  ESS Chemistry

·       New Boston, TX, New Boston High School, Susan E. McGee, 9-12^th Grade Spanish I and II

·       Nolanville, TX, Nolanville Elementary, Michele L. Baker, 6^th Grade Science

·       Round Rock, TX, Ridgeview Middle School, Jeffrey A.  Sralla, 8^th Grade Science Earth & Space

·       San Antonio, TX, Legacy Middle School, Grady Schorsch, 6^th Grade Math

·       San Antonio, TX, Legacy Middle School, Renee Schorsch, 8^th Grade Science

·       Shreveport, LA, St. Mark’s Cathedral School, Mary L. Ziober, K5-6^th Grade Science Lab & General Science

·       Tyler, TX, Moore MST Middle School, Philip B.  Pace, 7^th Grade General Science & Astronomy Elective

·       Van, TX, Van Junior High, Kenna L. Patton, 7-8^th Grade Science

·       Whitehouse, TX, Holloway 6th Grade School, Ella M. Moore, 6^th Grade Science