Extra Credit

Fort Worth native takes helm of state historical association

J. Kent Calder, formerly director of Arizona State University's Scholarly Publishing Program, started his new job as executive director of the Texas State Historical Association on Tuesday.

The association will be housed at the University of North Texas' Denton campus beginning this fall.

As executive director, Calder will be responsible for representing the association at public and governmental functions, managing its personnel, leading strategic planning and other initiatives of the board of directors and developing and implementing the association's annual budget and fund raising activities.

The TSHA, founded March 2, 1897, on the 61st anniversary of the Texas Declaration of Independence, is considered in academic circles as one of the nation's most dynamic regional history organizations.

In January, the TSHA announced that it had chosen UNT as its new home, based on the UNT history department's commitment to teaching and research of Texas history and on UNT's extensive library holdings.

Calder, a Fort Worth native, was the TSHA's director of publications from 2003 to 2006 before being hired by ASU.

-Patrick M. Walker

Your A.M. roundup

Today on star-telegram.com:

Audit looming over Cleburne school board races

If it's May, it must be time to break out the finery (See an audio slide show here)

Madagascar's president to attend gruaduation at Abilene Christian University

Setback for immigrant college students in N. Carolina

-Patrick M. Walker

Your A.M. roundup

Today on star-telegram.com:

At the University of North Texas,  John Austin reports, some soon-to-be master's degree graduates want school officials to resume the practice of putting academic hoods on graduate students during commencement exercises

Guests at a TCU dinner get a taste of what life is like for the disabled, by Melody McDonald

Shirley Jinkins introduces us to an Arlington high school student who has no room for improvement on the SAT

Todd L. Davis takes us around the world at a Keller school

And columnist Bob Ray Sanders weighs in on the lesson from TCU and the Brite Divinity School in the wake of the Rev. Jeremiah Wright events

-Patrick M. Walker

A presidential debate at UNT? Close

Terry McAuliffe, left, chairman of Hillary Clinton's campaign, and Dan Bartlett, former counselor to President Bush, will square off April 1 in a "Presidential Race Outlook Debate" as part of the University of North Texas Distinguished Lecture Series. Here's the scoop.

-Patrick M. Walker

Your A.M. roundup

In today's Star-Telegram:

Noor Elashi introduces us to an an area 14-year-old who is believed to be the youngest student ever at UNT's Honors College.

Domingo Ramirez Jr. reports on a rock-throwing incident at a school bus stop that injured an 8-year-old boy.

And Southlake has adopted a teen curfew, Adrienne Nettles reports.

Read all this and much more at www.star-telegram.com

-Patrick M. Walker

Writers can win cash at UNT

Whether you're an aspiring author or a veteran wordsmith, here's your chance to win cash and see your work published. And don't worry, you still have plenty of time to polish that manuscript.

-Patrick M. Walker

Introducing Teach North Texas

Here is the first part of UNT's news release on its big announcement. Read the whole thing here.

DENTON -- The University of North Texas announces the launch of a $2.4 million grant-funded program that will increase the number of undergraduate math, science and computer science majors obtaining teaching certification and will enhance UNT's efforts to address a national shortage of teachers qualified to teach those subjects.

Teach North Texas, a collaborative effort between the College of Arts and Sciences and the College of Education, builds on UNT's already strong support of secondary education in the North Texas region through a partnership with the Fort Worth school district. One of the features of Teach North Texas, which is modeled after the innovative UTeach program at the University of Texas at Austin, is the opportunity for students to explore the teaching profession in two free one-hour courses that can be taken as early as their freshman year. Once in the program, students will take courses in the professional development sequence that emphasize field experiences, teaching strategies and concepts related specifically to the subjects the students will teach.

-Patrick M. Walker

Your A.M. roundup

In today's Star-Telegram:

Martha Deller and Diane Smith tell us how the buzz of an exciting presidential campaign is giving powerful instructional tools to area high school government teachers. Students interviewed for the article sound energized and interested by the races and the opportunity to participate by voting or volunteering. I don't know about you, but I find that encouraging. Visit www.star-telegram.com for more.

And something to look for later: The University of North Texas is making a big announcement this morning regarding a sizable grant it is receiving to help address a critical issue regarding secondary education. As one commenter to this blog correctly pointed out a few days ago, the announcement has to do with math and science teachers. The Fort Worth school district will have a big role. Be sure to check back later for more details.

-Patrick M. Walker

Big news coming for UNT, Fort Worth ISD

The University of North Texas will hold a news conference Friday to announce a new initiative in partnership with the Fort Worth school district that will help address a "critical issue in secondary education." When Extra Credit knows the details, so will you. Stay tuned.

-Patrick M. Walker

A taste of college

Wow! I wish I'd known about this when my kids were in middle school. The University of North Texas is posting a big celebration on Saturday to introduce students to a whole bunch of neat programs and learn more about college. Read more about it.

- Martha Deller