TCU's College of Education welcomes the following new faculty and staff members

Fort Worth, TX

1/30/2009

Mark Bloom has been at TCU since 2003, teaching Contemporary Issues in Biology for non-science majors. This year he began teaching in the Andrews Institute in the College of Education. Dr. Bloom graduated from Dallas Baptist University with a bachelor of science in biology, and earned his master’s in biology from Baylor University. He earned his doctorate in science education from TCU in 2008. Dr. Bloom has taught at the University of Texas at Dallas, Tyler Junior College, and Navarro Junior College. His primary research interests are environmental education and professional development of science teachers. Bloom has been involved with TCU’s Connections and Frog Camp programs since 2005.

Amber Esping joined TCU as an assistant professor of educational psychology after teaching at DePauw University as an adjunct professor of education studies. Other appointments include serving as a project associate for the Center for Evaluation and Education Policy in Indiana for two summers and teaching educational psychology at Indiana University. She earned her master’s degree and her doctorate from Indiana University in educational psychology. Esping graduated from California State University Northridge with a bachelor of music in clarinet performance. For 12 years she was a full-time self-employed clarinet teacher. Her research focuses on the relationship between personal biography and pedagogy.

Carolyn Kitchens graduated from Texas Wesleyan University with a bachelor of science in elementary education and received a master’s degree in public school administration from Texas Women’s University. Over the last 30 years, she has been an elementary teacher, consultant and principal; a high school assistant principal; and an intermediate school principal. While most of her time was spent in the Birdville ISD, Kitchens began her career in Fort Worth ISD and finished her public school career in Northwest ISD. Since 2000, she has been in higher education, serving as a lecturer and adjunct at Texas Wesleyan University and at TCU. In 2005, Kitchens came to TCU to work with Dale Young supervising elementary student teachers and she now teaches two courses. Kitchens’ special research interest is in the area of gifted and talented education. Her husband is the director of TCU’s Instructional Services and all three of their children graduated from TCU.

Amie Tennyson graduated with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and a minor in secondary education from Texas Tech University in 1999. She earned her master’s degree in mathematics education from the University of Texas at Arlington in 2005. Her research interests are adult innumeracy and teaching mathematics in cooperative learning groups versus traditional methods. This is her first year at TCU. Tennyson teaches the math education courses for elementary school teachers as well as middle school/secondary teachers. In addition to teaching, she is mentoring three student teachers. She has taught all levels of high school math and coached cheerleading for nine years at L.D. Bell High school in Hurst. She and her husband Chad have two children: daughter, Taylor (3) and son, Reed (1).

Jeannie Bosillo (education) has been appointed assistant to the dean. She’s been employed at TCU since July 1999 and is the mother of three children, all TCU graduates. Jeannie has extensive experience at TCU, having worked in the School of Music and College of Communication. As the first contact to those entering the Dean's office, she looks forward to meeting and helping the students, faculty, staff and visitors to the College of Education.