WT Education Faculty Recognized for Outstanding Work in Training Teachers

Copy by Chip Chandler, 806-651-2124, [email protected]

WT Education Faculty Recognized for Outstanding Work in Training Teachers

CANYON, Texas - Two West Texas A&M University faculty members who are on the frontlines of training the next generation of teachers have been recognized for their exceptional work.

Dr. Amy Carlson, assistant professor of curriculum and instruction, and Allison Kleman, clinical instructor of education, have been named winners of the Liz and John Mozola Faculty Excellence Award.

Both teach in WT's Department of Education, part of the Terry B. Rogers College of Education and Social Sciences.

"This award recognizes the outstanding dedication of Dr. Amy Carlson and Allison Kleman to transforming educator preparation and shaping the future of Texas classrooms," said Dr. Betty Coneway, head of the Department of Education and WT's Dr. Geneva Schaeffer Professor of Education and Social Sciences. "Through their work, we are ensuring that our graduates enter the classroom prepared to deliver an exemplary education from Day 1."

The award was established in 2018 to recognize teacher educators, those who prepare future instructors and train them to provide exemplary education in their eventual classrooms.

Carlson joined WT as a full-time faculty member in 2024 after spending 11 years teaching elementary, middle and high school in the Texas Panhandle and several years as a part-time WT instructor. She earned a bachelor's in elementary education and a master's in school administration from WT, then earned a Ph.D. in curriculum and instruction at Texas Tech University.

Carlson prepares future educators through undergraduate courses in social studies methods, data-informed instruction. She also is faculty adviser for the WT chapter of the Texas Association of Future Educators.

Her research interests center on integrating literacy into content-area instruction and strengthening the teacher pipeline in Texas, including exploring pathways to teacher certification.

"Teaching is not just my career; it is who I am, and I cannot imagine doing anything else," Carlson said. "Because the future of the world rests in the hands of educators, ensuring they are exceptional at what they do is my ultimate calling."

Kleman joined WT in 2024 after spending 13 years in public education as a high school math teacher and interventionist before moving into campus administration. At WT she is teacher residency site coordinator and helps lead the Buff Residency program, supporting aspiring educators through yearlong, classroom-embedded experiences.

Her professional interests include teacher residency, educator preparation, school-university partnerships and developing sustainable pathways into the teaching profession.

"What drives me most in this work is making sure the Panhandle continues to have highly prepared teachers in our classrooms for generations to come. Seeing the growth of our teacher residents throughout our pilot year was incredible," Kleman said. "By the time they graduated, they were truly ready to step into their own classrooms as Day One-ready teachers. Experiences like that reinforce for me how important it is to remove barriers for people who want to become teachers, create strong pathways into the profession, and provide the preparation and support they need not only to enter the classroom, but to be successful and stay in the profession."

Educating the educators is baked into WT's history.

WT opened in 1910 as West Texas State Normal College, a school that trained teachers. Today, about 75 percent of all teachers and administrators throughout the Panhandle region have at least one degree or certificate from WT.

In addition to training teachers, counselors, educational diagnosticians, instructional designers, curriculum specialists and school administrators, the Terry B. Rogers College of Education and Social Sciences also prepares school psychologists and social work professionals. The College offers programs in psychology, sociology and the law, as well as direct engagement with the community through its programs in criminal justice and emergency management administration. The College currently serves more than 1,800 students, making it the second-largest College at WT.

About West Texas A&M University

West Texas A&M University is a Regional Research University in Canyon, Texas, on a 342-acre residential campus, as well as the Harrington Academic Hall WTAMU Amarillo Center in downtown Amarillo. Established in 1910, the University has been part of The Texas A&M University System since 1990. WT boasts an enrollment of about 9,000 and offers multiple options for students to graduate and succeed: 65 undergraduate degree programs, including eight associate degrees; and 41 graduate degrees, including an integrated bachelor's and master's degree, a specialist degree and three doctoral degrees. WT recently earned a Carnegie Foundation classification as a Research College and University. The Buffaloes are a member of the NCAA Division II Lone Star Conference and offers 16 men's and women's athletics programs.

Photo: West Texas A&M University's Dr. Amy Carlson, left, and Allison Kleman are the recipients of the Liz and John Mozola Faculty Excellence Award for 2026.

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