Like most people drawn to teaching, I feel it is my calling. For me, I am called to teach because I believe it gives students power to change their lives for the better.
Amy Corp, Ed.D. Associate Professor
- Faculty
In her years as an elementary teacher, Dr. Amy Corp realized the value of truly teaching children over just teaching them the lessons. When she arrived at A&M-Commerce to earn her master's degree in curriculum and instruction, she found that the university's faculty shared the same devotion to teaching children.
Corp went on to receive her doctorate from Baylor University through a teaching fellowship. There, she utilized her experience teaching in challenging districts to help prepare student teachers in Waco to work with students who are often considered “tough to reach.” She was excited to accept a position at A&M-Commerce after receiving her doctorate.
Professionally, she strives to continue teaching and mentoring future teachers at A&M-Commerce while expanding volunteer work in her community. After fostering several preteens and teens over the past four years, Corp has a strong desire to work with youth. She currently volunteers with an ESL program and hopes to one day work in underserved communities in Latin America.
A Conversation with Dr. Corp
What would you tell a student who is thinking about attending A&M-Commerce?
A&M-Commerce has a strong tradition of preparing teachers for Texas and beyond. Just ask around in your high school, it is likely several teachers graduated from A&M-Commerce.
The faculty in our teacher preparation programs really care about helping you become well-prepared teachers. We have several locations and work with many school districts, so you have choices. We also have a pathway for those who work in schools as educational aides that allows you to stay in your placement and complete your degree with certification.
What draws you to your discipline?
Like most people drawn to teaching, I feel it is my calling. For me, I am called to teach because I believe it gives students power to change their lives for the better. I have taught elementary students near Detroit, in Dallas, near Atlanta, and in Waxahachie. Children, no matter their circumstances, deserve a good education. This means they have prepared teachers who care. I love being part of that preparation, especially the student teaching.
What has been your favorite course to teach?
I especially enjoy teaching seminars during student teaching because residents are applying what they learn that same week with students in their classrooms. I also enjoy teaching the graduate course in elementary mathematics curriculum because it focuses on the why and how of teaching maths, which really encourages teachers to teach thinking and reasoning.
Tell us about a project you are currently working on or recently completed.
I recently completed a project with US PREP. We designed an assessment to gauge student teachers' ability to evaluate elementary curriculum. With everything available on the internet and in districts for teachers to use in teaching, understanding what makes lessons high quality is important. This informed us on how to better prepare teachers to evaluate what they are given or find for lesson planning.
Educational Background
- Ed.D., Curriculum and Instruction, Baylor University, 2014
- M.Ed., Curriculum and Instruction, Texas A&M University-Commerce, 2010
- B.S., Elementary Education, Kennesaw State University, 1996
- Associate of Biblical Studies, Moody Bible Institute, 1994
Research Interests
- Curriculum literacy
- Culturally responsive teaching
- Innovations in online teacher preparation
Professional Organizations
Awards and Honors
- Outstanding Early Career Scholar Award, School Science and Mathematics Association, 2019
- Distinguished Global Fellow, Texas A&M University-Commerce, 2017
Selected Publications
- Corp, A. (2022 under review). Curriculum Literacy in Teacher Education. Dialogue in Teaching and Curriculum.
- Corp, A. (2022 under review). I'll Just Use a Lesson off the Web: Curriculum literacy in mathematics teacher education. School Science and Mathematics Association.
- Guthery, S. & Corp, A. (2021, Oct.). Playing Games: A lost art in schools. The Teacher Advocate IDK Blog. https://blog.kdp.org/2021/10/26/playing-games-a-lost-art-in-school/
- Corp, A. (2018) Purposeful Planning: How to be culturally responsive in mathematics. Texas Math Teacher 64 (2) 16-21.
- Corp, A. (2018) “Who's Big Mamma?” Building community in math class with stories. WOW Stories: Connections from the Classroom, 5 (4). Retrieved from https://wowlit.org/on-line-publications/stories/wow-stories-volume-v-issue-4/