CUIN Clinical Associate Professor Perri Segura Honored with Teaching Excellence Award - University of Houston
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CUIN Clinical Associate Professor Perri Segura Honored with Teaching Excellence Award

Perri SeguraClinical associate professor Perri Segura has been honored with the Instructor/Clinical Teaching Excellence Award from the University of Houston (UH). She represents both the UH College of Education (UH COE) and the UH College of Natural Science and Mathematics through her work with the teachHOUSTON program, a teacher preparation program for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) majors.  “I’m thrilled that this award will spotlight teachHOUSTON and its commitment to combatting the shortage of qualified secondary math and science teachers in our country” said Segura. 

Segura is humbled by the award and profoundly appreciative of being recognized for excellence in teaching.  “Serving students and helping to develop strong STEM teachers who are destined to make a significant and positive impact on the students they teach are great passions in my life,” said Segura.  “To be recognized for what I love to do is a tremendous honor and drives my passion and commitment.”

Segura has worked diligently to provide integrated active learning strategies into all of her courses to optimize student learning.  Students partake in relevant research projects, streaming videos, active classroom discussions, and much more.  Segura believes that students need to be active and responsible for their own learning.  For example, she has incorporated the use of personal response systems to instantly poll students’ understanding and to help them teach each other.  “I teach utilizing an inquiry-based approach and allow students to delve into areas of personal interest,” she said.  “I incorporate problem-based learning strategies and fascinating real-life cases that require students to engage in authentic application.”    

Segura also believes that the classroom is not just an avenue for cognitive learning but also for meaningful social interaction and affective learning. She treats students with respect and creates an energetic atmosphere in the classroom. After almost 9 years of teaching at the university level, she remains as passionate and as excited to teach prospective STEM educators as the day she began.  “I strive to maximize informal contact by encouraging my students to visit during office hours, engaging in hallway conversations, talking to students before class starts, after class and at student events,” she said.  “I am deeply convicted that a good teacher is one who always seeks to grow and who acknowledges that one can always be better.”

Segura’s students make up a diverse group of traditional and non-traditional students and many first-generation college attendees.  Her classes have amazing students who astonish her with their energy, their fortitude and their personal stories.  “My teaching might be summarized as my students and I do STEM education together,” she said.   “I dedicate this award to them; teaching and learning are what we accomplish together. My students keep me passionate and excited about learning. They remind me that learning is about wonder as well as understanding.”

Segura is thankful to her family, friends and colleagues who have inspired her along the way.  “My parents first instilled in me that if you want to teach someone, you must truly care about them, she said.  Her father, a middle school math teacher, told her that great teachers find ways to make learning enjoyable.  Segura is grateful to her mother for raising her while making countless sacrifices and for her consistent love and wise counsel.  She also credits her spouse, Javier, for his unwavering support of her professional endeavors and their children who make her life complete.  “I am indebted to great peers and colleagues with whom I continue to learn from and grow with”, she said.  “I am grateful to the teachHOUSTON co-directors, Jeff Morgan, who founded the teachHOUSTON program, and Simon Bott and Robert McPherson, all of whom have provided support for great growth and many achievements.”   

"Dr. Segura’s commitment to the College of Education and teachHouston has been relentless to say the least," said UH COE Dean Robert McPherson. "I am so pleased to see her hard work recognized by the University."