Mr. Michael Whitacre is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Curriculum & Instruction of the College of Education at the University of Texas-Pan American. Dr, Whitacre earned a Doctor of Bilingual Education from Texas A&M University in Kingsville. In 1995, Mr. Whitacre earned a Master’s Degree in Reading. He also earned a B.B.A. in marketing in 1986. A Pharr native, he has been an educator in public schools in the Rio Grande Valley, and has also worked as an educational consultant for Educational Management Group, and Region One ESC. Prior to working for Region One, he also worked as a textbook sales representative for Scholastic Inc., and as a representative for Jostens Inc.  

Dr. Whitacre began his teaching at the University of Texas Pan American as an adjunct professor in 1995. In the summer of 2003 he took a full time lecturer position. In 2007 he accepted an Assistant Professor position. Prior to this Dr. Whitacre taught in public schools as an elementary bilingual teacher. In addition to teaching he also worked as an educational consultant providing professional development trainings for teachers in the areas of curriculum development, phonics, and phonemic awareness, and reading literacy development for bilingual learners.

Dr. Whitacre’s current research interests include the integration of technology as an instructional tool in the classroom and implementation of instructional methods and programs as they affect the acquisition of language and reading skills for bilingual learners.

Philosophy of Education:
My philosophy of education is based on constructivist principles. I believe that learning takes place through interaction and exploration. This requires that teachers create an environment that is conducive to learning and exploration including the use of cooperative learning strategies so learning can be constructed and the meaning making process of each child is valued and understood.