The Partnership for Environmental Educational and Rural Health (PEER) program is a collaboration between the College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM), Texas A&M University College of Education (COE), Texas Rural Systemic Initiative (TRSI), and the Center for Environmental and Rural Health (CERH) also situated at Texas A&M University. One of the main objectives of the PEER program is to increase the number of public school students who enter and remain in academic tracks in science. A second objective is to integrate environmental health science into science, math, English, language arts, and social studies with the mission of improving overall academic performance. Environmental health has been spotlighted because there is a growing concern regarding the increasing number of environmental health related diseases in rural areas in Texas. To accomplish these two objectives of the PEER project, the educational approach includes development of on-line engaging multimedia curricula, professional teaching development programs, and a human interface between environmental health scientists and public school science students.

PEER is committed to achieving its objective by developing engaging multimedia (environmental health science) modules that are specifically tailored for science and non-science courses in rural middle schools. These modules advance the understanding of environmental health science education of the rural environment for grades 6-8. They are aligned with the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) standards. Students will learn about such things as toxicants in the air, water and food, and how to prevent being exposed to these dangers. Participating students will learn about these important issues within an interactive and fun learning environment.

PEER is committed to the Professional Development of 6^th-8^th grade middle school teachers.
Our Integration Workshops provide instruction in technology and integration of environmental health science into science, math, English, and social studies classes.

Scientist Visits to Classrooms

PEER offers 6^th-8^th grade science teachers the opportunity to have an environmental health scientist visit their science classes to promote environmental health science.

PEER is seeking science teachers who may be interested in testing our newly designed curricular materials in their classroom. These are multiple day modules of classroom activities designed around Science TEKS on the subjects of Water Quality, Cell Biology, Organ Systems, Environmental Hazards and the Ecosystem. Feedback obtained from your evaluation will be used to improve the modules before they will be disseminated to rural schools statewide.

PEER is funded by the National Institute of Environmental Health Science. Larry Johnson, professor in the College of Veterinary Medicine, is principal investigator. Jon Denton, professor and Associate Dean of the College of Education, is co-principal investigator of the program. The steering committee is composed of Drs. Larry Johnson, Jon Denton, William Klemm, Jon Hunter, James Kracht, Irma Ramos, K. C. Donnelly, Deborah Kochevar, Gary Wingenbach, and Jimmy Lindner. Other committee members include Vince Hardy and Tom Payne.

To apply for these activities, please fill out our Online Application.