Customized Writing

Philosophy: No excuses.

Legislative Advocacy

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Former Military Intelligence Officer and Teacher of the Year in Austin, Zenobia C. Joseph testified before the House and Senate Education Committees during the 83rd Texas Legislature and was instrumental in putting writing assessments back in fourth and seventh grades in HB 866 and HB 2836. Both bills, as drafted, excluded writing. Special thanks to Rep. "Joe" Deshotel, D-Beaumont for listening and to Rep. Bennett Ratliff, R-Coppell, and Sen. Dan Patrick, R-Houston, for their committee substitutes.  HB 866 exempts high performing students in grades 3-8 from some assessments and was signed into law; Gov. Rick Perry vetoed HB 2836. During the 83rd First Called Session, Fox-7 News interviewed her on HB 16 on June  20, 2013.

Throughout the legislative session, Ms. Joseph provided critical education policy analyses and was often the first witness called by House Public Education Chairman Jimmie Don Aycock who noted the privilege members had when she testified in favor of a bill rather than against. In 2009, she attended former Chairman Eissler's public school accountability work group. She also completed 42 of 51 PhD hours with a 3.9 GPA in one year at the University of Texas at Austin in Curriculum/Instruction with Education Policy focus.  

Research

Joseph, Z.C. (2009).  “I-35 Divide” conundrum: Can a true community-university partnership grant Austin’s Gifted/Talented K-12 African-American males access to college?  Harvard Journal of African American Public Policy (XV, 9-35).