SHARON SPILLMAN
"I’m a true Cougar, through and through," said Sharon Spillman. She came to the University of Houston to play basketball, and fell in love. At a time when the oil crisis forced many people to leave Houston and UH, the Spillman family returned home. Sharon tried out for the UH Women’s Basketball team even though she knew as a walk-on she would not be able to get a scholarship right away. She was selected for the team and began her athletic and academic career at UH.
Her original major was Elementary Education. "I thought I wanted to be an elementary school teacher," Mrs. Spillman recalled. After a brief hiatus from college, she saw an article in the Daily Cougar interviewing Dr. Jim Anderson about a program he led called the Consortium of Student Athletes that helped athletes finish their degrees. Sharon became a part of the program and received a Bachelor of Science in Health Education.
"I love UH," Mrs. Spillman beamed. She believes UH has wonderful professors and brags on the fact that the College of Education has esteemed faculty. Sharon feels that at UH you have a big university with a small school touch. I am comfortable at UH.. "That’s why I returned to get my Masters in Early Childhood Education and why I am currently a doctoral student in the College of Education." she said.
When asked what people might be surprised to know about her, she replied, "When I commit to something I commit wholeheartedly." She’s a founding board member of the UH Cougars Athletic Alliance, an alumni group of ex-athletes who want to give back. They’ve been around for 4 years. One of their goals is to reconnect with alumni athletes to get them back involved with the university.
Mrs. Spillman would like to see the college institute an early childhood teacher certification program that is specifically designed for teachers who wish to work with young children birth through 2nd grade. Early Childhood professionals working in settings outside of the public school system need to be well-qualified, and have a strong understanding of child development, in order to provide quality educational experiences for young children. . She believes UH does a great job with collaboration, leading and learning, in terms of working with the community and preparing students for a career in teaching..
Sharon Spillman is a lecturer in the College of Education, teaching undergrad courses in Early Childhood in the Curriculum and Instruction department. She served as a liaison for the Collaborative for Children when they partnered with our college for the C3 Coaching grant led by Drs. Nita Copley and Jacquie Hawkins.
College of Education • 214 Farish Hall • 77204-5023
