TECH CORPS Texas Project Expectation Graduation
As the educational crisis becomes more severe across the country, TECH CORPS Texas, in partnership with the Hashoo foundation, Houston ISD, local Houston businesses, and many others have worked together to combat high drop-out rates. The resulting project,"Expectation Graduation," is an initiative to show students the value of staying in school and the city's commitment to action. Under the leadership of the Hashoo Foundation, the Expectation Graduation pilot program asked students to pledge their dedication to a better future by signing an "I Will Complete High School" commitment card as freshmen or sophomores. Upon completion of high school, these students were rewarded with a room full of graduation gifts, including a newly refurbished computer, in the hopes that by contributing functional representations of the student's achievements, we can reinforce their commitment to growing academically and socially.
To read the press release click here.
As part of the Expectation Graduation project, TECH CORPS Texas provided refurbished desktop computers to students who finished their commitment and graduated. "i'm so grateful for this computer. If I had to the power or the money to give away things like this, I would give it all away, because it helps that much," says Selena Sanchez. TECH CORPS Texas recognizes these student's hard work and ultimate success within the Expectation Graduation program, and seeks to encourage and maintain high academic standards for ALL of HISD by campaigning for student's return to the classroom, and providing the additional support needed to keep them there. Students like Selena deserve the opportunity to live out their dreams, and in doing so, will simultaneously inspire those around them to do the same. We hope to continue this positive trend, by providing much needed access to technology, which we believe will make life easier for generations of future students to come.
Last Updated on Wednesday, 08 December 2010 23:26
Technology Makes a Difference
Thursday, 19 August 2010 20:13
administrator
Meet Alisha, a young woman with an inspiring passion to master the universe of learning! She's seventeen, and begins her senior year this fall at Alief Taylor High School. Before school starts, however, Alisha will be completing two semesters of online AP English 4 classes, and spending a couple of weeks shadowing two surgeons to get a feel for the world of medicine she hopes to enter after college.
We met Alisha through Posey Parker, Executive Director of the Linda Lorelle Scholarship Foundation, who called one day, anxious and very excited to tell us about a deserving young scholar's need for a computer. While interviewing Alicia for the Lorelle scholarship, Parker had learned that Alicia was enrolled in two simultaneous online classes and desperately needed a laptop to continue her studies outside of school library hours. Knowing that one of the strategic legs of achieving the TECH CORPS Texas vision is to increase the number of children that have access to computers at home, Parker, like many of our collaborative partners, provided us with an opportunity to do what we do best put a refurbished computer back to work in the hands of a deserving student.
Last Updated on Wednesday, 08 December 2010 23:33
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Principal For A Day!
Thursday, 13 May 2010 16:29
administrator
 With the economy faltering and community and business leaders searching for the means to secure a brighter future, the relationship between current executives and the student population, representing the workforce of tomorrow, has never been so important. To help facilitate a positive relationship built on mutual understanding, more than 150 local business and community leaders, including Executive Director of TECH CORPS Texas, Danny Perry, joined forces as a part of the HISD's 6th annual "Principal for a Day" initiative.
The 153 guest principals were able to walk a mile in a HISD principal's shoes in order to better comprehend the issues that Houston public schools face, as the nation's seventh largest school district. Because economic development depends on the public school systems effectively preparing students to be the workforce of tomorrow, the local leaders of today were encouraged to share their experiences, in order to make students aware of the opportunities that await them. TECH CORPS Texas leader, Danny Perry, attended The Leaders Academy Charter School, an institution founded 3 years ago with the help of 140 computers donated by TECH CORPS Texas in an effort to equip 4 classrooms with the necessary technology to support a computer-based curriculum. "When they assigned the schools," says Perry, "I was very excited to find out I would be visiting Leaders Academy; it was a huge concrete area when we started [3 years ago] and it was awesome to see how far they had come."
Targeted as a credit recovery school for student's grades 9-12, Leaders Academy has evolved its model to help students go above and beyond expectations, assisting students with credit acceleration for those who want to take control of their education and forge ahead, or even graduate early. In spite of a dedicated student population, Leaders Academy still tackles the same issues that all public schools face. "Shortly after arriving," says Perry, "I sat in on a staff meeting, and listened to an exhaustive agenda in which we brainstormed ways to answer problems such as drop-out recovery, and new initiatives to take."
Last Updated on Wednesday, 08 December 2010 23:41
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Community Help Desk Program launches at the Leaders Academy!
Wednesday, 10 February 2010 17:35
administrator
TECH CORPSTexas successful summer program, The Community Help Desk, is moving to local charter school Leader's Academy. Beginning January 11, the program, at no cost to students, will last 2 hours a day three times a week, until the end of the school year, giving students the extended access and increased exposure to technology they need to complete the curriculum. The special curriculum designed to engage students through intensive technology education coursework, supervised learning activities, and the exploration of educational and career pathways, will prepare students to succeed in today's technology-charged global workforce.
The school-based pilot program fits perfectly with the Leader's Academy mission statement; to ensure the academic, social, and professional success of students through cutting edge technology, while creating a strong sense of personal accountability and civic consciousness. Personal accountability as a part of the global workforce of tomorrow will be secured today with student participation in the pilot program, which will train young people with marketable professional skills.
We will bring professionals in to talk to the students about different career options, says TECH CORPS Texas President, Danny Perry, students can expect to be prepared to test for A+ level certification, as well as other industry level certifications.
Made possible by grants from the Gulf Coast Community Services, and the efforts of TECH CORPS Texas, this program is part of a greater government stimulus plan to jump-start the economy by teaching the youth of America the relevant technology skills needed to contribute to the betterment of the individual, and the individual's community.
"Some of the goals of this program" explains Perry, "are to provide instruction to this particular group of students in technology based applications/careers, and define the pathways necessary to achieve their goals."
Last Updated on Wednesday, 08 December 2010 23:10
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TCTX News
ECH CORPS Texas is pleased to announce that our TECHie Club program is expanding to three Houston ISD Elementary School Campuses in Fall 2010! We're very excited to be able to offer this unique program to more students, but we need your help to do it. 
