EL PASO, Texas, April 30, 2018 /PRNewswire/
-- El Paso students at
four area schools will have the opportunity to learn to code this
fall, thanks to a new partnership announced Monday with Microsoft
Corp.
Microsoft's Technology Education and Literacy in Schools (TEALS)
program, which helps high schools build and grow sustainable
computer science programs through partnerships between classroom
teachers and technology industry volunteers, will launch this fall
at Clint ISD Early College Academy, Eastlake High School,
Eastwood High School and Loretto
Academy.
"Our region is fortunate to have terrific schools, which will be
even stronger with the addition of a program that teaches one of
the key skills young people will need to be successful in our
increasingly technology driven world," said JJ Childress,
El Paso manager of Microsoft's
TechSpark program to foster greater economic opportunity and job
creation in six communities in the United
States. "We know teachers want to teach computer science,
but it can be challenging to find the time and resources to learn
the subject. TEALS addresses this by putting trained technology
volunteers into classrooms to teach students, while helping
teachers prepare to teach the subject on their own."
Since its formation in 2009, TEALS has paired volunteer computer
science experts from over 500 companies with high school teachers
in nearly 350 schools, in 29 states and Washington, D.C. Volunteers join classes in
person, or through the internet when enough volunteers aren't
available locally.
John Mack, Prudential's head of
Technology in El Paso, is among
those who signed up to volunteer through TEALS. "Technology is
driving the world economy, and there are so many rewarding careers
available to those who have learned to code," Mack said. "I jumped
at the opportunity to work with young people in our community this
fall, and I hope that many others join me."
Other El Paso-based businesses
helping promote TEALS among their employees, and supporting their
employees in their volunteer work, include El Paso Electric and
Steele Consulting. The University of Texas at
El Paso is also helping to promote TEALS among students
interested in volunteering through the program. As a result of this
support from the community, employees from these companies, and
university students, have applied to volunteer.
Edmond Martinez, principal of
Clint ISD Early College Academy, a school that has long embraced
the need for strong science, technology, engineering and math
programs, sees the teaching of computer science as a duty to the
next generation, and encourages local technology experts to step up
to volunteer.
"We have a responsibility to create pathways for our students
from high school, through college, and to professional positions,"
Martinez said. "Technical knowledge and skills prepare our students
for the jobs of today and tomorrow, to solve serious problems, and
create new opportunities for humanity. It's my hope that many of
those in our community who have technology training will sign up to
volunteer with TEALS this fall. What could be more rewarding than
passing on your skills to the next generation of innovators?"
Anyone with a computer science degree or equivalent industry
experience, who wants to give back to the community by teaching
high school computer science, can apply. Volunteers receive
training over the summer, and other support throughout the process.
Applications are open now, through the end of May, and can be found
at https://www.tealsk12.org/volunteers/.
Microsoft (Nasdaq "MSFT" @microsoft) enables digital
transformation for the era of an intelligent cloud and an
intelligent edge. Its mission is to empower every person and every
organization on the planet to achieve more.
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SOURCE Microsoft Corp.