I know what it is like to live in a rural community. I grew up on a coconut farm in south India, surrounded by nature, waking up to wailing peacocks, and plucking mangoes right from the tree. Another rural Texas district, Royse City ISD, connects with experts for their regular classes as well as their gifted students. After a virtual session with a brain expert from New York, gifted specialist teacher Kelly Margot said, “I really think the great equalizer for equity with children is experiences. Experiences bridge that gap to give them opportunities to know what
is out there. Technology can eliminate geographic barriers to bring experiences with the world into my classroom. Yesterday my students were able to talk to a brain expert in New York. Today a student came in fired up about his next research idea over Cures for Neurological Issues. The expert told the kids what happens in the brain that causes autism. This kid
wants to know what is being done to fix it. Virtual interactions with industry are transforming my classroom. My students are reaping the benefits. The world will eventually be rewarded by their curiosity.” Caleb, a sophomore at Roscoe ISD said after a live virtual chat with a computer science engineer who works for an aerospace company, “I felt like he was talking to me although he was talking to a class of students. Seeing his level of success in life I was imagining myself in his shoes and then I reached out and enrolled in a programming class. I want to go to college and study computer science.” There are millions of professionals who have the skills to inspire students like Caleb and Austin, if only we will pave the way to make these moments of discovery happen. Sabari Raja is the CEO and co-founder of Nepris, She lives in Austin, Texas with her husband and two young sons.
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Master of Arts in Teaching in Middle Grades Master of Education with Secondary Education Concentration Master of Education in Educational Leadership Master of Education in Educational Technology Master of Education in Library Media Specialist in Education with Secondary Education Concentration Specialist in Education in Educational Leadership Non-Degree Certification in Library Media Non-Degree Certification in Instructional Technology Non-Degree Endorsement: English for Speakers of Other Languages
SouthEast Education Network
Spring 2016
99