On April 21st, the Director of Education for the City of Houston, Dr. Juliet Stipeche, presented the Learning Counsel and all area school districts a proclamation for “Digital Education Day.” On behalf of Mayor Sylvester Turner, Stipeche honored the educators for their united and dedicated work to bridge the equity gap and help all students ready themselves for a 21st-century workforce.
Stipeche, formerly a board member for Houston ISD, was appointed by the Mayor just three months ago to create greater collaboration between the city and area schools and to bridge a social divide that is often driven by an inadequate or uncoordinated education system.
“Nothing is more important than a good education for our youth that makes them college and career ready,” stated Stipeche. “There is nothing more honorable than what our Houston area schools and teachers are doing every single day for our children. And what the Learning Counsel is doing with their events to help districts make the digital transition is unique and valuable and is being recognized appropriately today."
The presentation of the recognition came like a blessing—the rain stopping and the sun came out just as Stipeche unrolled the proclamation mid-day during the Digital Curriculum Tactics Discussion at Kingdom Builders’ Community Center. In attendance were seventy executives, including representatives from virtually all area school districts: Houston ISD, Katy ISD, Pasadena ISD, Fort Bend ISD, Dickenson ISD, Columbia-Brazoria ISD, Deer Park ISD and Spring Branch ISD.
“We’re very proud to get this acknowledgement but it’s really for the school leaders, teachers and the students who are driving forward this important shift in education,” stated LeiLani Cauthen, the CEO of the Learning Counsel. “We’ve travelled to 54 cities in the last two years to work with Superintendents and their executive teams on the transition to digital curriculum and content. We’re extremely excited about what we’ve seen and the promise of helping millions of students to be truly prepared for their future.”
The day ended with a leadership panel, sponsored by Huawei Education Solutions, where equity for all, as stated in the Mayor’s proclamation, was a central theme. Andrew Houlihan, the Chief Academic Officer of Houston ISD pointed out that every child deserves and should have the right of anywhere, anytime access to be successful. “In many schools we will soon have no more textbooks at all. So when a student can’t get to their laptop or iPad and have it be connected, what is he to do? At the end of the day these devices and the digital curriculum, is the new textbook, so you can’t withhold that from them.”
