Hurricane Katrina Children's Learning Center
Houston, Texas
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Following the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, a valued partner to The Community College Foundation – Pearson Digital Learning, decided to move their nationwide eBus to bring technology resources to Houston, Texas, a city that absorbed many of Hurricane Katrina’s survivors. Jessup Elementary School, a public school in the Pasadena Independent School District serves over 1,000 students PK to 6. Forty-one students of Jessup’s current student body were displaced by the hurricane, while the attendance at Jessup quadrupled from families displaced from Louisiana. This increase in students created a shortage of technology to support the high volume.
The Pearson Mobile Learning Center (eBus) is a mobile technology lab equipped with 12 computer workstations and high-speed satellite Internet technology. The eBus, equipped with the latest educational software for children, furthers Pearson Digital Learning’s commitment to providing research-based digital learning solutions that elevate the art and science of teaching and inspire students to reach their greatest potential.
At Jessup Elementary School, Pearson Digital Learning volunteers worked with school technology staff to provide elementary school children and special education children with access to technology. Pearson colleagues from across the country volunteered service on the eBus to ensure that adequate support was provided to Jessup Elementary School during this time of devastation.
On any given day, it was common to see children laughing or singing the alphabet as they progressed through the digital curriculum. Children who visited the eBus were also able to access the onboard library of Penguin books. Given the presence of the eBus onsite throughout the Holiday season, both Pearson volunteers and The Community College Foundation staff partook in Halloween, Thanksgiving and Winter Season festivities.
We are pleased to announce that the Pearson Mobile Learning Center served over 75 students each day while located at Jessup Elementary School in Houston, TX.
The Community College Foundation would like to extend its appreciation to the Pearson Foundation for their generosity in funding an eBus to provide services to children displaced by Hurricane Katrina in Houston, TX from October-December 2005.