Tech Corps volunteers share skills with kids         Puget Sound Business Journal                                                                                       Jenny Lynn Zappala   Contributing Writer                 http://seattle.bizjournals.com/seattle/

Abbey Alessi teaches word processing and PowerPoint to her fourth graders at High Point Elementary School because she believes technology is an important life skill. Many educators, however, are reluctant, afraid or too busy to integrate education technology in their curriculum.

"I felt I was a pioneer," she said. "Teachers didn't know how to use it so they called it 'dead equipment.' They saw it more as a toy and we already have enough toys."

Computers are becoming as common as blackboards in schools, but there is little training or support for K-12 educators who teach technology.

Tech Corps, a nonprofit organization founded by Gary J. Beach, senior vice president of International Data Group and publisher of CIO magazine, began filling that gap in 1995. Today, Tech Corps funnels high-tech support, training and volunteers into 24 states, supported by national sponsors Compaq and Cisco.

"In order for the schools to feel the full benefit of technology, it's going to take people, whether it's people giving up their time, giving up their dollars or training people how to use that equipment," said Karen Smith, Tech Corps executive director.

The Washington State chapter was formed about a year ago, said Bretta Beveridge, Washington State Tech Corps director.

Daniela Lammers, a Seattle graphic designer joined Tech Corps out of principle and discovered that teaching Alessi's fourth graders was a delight. She volunteers twice a week and teaches students how to take digital photos, design pages and create presentations.

"I am a firm believer in volunteering," the self-employed small business owner said. "I think everybody should share what he or she has. I don't have money, but I can give my time. The kids are absolutely wonderful, so appreciative and happy to see you."

During the 2000-2001 school year, Tech Corps deployed some 6,000 volunteers in 1,500 schools nationwide. The effort yielded a total of nearly 100,000 volunteer hours from IT professionals and roughly $5 million in value to schools across the nation.

There is a substantial gap in technical support and training to be filled, according to Smith. In the corporate world, for every $1 spent on equipment, $1 is spent on training and support, according to the organization's research. In 1995, for every $1 spent for technology equipment in schools, three cents was spent on training and support.

"Today, it's about 10 to 12 cents for every $1," Smith continued. "We have come a long way. I cannot give enough accolades to the educators for trying to make technology work in their classrooms. We owe them as much support as we can give them."

After being approached by Tech Corps, Microsoft jump-started Washington's Tech Corps chapter with a $50 million seed grant, Smith said. Since then, Beveridge has been tilling the soil by establishing alliances with schools, businesses and organizations; identifying partner schools and their needs; and nurturing a handful of pilot projects in King, Thurston and Snohomish counties.

"We are really trying to build awareness among the schools, the education community and then the business community," Beveridge said. "We have tried to do a few key projects to show the education community and the business community how important this is to teachers, to the schools and to the kids."

Every $1 invested in Tech Corps yields $3 in benefits for the school, Smith added. If a school goes out and hires someone to train their teachers, that expert leaves and the knowledge erodes, she said. If a volunteer teaches the training and remains available to that school to answer questions or maintain computer networks, the value of that training "is manyfold."

"It makes it much more real to my students," said Lammers. "With the volunteer, who comes from the real world and who really does this, their ears and eyes are focused on what she is saying. When the bell rings, they are reluctant to leave. It amazes me how much of an impact that just one person can have."

In particular, Washington Tech Corps volunteers will:

• mentor students during their senior projects;
• maintain the schools' computer networks;
• teach students professional skills and workplace etiquette;
• train educators in technology; and
• advise educators by e-mail, chat or video conference.

Nationwide, the nonprofit organization's goal is to establish state chapters with full-time, paid state directors in all 50 states.

"If (companies) let their employees go out and do something good, the (employees) come back re-energized," Smith said. "People who are feeling low morale at work feel re-energized when they volunteer."