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Apply SAN ANTONIO – A $25,000 grant awarded by AT&T to Texas A&M University-San Antonio in support of its La Familia project will help local family members enhance student learning and success. The La Familia project, which focuses on educational equity, is an innovative part of A&M-San Antonio’s overall goal to support the seven school districts surrounding its campus that comprise the ASPIRE network (A&M-San Antonio and South Bexar County ISDs Partnership to Impact Regional Equity and Excellence).
The overall aim of La Familia is to enhance early intervention efforts by boosting digital fluency and student academic enrichment in math and writing in particular. The specific purpose of the AT&T grant is to support the digital literacy component of the La Familia program by helping address educational barriers such as connectivity and technology access. This grant will provide all participating families with:
- On-site access to the internet during training sessions with digital literacy support to ensure parents learn to navigate digital resources and hone their ability to understand and navigate electronic information.
- Personal laptops to aid with internet and information accessibility to ensure family members have the proper equipment to get the most out of their digital experience.
- Training workshops to familiarize families with school learning portals so they can better access school resources and actively support the e-learning needs of their children.
A&M-San Antonio Foundation Board Member J.D. Salinas, assistant vice president of AT&T External and Legislative Affairs, presented the check to A&M-San Antonio President Dr. Cynthia Teniente-Matson during the University’s Fall 2021 Convocation, August 17. San Antonio City Councilwoman (District 3) Phyllis Viagran was also on hand to express her thanks. “All students need access to reliable internet,” said Viagran. “A&M-San Antonio is committed to making sure students on the South Side are included when it comes to digital access.”
As Salinas explains, the issue of connectivity is one challenge. Another is making sure that students and their families know how to connect. That’s why the La Familia program includes training to help families learn how to navigate school learning portals and other online resources so they can assist their children with their learning needs, says Salinas. “We have all learned a lot through this pandemic not only about gaps in connectivity but also about the need to teach some basic digital literacy skills,” says Salinas. “We also know that if you want economic development in any community, you must invest in education. And AT&T wants to be part of this University’s goal of transforming tomorrow together.”
“Transforming Tomorrow Together” is the focus of A&M-San Antonio’s updated strategic plan, unveiled during the Fall 2021 Convocation. President Teniente-Matson acknowledged the vital partnerships with community organizations and businesses like AT&T that make it possible for students in south Bexar County to achieve their educational dreams. “We have ambitious goals as an institution to become transformative for our students and our community, and we are committed as a University to direct our energy and resources in that direction,” said Teniente-Matson.
About ASPIRE
Launched in 2019, ASPIRE (A&M-SA & South Bexar County ISDs Partnership to Impact Regional Equity and Excellence) is the collaborative effort between A&M-San Antonio and seven south Bexar County ISDs (East Central, Edgewood, Harlandale, Somerset, South San Antonio, Southside, and Southwest) that is helping create equitable opportunities across districts and enhance social mobility, income growth, and career readiness for south Bexar County and the greater San Antonio area. ASPIRE members develop educational initiatives and services in support of existing programs that tackle persistent teacher shortages, curriculum development challenges, and gaps in services for children with special needs across south Bexar County.
Texas A&M University-San Antonio
Established as a stand-alone university in 2009, Texas A&M University-San Antonio is a comprehensive four-year public university that reflects the culturally diverse, heritage-rich community it serves. Situated on nearly 700 acres in south San Antonio, A&M-San Antonio is a Military Embracing™ institution offering 30 undergraduate degrees and 14 graduate degrees to nearly 6,800 students. The University is home to the Henry G. Cisneros Institute for Emerging Leaders and the Cyber Engineering Technology/Cyber Security Research Center. A&M-San Antonio holds the Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) designation. Military Times ranks the University No. 35 in the nation for “Best for Vets: Colleges.” Visit tamusa.edu for more information. #onamission