How A Lack of Exposure to Computer Science Education Motivated One Texas Educator to Forge New Learning Paths for Rural Education

Trenton Hall, MBA

Computer Science, Cybersecurity and 3D Printing

 

Early Gaming Console Sparks Interest in Technology Education 

 I grew up at a time when computers and gaming were making their household debuts. From my earliest introduction to Pacman, PONG and NES, I have been drawn to IT and technology. I knew my career would somehow focus on creating and scaling cool businesses using technology, although I had no idea what that would really look like. Today, kids have a history of IT to look back on and real jobs to base their educational decisions. Twenty years ago,  we were stumbling around on desktops and the new world wide web trying to figure it out in the dark. There was no YouTube, no online classes and certainly no downloads from gurus who had gone before us. We were isolated little nerds, building servers in our bedrooms all alone.  

Texas College Freshman and Scholarship Athlete Declares Major in Computer Science 

The year was 1997, I was an elite Texas distance runner with a high GPA being scouted by several universities for both academic and athletic scholarship. Although I would have probably made a fine student at a number of universities, my family was motivated most by money. We chose the school which required the least out of pocket expenses and I declared a major in Computer Science. My foresight of the industry was spot-on, unfortunately, I had no exposure to CS or really any technology courses in our rural Texas high school. I wouldn’t realize how my lack of experience in the subject matter would hinder my ability to fulfill these ambitions – until I found myself near academic probation. 

Texas College Sophomore Choose A Safer Path of General Business in order to Protect Academic Scholarship

 After a few classes, I quickly realized that Computer Science was going to require more focus than I could devote with my heavy course load and athletic training schedule. Although I was academically gifted, the lack of exposure left me feeling vulnerable. I could not risk losing scholarship as a result of failing grades –  so I changed my major to General Business & Kinesiology – areas I felt much more secure in passing.

A Focus On Perfect Grades Leads to Missed Opportunities for Innovative Education

It’s ironic how education and scholarships and grades sometimes put us in a safe zone and prevent us from achieving great things or inventing new paths. Instead of schools being an innovative, challenging place where failure is part of the learning process, they often become uninspiring roads to nowhere. Is a perfect GPA really a sign of genius, or is it simply validation that a student can memories material and regurgitate answers?  I certainly fit this description. I had earned perfect scores throughout my educational career, but I never had the opportunity to play, to explore, to create, build or even fail. I was driven to achieve straight A’s and earn scholarship – I checked all the boxes for an ideal student, but I graduated without ever really getting to explore my primary interest of technology. 

Teaching, Coaching and Building Businesses 

I graduated college with a degree in General Business and Kinesiology. As a newlywed, I was very motivated to find gainful employment when I was recruited as a head Cross Country and Track Coach in a rural Texas community. The coaching job came with the requirement that I teach math. During this time, my wife and I launched two separate businesses, so I was able to grow and expand my entrepreneurial and technology skills throughout my teaching career. We launched Texas LIVE Magazine and Media Company which required website development, early adoption to social media, video production, online ad monetization, blogging, publishing, new business development and frameworks for scalability. I was also exploring crypto-currencies and building mining infrastructures as a hobby. 

Bringing Computer Science & Innovative Education to Underserved Communities

After ten years of teaching, I realized that if these kids were ever going to be relevant to the modern workplace, they needed at least a basic exposure to Computer Science. I knew I was called to bring Computer Science and Innovative Education to a generation of kids who deserved exposure to the subject at the high school level. I signed up, self funded, and passed the Texas CTE exam.

I was fortunate to work within an innovative school district who allowed me to fundraise and build a state-of-the art computer and 3D printing lab. I’ve included some project highlights below. Today, these kids are working for NASA, Edward Jones, AT&T and the US Government doing high level programming and problem solving engineering.

Computer Science I, Computer Science II, UIL Team Leader, 3D Printing, Prosthetic Printing, Coding Instruction, Java, AP Computer Science

Chris Holle is now 

Local Masonic Lodge Makes Donation for 3D Printer

I’ve spent countless hours outside the classroom walls networking and promoting the work of our students. I was fortunate to live in a community of business leaders who believed in and supported my work within the classroom. My grandfather was a depression era baby who grew up to serve his country with lifetime military service. That generation’s financial generosity paved the way for me. I hope we all continue to install philanthropy into the hearts of the next generations. I was able to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for innovative technology over my twenty year career. 

Local Boy Receives New 3D Printed Hand 

A Brenham boy is receiving an update version of a 3-D hand he received last year.

Two year old Kaedon Olsen received his new 3-D hand on Thursday at Brenham High School.

In the summer of 2014, Brenham ISD Career and Technology Instructor Trenton Hall was approached by Kaedon’s mom and asked about the possibility of “printing” a new hand for her son via 3-D printing , which can be made at a much lower cost that the medically-produced one.

Because Kaedon is so young, his new hand will have to be “reprinted” every approximately every six months.

Hall tells us a little more about the process. Read More 

Computer Science Class Makes 8th Prosthetic Arm, Given to Local 3rd Grade Student 

This great group of kids came together to print yet another prosthetic limb which would be delivered within our own community. From the pink and purple coil to the size and electronic components, these students left no detail undone. I’m proud of the work they are doing today as young adults leading in their fields, confident as a result of these hands on experiences they received in high school.

Computer Science Class Makes 8th Prosthetic Arm, Given to Local 3rd Grade Student 

This great group of kids came together to print yet another prosthetic limb which would be delivered within our own community. From the pink and purple coil to the size and electronic components, these students left no detail undone. I’m proud of the work they are doing today as young adults leading in their fields, confident as a result of these hands on experiences they received in high school.