On Monday, January 31, 2011, the Texas Capitol Schoolhouse and the Capitol Schoolhouse Foundation will facilitate actual high tech school classrooms in the basement Capitol Rotunda using state-of-the-art educational technology.

"The participating schools clearly demonstrate their effective day-to-day use of educational technology in teaching their students and preparing them for the 21st century. Visitors to the Capitol will see and experience technology currently in use by Texas classrooms." Schoolhouse organizer and Executive Director Dr. Deborah Jolly said.

"We bring the schools together to show our legislators the wonderful things their technology funding has done for Texas classrooms. Each time the event becomes more and more impressive as the technology use becomes more and more sophisticated," Jolly added.

At the beginning of each legislative session, a number of schools are invited to bring a small representative group of their students along with their teachers with current applications of educational technology. Teachers and students set up their classrooms in the Capitol. Throughout the event, they conduct class just as they do every day in their home districts. This year students, utilizing both PCs and Macs, will be working with video & sound editing, robotics, iPods, iPads, online virtual learning environments, 1 to 1 laptop computing, on-line interactive learning and other educational technologies.

Legislators and invited guests have the opportunity to venture through actual classrooms to observe and experience educational technology in use by teachers and students.

"Educational technology brings schools high tech education tools deployed by our teachers and used by our students to prepare them to succeed in the 21st century. These students are eager to show their Representatives and Senators how these tools are used in the education process and how much they benefit from their use." Dr. Jolly concluded.

Participating districts include: Amarillo ISD, Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD, Hallsville ISD, Irving ISD, Klein ISD, Manor ISD, Ysleta ISD, Floydada ISD, Coleman ISD, San Saba ISD, Pasadena ISD, and the Texas School for the Deaf. Remote schools include Stockdale ISD, Alief ISD and Panhandle ISD. Students attending this very special opportunity and presenting on behalf of San Saba High School include: Marshal McIntosh - 11

San Saba High School was the recipient of the Vision 2020 Grant in August of 2009. This grant implemented over a two year time period provided extensive professional development, SMART-boards, projectors for the classrooms as well as a laptop for each student and teacher.

To experience the Texas Capitol Schoolhouse up close and personal, visit the Capitol Rotunda (basement) on January 31 8 AM - 4PM.

Pictured Marshal McIntosh - 11

th grade, Kristin Jordan - 11th grade, Allan Hale - 11th grade, Tanner Weyerts – 11th grade, Ashley Pulatie – 11th grade, and Paige Faught – 11th grade. Staff from SSISD attending the event and sponsoring the students will be Milly Summy, Judy McCoy and Colleen Womack. High School Principal, Woody Martin, Assistant Superintendent, Michael Bohensky and Superintendent, Leigh Ann Glaze will also attend the event as they are in Austin at this time for legislative meetings and to attend the annual Texas Association of School Administrators Mid-Winter conference. As well, SSISD school board members and parents of the students are invited to attend. th grade, Kristin Jordan - 11th grade, Allan Hale - 11th grade, Tanner Weyerts – 11th grade, Ashley Pulatie – 11th grade. Not present for the photo is Paige Faught.