On January 31, 2011 a group of San Saba High School students were asked to present information about their school’s 1:1 laptop computer initiative at an event called the Texas Capitol School House Event. Students, Paige Faught, Tanner Weyerts, Ashley Pulatie, Marshall McIntosh, Alan Hale, and Kristen Jordan were accompanied by SSISD sponsors Milly Summy, Judy McCoy and Colleen Womack as they spent the day at the Texas Capitol participating in the program.

Along with 14 other schools from across the state of Texas, the SSHS students were welcomed by sponsor of the event, Public Education Committee Chair, Florence Shapiro. Senator Shapiro visited with the SSHS students at length regarding their projects which included a social studies presentation, a business program, demonstration on how to use the clicker system to answer questions remotely, a Spanish video, and an overview of the use of "mybigcampus" to name a few. Mybigcampus is an online program that allows teachers to correspond with students electronically. This medium provides teachers with the opportunity to assign projects and students the opportunity to submit projects electronically through an controlled environment. What this means is mybigcampus is filtered by the school distinct and all conversations between student to student and teacher to student are looked at for appropriateness.

San Saba High School Student, Tanner Weyerts was one of 5 students selected to be recognized on the floor of the Senate by Senator Shapiro. While on the floor, Tanner had the opportunity to talk to Senator Troy Frazier as well. This event allowed the students to witness government in action. The hotly contested cuts to the educational budget brought out many different groups protesting and approaching the legislators about the importance of education. It was an eye opener for the students to see this type of display. The students were very fortunate to have many of the parents attend this program in support as well.

The Texas Capitol Schoolhouse is a legislative event to give students and teachers from across the state of Texas the opportunity to showcase how technology is being used to improve public schools. The goal of the event is to provide information for legislators, other state leaders, and the general public about how the most advanced technologies and best practices are improving the way teachers teach and students learn!