Shawsheen Valley Technical High School
Powering Real-World Tech Training at Shawsheen Valley
At Shawsheen Valley Technical High School in Billerica, Massachusetts, instructors include hands-on labs where the students can disassemble desktops and laptops in their training programs. National Cristina Foundation helps make that a reality.
“We would not be able to have these real-world labs if we did not receive donations of computers where students can take them apart. New equipment is too expensive for this purpose. The laptops we receive are especially helpful to teach the skills necessary when disassembling and assembling mobile devices,” says Robert Galante, a teacher of computer repair and maintenance at Shawsheen Tech.
“Having these donations allows us to give our students the laptops and not worry too much if they work when the students are done. We are having the students complete these labs to teach the mobile device handling skills as much as any other technology related skills.”
Shawsheen Tech is a partner institution within the Foundation’s Cristina Network. The Cristina Network is made up of over 1,300 pre-screened nonprofit organizations, schools and government agencies providing educational opportunities to particularly underserved communities, such as those with disabilities, at-risk students and the economically disadvantaged. As a Cristina Network partner, Shawsheen Tech is able to receive donations of used computer equipment made possible through the Foundation’s technology donation platform.
“Our program would not be successful without the hardware obtained through donations. We are grateful to the National Cristina Foundation for the link to our school where donors in our area can easily locate us. They can see that the computers they want to donate matches the used equipment we are looking to find for training our students.”
Twenty-nine students are registered in Galante’s computer repair, security and network administration class. A full fifty percent of his students have some kind of disability.
“For these students, enrolling in this program has been very rewarding as the skills they are acquiring are those that enable them upon graduation to get and hold jobs,” says Galante.
Organizations seeking technology donations can learn more by visiting National Cristina Foundation’s “Receive Equipment” page. Donors wishing to make a tangible impact in the lives of individuals in need can learn more by visiting the Foundation’s “Donate Equipment” page.
National Cristina Foundation is a nonprofit private operating foundation with a mission to close the digital divide so that people in need can participate fully in a digitally connected world.
More information about Shawsheen Valley Technical High School
Mission Statement
We are constantly looking for donations like PC’s that we can use as lab PC’s in our classes. Some of these machines are also given to students who can not afford a PC at home. Machines that are not repairable are stripped for parts and re-used when repairing other computers.
Project Abstract
We are constantly looking for donations like PC’s that we can use as lab PC’s in our classes. Some of these machines are also given to students who can not afford a PC at home. Machines that are not repairable are stripped for parts and re-used when repairing other computers.
Target Population
The students who will work on these computers will include 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th grade.
Contact Information & Map
CompTIA: Shawsheen Valley Technical High School
Attn: Robert Galante
100 Cook Street
Billerica, MA 01821
United StatesPhone: (978) 667-2111 Email: rgalante@shawsheen.tec.ma.us [google-map-v3 width=”660″ height=”400″ zoom=”16″ maptype=”roadmap” mapalign=”center” directionhint=”false” language=”default” poweredby=”false” maptypecontrol=”true” pancontrol=”true” zoomcontrol=”true” scalecontrol=”true” streetviewcontrol=”true” scrollwheelcontrol=”false” draggable=”true” tiltfourtyfive=”false” enablegeolocationmarker=”false” enablemarkerclustering=”false” addmarkermashup=”false” addmarkermashupbubble=”false” addmarkerlist=”100 Cook Street, Billerica, MA, 01821{}1-default.png{}CompTIA: Shawsheen Valley Technical High School” bubbleautopan=”true” distanceunits=”miles” showbike=”false” showtraffic=”false” showpanoramio=”false”]
Equipment Needed
PC Desktop System
PC Laptop System
Mac Laptop System
CDROM Drive
Hard Disk Drive
Video Card
