The Houston Independent School District has unveiled three new Verizon Innovative Learning Labs at Holland, Edison, and Patrick Henry Middle Schools, thanks to partnerships with Verizon, Heart of America, and the J. Orin Edson Entrepreneurship + Innovation Institute at Arizona State University.

Superintendent Millard House II, Chief Academic Officer Dr. Shawn Bird, Trustee Kathy Blueford-Daniels, along with the schools’ principals welcomed the community partners in a ribbon cutting ceremony at Holland Middle School on Monday, May 23.

“Providing an equitable education experience is something that we cannot accomplish without the generous support of community partners like Verizon,” said House. “These Verizon Innovative Learning Labs will be beacons of discovery and ingenuity for our students to develop marketable skills and products for jobs of the future.”

Working through its nonprofit partners, Verizon Innovative Learning provides free technology, free internet access, and hands-on learning experiences to help students in under-resourced communities receive the education necessary for today’s digital economy. The labs incorporate a next-generation, technology-infused curriculum that aims to fundamentally change the way teachers teach and students learn.

“I’m so very excited for all the students out here in the community of Pleasantville and here at Holland Middle School,” said Daniels. “We want to thank Verizon and Heart of America as well as Arizona State University for coming into our communities and participating and giving our students different opportunities.”

Verizon’s nonprofit partner Heart of America leads the transformation of the state-of-the-art space in collaboration with the schools and district team. The J. Orin Edson Entrepreneurship + Innovation Institute at Arizona State University provides an immersive curriculum and training opportunities for the teachers.