Principal Steve Simpson
Welcome to San Jacinto Technology Institute,
My name is Steve Simpson and I am the Principal of SJ Tech, a K-8 Virtual Technology School. I am proud to be the leader of an institution that provides endless learning experiences and an education that is unlike any other here in the San Jacinto Unified School District. Our school provides all students with unique opportunities, ones that are flexible and student centered, and offer specialized learning platforms and programs that meet the needs of all of our students. In addition, our highly qualified staff will ensure all students a rigorous instructional model while using the district adopted core curriculum, and ensuring more focus on the specific needs of your student as compared to the traditional model. We are proud to be able to call ourselves a school of choice, one with a small school connection that offers our students a safe and positive learning environment.
Since March of 2020, many families who had previously not considered online school options are now more comfortable with the concept and there has been a significant improvement of online learning as opposed to what it was at the start of the pandemic. Our SJ Tech Teachers and Staff have become experts in the virtual setting and are able to enhance the learning opportunities of students as compared to the traditional learning environment. We understand that each of our current SJTech families have made a personal decision to enroll their students in online learning and many more are making the same choice to continue virtually. While reasons vary, the commonality is a choice to keep students learning in a virtual environment. Our ultimate vision at SJ Tech is to provide high technological opportunities for students with real world connections and endless opportunities that will meet the market needs of our students after high school and to prepare our students to be college and career ready just like traditional models of schooling do. Although we are a virtual school, we are looking forward to many more on-campus opportunities in order to engage our learners and enrich our virtual classroom instruction with a hands-on opportunity to grow. Our goal here at SJ Tech is to provide our students the same social and educational experiences that traditional schools offer. The difference is a hybrid experience where students have the option of many in - person enrichment activities including:
- Robotics
- Indoor Drones and a Drone Course
- Green Screen Video Recording
- eSports
- Intramural sports, Field Days, Leadership Groups and various other learning labs that teachers are creating in order to provide unique opportunities for students.
- Specific intervention for student targeted academic needs
Our team here at SJ Tech understands the importance of parents, guardians, and caregivers and the skills necessary to be a successful partner in your child’s education. As a result, SJTech will be offering 4 Parent Workshops designed to support parents of online learners during the 2022-23 year, which will be offered both virtually and in-person, to help families better support their students with the digital tools used in the online platform. Our goal is to partner with parents and allow them to become more connected to our school and their student’s education. These evenings will allow parents to participate in technology workshops and to see and use the specific technology platforms their students use each and every day. In addition, our planned evenings will allow students to showcase their talents and work as they demonstrate their learning. It is our hope to encourage all parents the opportunity to be involved in their student’s education and help us here at SJTI build our identity as a high tech learning opportunity for students. Parent participation is vital to our success. Many parents have expressed an interest in having an active role at San Jacinto Technology Institute. We are constantly on the lookout for family members who have time to give to the students and staff and are looking for ways to get involved. We always need members on the School Site Council, English Learner Advisory Committee, and are open to new and creative ways to engage our families, students, and staff together to enhance the overall school experience for your student. I look forward to meeting parents and students in the various opportunities we will have. Let’s have a great 2022 - 2023 school year. Go Jackrabbits!
Sincerely,
Steve Simpson
Principal
San Jacinto Technology Institute
