Safe, Connected Schools Built With Thoughtful Leadership and Advanced Technology

A 15-year-old sophomore from Horizon High School, Javier Amir Rodriguez, was the youngest victim of a horrific mass shooting at an El Paso Walmart. It was a devastating loss for everyone at Clint Independent School District, including its Superintendent, Dr. Juan Martinez, who delivered an emotional address at his memorial. 

The shooting hadn’t taken place on a school campus, but it did bring that possibility to the forefront of many minds. As the community continued to heal, Dr. Martinez and his team worked to update and fortify the technology infrastructure throughout the district to streamline communication and build safer, more connected learning environments on every campus. 

Clear Communication

Clint ISD soon implemented a robust communication platform, advanced audio systems and cameras in every classroom — improvements that would enhance safety, support teachers, and increase student engagement. The new systems also gave teachers and other staff members access to simple features that add an important extra layer of security and make an enormous difference overall, such as one-button emergency response for teachers and staff. 

“Sometimes, we have emergencies and we’re alone with students,” shared special education teacher Karina Martinez. “The fact that we have a button we can push—even if I’m unable to get to the wall—means I can get the help I need immediately.”

Dr. Martinez explained further. “In the old days, if there was an emergency, the teacher had to run somewhere to talk to somebody or send a student to talk to someone in the office,” he said. “Now, you don’t have to send anybody out of the classroom. You just push that button and the alarm goes off immediately.”

Equipped for Other Challenges

A year later, when the Covid-19 pandemic abruptly moved learning online, Clint ISD’s technological upgrades made the transition much easier than it might have otherwise been. The new tools and technology worked together to help the district maintain a sense of continuity throughout that unprecedented time—and when students returned to classrooms, the systems adapted to meet new needs. 

• Classroom cameras that were designed for safety became essential for remote teaching.

• Audio systems ensured that students who were learning from home could hear and communicate clearly. 

• Social distancing policies had no effect on students’ ability to access and understand the content they were learning.

Beyond Emergencies: Supporting Teachers and Students

Clint ISD’s effort and investment have made the district safer while improving daily operations and ultimately transforming teaching and learning. The PA intercom system, for example,  has simplified communication between classrooms and the office. 

“It is so easy for us to call our teachers back and forth,” said Roxanne Ruiz, principal of Horizon Middle School. “Before, we had to dial classroom numbers and press certain codes just to get the bells to ring. With this system, it’s just one click of a button.”

The classroom audio systems have been a game changer for teachers and students alike. Educators can now speak in a normal tone, but project their voices evenly across the room. Not only does this reduce the strain on their vocal cords, but it ensures that all students can clearly hear what the teacher is saying, significantly improving the learning environment for students who need extra support with hearing challenges, language acquisition and attention issues.

Clint ISD now stands as a shining example of how, through tragedy and the challenges of a rapidly changing world, thoughtful leadership and advanced technology can still come together to create safer, more connected learning environments. Clint ISD is also giving other school districts a model to replicate; the Texas Commissioner of Education has reached out to Dr. Martinez to learn more about their approach, and education leaders across the state and beyond have since launched similar initiatives. 

At Boxlight, we believe that building secure, future-ready schools starts with strong, trusted partnerships. Through close collaboration, we help districts implement solutions that make campuses safer and more connected while paving the way for groundbreaking approaches to the challenges ahead.

We’re honored to work alongside districts like Clint ISD and all the forward-thinking educators and administrators who are driving change, setting new standards and doing things that haven’t been done before. This work makes it possible for schools to achieve extraordinary outcomes while building better learning environments for all.

Learn more about Clint ISD’s technology upgrades here.