TEC program director applauded
Description
The under-representation of Latinos in fields like computer science and engineering troubled Watsonville TEC director Jacob Martinez and led him into a career where he teaches technology to students as early as the fifth grade. Watsonville TEC (also known as ITEST project Animando a Estudiantes con Technologia) is an after school program that will be in 14 Watsonville elementary and middle schools this year.
For his efforts, Martinez will be honored with a Nextie award later this month. The accolade is given out annually by Santa Cruz NEXT, an organization dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for area residents while addressing issues relevant to the next generation. Martinez is among to four people from Santa Cruz County selected from 38 nominees this year.
This article is the second in a series on Watsonville TEC by the Watsonville Patch.