Back By Popular Demand: ROCS Program Empowers Rural Texas Classrooms

Rural Opportunities in Computer Science (ROCS) program returns to equip educators using innovative, agriculture-driven approaches

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    In January, 17 teachers gathered at the Texas Advanced Computing Center for the second Project ROCS Trainer of Trainers program. Project ROCS (Rural Opportunities in Computer Science) recruits and supports rural educators to grow their CS knowledge and skills. CREDIT: Photos by Damian Hopkins, TACC

    According to the Texas CS Education Data Dashboard, 38 percent of rural high schools across the state offer computer science classes, compared to 66 percent of their urban and suburban counterparts. To help close this gap, the WeTeach_CS team at the Texas Advanced Computing Center launched the Project ROCS (Rural Opportunities in Computer Science) Initiative in March 2025, an annual professional development program designed to expand computer science offerings in rural Texas school districts.

    Sheryl Roehl (left) and Region 16 Science Specialist Kristi Leff (right) analyze soil data during the Project ROCS Trainer of Trainers program. Teachers received training on data science and AI applications in agriculture.

    Rural schools face persistent issues like fewer students and lower teacher pay, which creates more urgency for educators. The percentage of uncertified teachers in Texas varies from 4 percent to 21 percent from region to region, with the highest percentages being in rural areas, according to Issuu. To address this need, WeTeach_CS has helped more than 670 Texas educators earn a CS teaching certificate since its inception.

    “WeTeach_CS is committed to ensuring every school in Texas has access to meaningful computer science opportunities, especially those in rural communities with unique challenges and strengths,” said WeTeach_CS Partnership Coordinator Sheryl Roehl, who co-led the training. “We want trainers to take these engaging lessons back to their regions and empower teachers with the curriculum and tools they need to give students real, hands-on learning in precision agriculture.”

    The inaugural 2025 training launched with just eight participants but established a strong foundation for growth. By 2026, interest had surged, with attendance in the Project ROCS Trainer of Trainers program more than doubling. The participants returned to their districts to train additional teachers or use the materials and knowledge at family engagement events. Last year’s cohort went on to train a total of 89 educators.

    Sue Elwood of Texas A&M Corpus Christi uses a micro:bit to analyze soil hydration levels. ROCS training features curated curriculum and activities designed to give students experience in precision agriculture.

    Training curriculum featured Microsoft FarmBeats for Students, which combines an affordable micro:bit-based hardware kit with free curated curriculum and activities designed to give students experience in precision agriculture. The learning progression is designed to enable students to see the impact of modern tools and opportunities available to them.

    “Teaching FarmBeats to teachers shows how artificial intelligence and sustainability can work together to support agriculture,” said Westley Halbardier, a computer science and digital media teacher from Hondo ISD. “We want to make agriculture interesting and easily accessible to our students.”

    Participating school districts included representatives from Education Service Centers (ESC) in Regions 4, 5, 13, 14, 15, and 16.

    “I’m excited about the ROCS training because students and teachers in rural areas often don’t envision themselves as part of the computer science sphere,” said Adrienne Arroyo, a STEM and curriculum research specialist at ESC Region 13. “Given the advanced technological age we’re living in, it’s important to prepare our students for the careers of tomorrow so they can influence the future.”

    “Given the advanced technological age we’re in, it’s important to prepare our students for the careers of tomorrow so they can influence the future.”
    ESC Region 13 STEM Specialist Adrienne Arroyo

    STEM leader and returning ROCS trainee Beth Lehmann of ESC Region 15 said, “Our ROCS training was originally designed for 15 teachers, but due to overwhelming interest, we adapted it to serve 28 educators across the 46 districts we serve.”

    Added Region 15’s Leanne Locklar: “The cross-curricular nature of this training is attractive to our region because teachers can learn about science and technology and the farming practices of their parents and grandparents.”

    Hondo ISD teacher Westley Halbardier leads a Project ROCS training session. Seventeen educators gathered for this year's train-the-trainers event.

    About WeTeach_CS

    WeTeach_CS is a teacher professional development program that has empowered thousands of K-12 educators nationwide to integrate and advance computer science education in their classrooms. WeTeach_CS — a division of TACC’s Expanding Pathways in Computing team — has helped more than 670 Texas educators earn a CS teaching certificate since its inception in 2015.