Resource Center

• By Michelle Martínez Vega • IDRA Newsletter • October 2025 •

Resource from the Intercultural Development Research Association (IDRA), a nonprofit advancing education equity.

We are thrilled to announce the launch of the IDRA Youth TechXperts program at two Brownsville ISD schools. The program serves eighth-grade students, marking a powerful step toward building a homegrown technology talent pipeline in the Lower Texas Rio Grande Valley.

The new program is grounded in IDRA’s long-standing work to develop sustainable models that enhance student leadership and achiev

ement in STEM. Through this middle school elective course, students develop as both learners and leaders by forming an on-campus, student-led help desk while simultaneously studying computer science fundamentals.

Grounded in CompTIAs foundational certification pathway, IDRA Youth TechXperts combines rigorous technical content with authentic service opportunities. Students learn by studying and also by actively applying their skills to support their school community.

Guided by Experienced Educators

At the core of IDRA Youth TechXperts is an industry-aligned curriculum. The CompTIA IT Fundamentals certification pathway introduces students to the building blocks of modern computing and the practical skills required to support it. IDRA’s curriculum covers six domains.

• IT Concepts and Terminology – introducing basic computing principles, data types and operating systems.
• Infrastructure – building knowledge of hardware, networking and cloud computing.
• Applications and Software – exploring productivity tools, application installation and version control.
• Software Development – providing an entry-level understanding of coding logic and program structure.
• Database Fundamentals – teaching how data is structured, stored and accessed.
• Security – emphasizing safe computing, access controls and cybersecurity awareness.

By weaving these domains into the day-to-day classroom experience, students gain both theoretical understanding and applied knowledge. For example, when they troubleshoot a Wi-Fi connectivity issue, they draw directly from the infrastructure domain. When they coach teachers on password management, they practice concepts from the security domain.

In the South Texas region where computer and math occupations pay almost double but account for only 1% of local employment, the IDRA Youth TechXperts program launches to prepare students for leading in these high-demand, higher-wage STEM jobs.

Guided by Experienced Educators

We are honored to partner with two outstanding educators: Roberto Salazar at Vela Middle School and Richard Gonzalez at Faulk Middle School. With years of experience in both technical support and classroom teaching, these educators embody the bridge between industry knowledge and pedagogy.

Their classrooms resemble student-run IT labs. IDRA Youth TechXperts students practice service ticket intake, real-time troubleshooting and escalation of more complex issues. They learn to resolve problems, such as sluggish devices, malfunctioning printers, Wi-Fi interruptions and account access errors – all while applying the structured CompTIA troubleshooting methodology.

Most importantly, Youth TechXperts reaches students who may never have imagined themselves in technology fields. Many come from underserved communities that have historically lacked access to robust STEM opportunities.

Under the mentorship of Mr. Salazar, Mr. Gonzalez, IDRA and our partners at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) and the Texas Education Service Center, Region 1, students develop technical proficiency and professional skills, including decision-making, documentation, communication, and customer service.

Learning Through Research and Service

A key element that sets Youth TechXperts apart is its use of youth participatory action research (YPAR). Rather than receiving pre-determined tasks, students act as researchers and co-designers of their learning. They create surveys, conduct structured interviews, and gather observational data to identify the technology needs of teachers and staff on their campuses.

Once the data are collected, students analyze the results and decide how to respond. For instance, if the findings reveal frequent issues with classroom digital displays, a team of Youth TechXperts can learn those systems to, in turn, train their teachers on how to use the equipment and software.

If the research shows that teachers need better strategies for cloud file management, students can develop a professional development session for teachers to demonstrate folder organization, sharing permissions and file recovery.

This cycle of research, learning and service ensures that student growth is both purposeful and responsive. They first identify real needs, then develop skills in the relevant ITF+ domain and finally apply those skills to solve problems.

Whether they are producing how-to guides, recording screencasts, or staffing an on-premises support desk for campus events, students become reliable problem-solvers and leaders who see the direct impact of their work.

Why Brownsville? A Look at the Labor Market

Launching IDRA Youth TechXperts in Brownsville is timely and strategic. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, workers in the Brownsville-Harlingen metro area earned an average hourly wage of $21.52 in May 2024, compared to the national average of $32.66.

Within that, computer and math occupations in the area pay an average of $38.63 per hour but account for only about 1% of local employment, which is smaller than the national share. This suggests strong potential for growth in the region’s technology workforce and highlights the value of preparing local students for these high-demand, higher-wage jobs.

Zooming out to the state level, Texas is one of the nation’s strongest technology engines. According to CompTIA’s 2025 State of the Tech Workforce report, Texas ranks second only to California in net tech employment and is projected to see 24% growth in technology roles between 2025 and 2035.

This trajectory means that today’s middle schoolers who begin with IT fundamentals are stepping onto a fast-moving escalator of opportunity across IT support, networking, software, data and cybersecurity.

Nationally, the outlook is equally promising. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects computer and IT occupations to grow much faster than average from 2023 to 2033, with over 356,000 openings each year and a median annual wage of $105,990 as of May 2024 – more than double the national median for all occupations. For Youth TechXperts students, these figures represent more than statistics; they are glimpses of real futures where curiosity and technical skills translate into careers.

Building Leadership, Confidence and Community

Beyond technical know-how, IDRA Youth TechXperts emphasizes leadership and civic purpose. Students learn that technology is fundamentally about people and service. They practice ethical research by protecting privacy and ensuring informed consent. They learn to analyze findings responsibly and to propose solutions aligned with campus goals.

When Youth TechXperts students lead a technology support session for their teachers, they reinforce best practices and share nifty software tips and tricks. And they are practicing public speaking, lesson design and coaching.

When students staff the help desk, they sharpen their skills in customer service, intake form management, prioritization and follow-up support. These are transferable competencies that prepare students for any future pathway.

Looking Ahead

IDRA is creating an experiential curriculum and scaffolding IT learning opportunities for participating eighth grade students. As the program grows, future cohorts may expand into peer-mentorship roles, as well as self-select high school pathways, such as CompTIA A+, Network+ and cybersecurity.

Ultimately, IDRA Youth TechXperts is about preparing students for a technology-rich future. With major industries like SpaceX’s Starbase and the companies that support its mission, the demand for skilled local talent will only increase.

By anchoring the pilot in CompTIA’s IT fundamentals, centering students through YPAR, and fostering mentorship from skilled educators, we are showing eighth graders not just how computers and networks function, but also how their curiosity and compassion can strengthen their schools today and open doors for tomorrow. That is the vision of IDRA Youth TechXperts, and we are proud to be building it with our partners and funders.

The program in Brownsville ISD is made possible by the generous support of Valley Baptist Legacy Foundation and by the U.S. Department of Education. IDRA is available to partner with other school districts interested in sponsoring the program in their schools. Contact Michelle Martínez Vega for details at michelle.vega@idra.org.

Resources

CompTIA. (March 2025). State of the Tech Workforce.

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (August 28, 2025). Computer and Information Technology Occupations. Occupational Outlook Handbook.

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (May 2024). Occupational Employment and Wages in Brownsville-Harlingen. Southwest Information Office.

Michelle Martínez Vega is IDRA’s chief technology strategist and directs IDRA Youth TechXperts and co-directs IDRA Digital Ambassadors (michelle.vega@idra.org).

[© 2025, IDRA. This article originally appeared in the October edition of the IDRA Newsletter. Permission to reproduce this article is granted provided the article is reprinted in its entirety and proper credit is given to IDRA and the author.]

FAQs

What is IDRA Youth TechXperts?
A student-centered elective for eighth graders that combines a campus help desk with CompTIA IT Fundamentals (ITF+) coursework and real-world service.

Where did the program launch and who participates?
At Vela Middle School and Faulk Middle School in Brownsville ISD, serving eighth-grade students in the Lower Texas Rio Grande Valley.

What do students learn?
Six ITF+ domains: IT concepts, infrastructure, applications and software, software development, database fundamentals and security, plus customer service, documentation, communication and troubleshooting.

How does YPAR shape the course?
Students survey and interview campus staff, analyze needs and co-design solutions from display setup to cloud file management training.

Why Brownsville and why now?
The region shows strong potential for tech workforce growth. IDRA Youth TechXperts builds local talent pipelines aligned with industry demand.

How can other districts get involved?
IDRA can partner with interested districts. Contact Michelle Martínez Vega at michelle.vega@idra.org.