Fiber connectivity enhances learning for Pre-K children in southern Texas

“It’s always been a pipe dream of mine to live in a day where I could just walk into a cloud-based situation to manage my needs. Now thanks to Spectrum Business, I have one dashboard from which I run a network that stretches across 1,500 miles.” 

Sam Juarez, Network Manager, Hidalgo County Head Start Program

For communities where language barriers and lower incomes are common, early learning access is essential. Each year, Hidalgo County Head Start Program (HCHSP) in Texas readies over 3,000 children ages 3-5 for elementary school.

HCHSP fosters social interaction, improved English literacy and family support as part of a broad preschool program stretching across 1,500 square miles. Robust cloud-supported learning tools and centralized voice communications are vital components to this end.

To help make this happen, HCHSP counts on their technology partner: Spectrum Business.

For reliable, scalable internet access backed with a service-level agreement (SLA) guaranteeing 100% uptime, seven HCHSP classroom locations were outfitted with Dedicated Fiber Internet circuits.

“When a construction team comes out, does a survey, rolls out the fiber, and it’s ready to go, I enjoy that,” notes Sam Juarez, Network Manager, Hidalgo County Head Start Program. “Spectrum Business has got it all. They brought us a turnkey solution. The children don’t see it, the parents don’t see it, but man, do I see it! And it’s tremendous.” 

Using a Cisco Meraki device combined with 24/7/365 managed oversight from Spectrum Business, HCHSP now enjoys enhanced firewall and routing capabilities via a mobile app using Managed Network Edge.

With over 600 employees, including teachers, health aides, social workers and family services workers, a centralized communications platform was needed to work with both mobile apps and desktop devices. HCHSP got this with Unified Communications with Webex.