Goldie Tabor, a San Jacinto College employee, was picking up her son from school,
a routine part of her day, when a passing comment from his teacher turned into an
idea that brought a group of elementary students to the South Campus.
Distinct Abilities, located in Clear Lake and Alvin, is a private school for students
ages six weeks to 12 years, focusing on small-group instruction for children with
a range of learning needs.
“I overheard his teacher, Ms. Wendy Cunningham, who is also the director and elementary
curriculum coordinator, mention her wish to organize a monthly educational field trip
for the private elementary class,” Tabor said. “That sparked the idea that I might
be able to arrange a visit to San Jac South.”
Collaboration was essential
Tabor, division operations coordinator for Dr. Kim DeLauro, dean of arts and science, teamed
up with Jacquelyn Vega, senior administrative assistant, whose event planning support
helped coordinate the visit.
“With Jacquelyn’s help, we were able to coordinate an appearance from Poe the Raven, as
well as support from the marketing team for photos,” Tabor said. “I truly couldn’t
have done it without her.”
When Tabor proposed the idea to Cunningham and campus leadership, including DeLauro, Dr.
Connie Gomez, department chair of physical and life sciences, and Jeff McGee, department
chair of fine arts and physical education, they were immediately enthusiastic.
Faculty and staff members stepped in to help plan and host the activities.
Activities and learning
Tabor wanted the students to experience a variety of activities the campus offers
without making it overwhelming, so faculty helped design the schedule.
“I asked Connie Gomez and Jeff McGee if they would brainstorm a few activities,” she
said. “After I shared an itinerary for the kids’ arrival at their buildings, Jeff
and Connie thoughtfully planned the rest.”
Before the visit, Tabor coordinated logistics, completed a walk-through of the schedule, and
prepared goodie bags filled with San Jac swag, coloring books, and treats for the students
and teachers.
Bradly Brown, gallery curator, welcomed the students to the gallery, where they viewed artwork and
played with colored tiles. Next, they visited an art room to color, draw, and play
with colored blocks with Mary Knight, lab supervisor, and Loura De Los Santos, senior
administrative assistant for fine arts and physical education.
San Jac’s mascot, Poe, welcomed them to the geology lab, where they held rock samples, participated in
an experiment, and learned about the phases of the moon with Dr. Joseph Balta, geology
professor. Their last stop was an Oobleck lab to learn and do science experiments with
Gomez.
A wonderful experience
The students, many of whom are neurodivergent, responded well to the experience.
“I went in with a flexible mindset, prepared to adjust the schedule or take breaks
if any of them experienced sensory overload,” Tabor said. “But they exceeded expectations.”
The interactive and tactile nature of the activities helped keep students engaged.
Being on a college campus and moving through larger buildings and exploring different
labs and classrooms was a meaningful and exciting experience for them. It helped build confidence
in trying new things, navigating new spaces, and interacting with new people in a
supportive setting.
For Tabor, it was about creating a positive, memorable experience that encouraged
curiosity, confidence, and a sense of possibility.
“Being here helped make learning feel bigger and more tangible, and for some, it may
have made them feel that higher education can be accessible and obtainable,” Tabor
said.
Valuable for the College
Tabor feels the visits benefit the College by helping staff better understand different
needs and create more inclusive environments. She hopes to make it an annual field
trip.
“I was thrilled to see how much the kids enjoyed the activities and how naturally
they engaged with everything,” she said. “Since it went so well, I would like to try
and make this an annual field trip for Distinct Abilities.”
About San Jacinto College
Surrounded by monuments of history, evolving industries, maritime enterprises of today,
and the space age of tomorrow, San Jacinto College has served the people of East Harris
County, Texas, since 1961. The College is ranked second in the nation among more than
1,100 community colleges, as designated by the Aspen Institute and was named an Achieving
the Dream Leader College of Distinction in 2020 and 2026. As a Hispanic-Serving Institution
that spans five campuses, plus an online college, San Jacinto College serves approximately
45,000 credit and non-credit students annually. It offers more than 200 degrees and
certificates across eight major areas of study that put students on a path to transfer
to four-year institutions or enter the workforce. The College is fiscally sound, holding
bond ratings of AA+ by Standard & Poor’s and Aa2 by Moody’s. San Jacinto College is
accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
