CRAZY FOR COMPUTERS Mouse Squad members keep schools running

At 17, Kathy Debesse and Arvin Ransunvar can build their own computers.
For that ability and other achievements in technology both Debesse and Ransunvar along with 20 fellow students from Thomas A. Edison High School in Jamaica were honored by New York City council members, business leaders, and New York public school officials on June 7.
The students honored are members of Mouse Squad, an innovative student leadership program in which a team of students establish and manage a help desk to meet the technology needs of their school.
Mouse Squad students set up technical stations for teachers' presentations as well as troubleshoot problems with the school's computers and components. Problems range from a stalled printer to the more complicated - the crash of a computer's hard drive.
According to Moses Ojeda a former student of Edison and now a coordinator of the program, &#8220Mouse Squad is a great program; it gives students a chance to apply the theory they learn in the classroom under real world pressure.”
Sponsored by Mouse, a non-profit educational organization, the Mouse Squad program seeks to integrate technology in teaching and learning in urban public schools.
Founded in 1997 by Andrew Rasiej and Sarah Holloway, Mouse created a database of technically experienced volunteers to mentor students in underserved school districts.
In its sixth year, Mouse Squads are now in more than 80 New York City public schools, nine of those in Queens. They are credited with saving the New York City's schools over $1.2 million.
The program empowers students through technology, readying them for today's technically demanding labor force.
According to Marlene Bowles, Operations Coordinator of the program, Mouse Squads provide a service that would normally be outsourced. Using students is cost-effective, immediate (as the students are in-house) and a powerful learning tool.
The students of Edison's Mouse Squad are selected by their instructors, based on their performance in the schools computer repair program.
&#8220Students are approached by instructors if they demonstrate the caliber of ability required for Mouse Squad,” Ojeda explained.
They not only have to possess a proclivity for technology but given the security risk of having access to the school's computer networking system they have to be trustworthy and reliable.
Technology and cost effectiveness aside, a component of Mouse Squad that cannot be measured is the inspiration and sense of pride the program instills in its members.
Both Debesse and Ransunvar, juniors at Thomas Edison, enthused about &#8220how confident,” participating in Mouse Squad has made them.
&#8220I feel I can do anything now,” said Debesse. She &#8220realizes what her life's calling is now.” She loves being able to help her friends with their computer issues. Her brother often requests that &#8220she speak English,” when she is the midst of giving him technical advice.
Ransunvar plans to attend a technical college and wants to learn computer programming.
Ilona S. Posner, principal of Thomas A. Edison boasts affectionately, &#8220Not only do they keep all our computers up and running, but they teach and train our staff.”