Distinct Abilities visits San Jac
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.
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.”
