To help students prepare for an upcoming Future Problem Solving competition, law enforcement officials with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection visited students at Fort Bend Independent School District’s Gifted and Talented Academy to discuss their role in surveillance of U.S. borders.
The students welcomed Supervisory Program Manager for Border Security Denise Blackwell and Public Affairs Liaison David Patino, who explained how they track and stop threats to the U.S. They also spoke of how the tragedy of 9-11 has shaped the current trends in border security, the difference between Border Protection and Border Patrol, and the role social media can play in the investigation of threats against U.S. borders.
The discussion allowed students to received first-hand knowledge that they can use when entering the upcoming Future Problem Solving competition, where their topic will be “Surveillance Society.” This will be the sixth year for the GT Academy students to participate in the Future Problem Solving Program, and they represent the only FBISD school to do so. Sixth-grade teachers Nicole Frazier, Doreen Lee, Larry Romero and David Sebek teach the Academy students the creative problem solving process during their English Language Arts classes.
The late Dr. E. Paul Torrance, an expert in creative thinking, developed the Future Problem Solving Program in 1974. Since its inception in Georgia, participation in the program has increased dramatically across the globe. This year, approximately 50,000 students will participate in the Future Problem Solving activities.
Photo: Shown (from left) are: Tyler C., Maya B., Evan B., Gabriel H., Emma B., and (back row) Program Manager for Border Security Denise Blackwell and Public Affairs Liaison David Patino.
Press release courtesy of Fort Bend ISD Community Relations.