From 🍎Educator to 💻Community Manager!

[Sabina_Hussaini]

Hi!

My name is Sabina and I recently joined the Google for Education Community as a Community Manager. I am so excited to be here and learn alongside all of you! In this role, my goal is to help facilitate meaningful, productive conversations among educators around the globe and to make sure you’re always up to date with the latest news, updates, and resources from Google! I wanted to take a moment to introduce myself and share a bit of my journey.

I grew up in the United States public school system as the child of Muslim parents who immigrated from India. I was fortunate to have incredible teachers who inspired me every step of the way. At the same time, I rarely saw people like me reflected in the books we read or the lessons we learned. I often struggled to feel that my culture and identity truly mattered. From a very young age, I knew I wanted to become an educator. I wanted to be someone who could help create spaces where everyone that entered felt seen and valued. Whether it was the students in my classroom, their families, or new teachers I mentored, my goal was always to make sure every voice mattered.

I spent six years as a third-grade teacher. I taught a total of 121 students, each of whom will always hold a very special place in my heart. During those six years, I wore many hats at my school. I served as a Mentor Teacher, supporting new educators during their first year. I also managed our school’s social media to share the amazing things happening in our classrooms with a wider audience. Additionally, I was my grade-level Team Lead, helping facilitate collaboration and conversations to improve student outcomes.

Using technology in the classroom always came naturally to me. My colleagues knew that if they had a tech question, I was the person to ask. When it came time to pivot into a new career, stepping into this role felt like the perfect fit. I’m passionate about helping educators around the world see the value of using technology in safe, effective, and meaningful ways to support teaching and learning. 

Thank you so much for taking the time to get to know me. Please feel free to introduce yourself in the comments, I would truly love to get to know you as well!

Best,

Sabina

[SavioFerraz]

Hello @Sabina_Hussaini,

What an incredible and very inspiring story! My story is also very similar to yours. I grew up in a small town in Bahia, Brazil. My parents, seeking better work and life opportunities, migrated to the city of São Paulo, the capital, where the largest concentration of Big Tech hubs is located. Because of this, I completed my entire education in public schools, with many teachers who inspired me to follow this wonderful path of education. Teaching is the profession that gives rise to all others; we move forward fulfilling this marvelous role!

Note: Having already worked in all areas of education, including public, private, and now in the third sector with NGOs, I see a challenge ahead in the field of technology for education, particularly in the new modern workplace, AI Workforce.

Thank you

[Sabina_Hussaini]

Hi @SavioFerraz !

Thank you so much for sharing your story! It’s clear we both carry that same spark lit by our teachers and our families' heritage. I’m honored to be working alongside educators like you who truly understand the transformative power of this profession. Welcome to the conversation!

Best,
Sabina

[rajagopalannanj]

I am Mr Gopal, hailing from Nilgiris of Tamil Nadu in India hailing from middle class.  In my earlier days I could not offer for my hostel fees and I stayed at the hostel run by Government of Tamil Nadu for four years on free of cost during my college days.  Now I am 65 and my wife is a retired Government school Teacher. During these years I could able to make my son who is working as a Shipping Master to work as Mooring Master in Togo, West Africa and my daughter as MBA graduate working in Check Republic in Europe.  As a Google Developer I am very much interested in taking the Google for Education to the students who are in the Government School and mostly drawn from downtrodden society who cannot offer for Technical Education.  Though I am having connection with Google from 2016 on words from G-suit Period, I am not interested in making money from this program and I am concentrating only on this to achieve my goal.  I have made representation to the Government of Tamil Nadu to extend this for the schools in Tamil Nadu and still I have to take action in this regard.  I hope this community and Google Administration can contribute and guide me in reaching this goal so that the students drawn from the downtrodden society can get this digital world to their community.      

[Sabina_Hussaini]

Hi @rajagopalannanj ! 

What an incredible life journey you have shared, Mr. Gopal! It is clear that education has been a transformative force for your family, and your desire to pay that forward to students in government schools is truly inspiring. Thank you for your decades of dedication to the field and for being such a vital part of this global community since the G Suite days. We are so much richer for having your voice and your mission here with us!

Best, 
Sabina

[GoogleGoddess]

@Sabina_Hussaini So great to have you here.  Loved virtually meeting you 😍

[Sabina_Hussaini]

@GoogleGoddess Thank you! I'm so excited to work with you! ❤

[rajagopalannanj]

While thanking you for admitting me to this community, I wish to bring the following suggestions to your attention.

At the present level the Google for Education is concentrating on the education where the students are affordable for any kind of device, either it is chrome book or any other android phones which may cost around 20000 to 40000 Indian Rupees.  But in reality, more than 60 percent of the students around India, Africa and many more countries around the world are not in a position to offer this cost.   Even sending their children to send the school the concern government are spending huge amount to attract these students to enroll in school itself.   We are not concentrating on these aspects how the new innovation models like Gemini and LKM model can reach these students.  Not only in elementary level and also it prevails in Higher Secondary level in village areas.

     At present we are concentrating on one-to-one model, and it is not possible to reach this category.  For this I am suggesting for another model called one teacher - one class model which can be feed many students who cannot afford for the device cost.  For example, if there are 30 to 40 students are available in a class the concerned blackboard may be equipped with software as in the chrome book or so.  The concerned   Gemeni or LKM   which ever available in the blackboard can concentrate on the questions raised by the entire class students and as well the teacher instead of answering to the single person.  This method will give opportunity the students drawn from the society where they cannot be offered for device cost.  Maintenance of the black board with necessary software can be considered for development and it will easier for the concerned Government all over the world can consider as it is possible one.   The members may consider the concept and give their suggestion so that we can spread the modern technology to those students.