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eSPORTS
IN PALM BEACH SCHOOLS
In the Fall of 2019, the Educational eSports into the school day during their
Technology Department received a grant elective class. The coaches transformed
from the Pew Foundation for $93,000 to their Digital Design classes so every
begin building Scholastic eSports teams assignment related to eSports. Students
in our high schools. John Shoemaker, in this class create content such as
Educational Technology Specialist, graphics for their Twitch streams or social
serving as the District Scholastic eSports media posts. This is still the first year of
Facilitator, began with three schools— the grant implementation; however, the
Boynton Beach Community High School, courses during the day are completely
Glades Central Community High School, full with a waiting list and they have
and Palm Beach Lakes Community High 150-200 students meeting after school.
School. Scholastic eSports at these Palm Beach Lakes’ Rocket League Team
schools provides opportunities for all qualified to compete in the Electronic
students to use eSports as a platform to Gaming Federation (EGF) Finals at
develop STEAM-based skills and social the ESPN Wide World of Sports at
emotional attributes. Walt Disney World in June
2022 and placed 4th out of
The District’s overarching vision for all teams from across the
Scholastic eSports is to attract those country. The teams and
students who are typically not engaged clubs at Lakes have
with school. Many students who been featured
participate in these programs are students heavily in local
who commonly do not take part in any and national
other extracurricular activity. Scholastic publications
eSports provides students with exposure including the
to the wide range of careers available in
February
the eSports world. It is not just focusing 2023
on playing games. In this effort the district edition of
is aligned very closely with the North
Palm Beach
America Scholastic eSports Federation Illustrated
(NASEF) and our Florida affiliate, the magazine.
Sunshine State eSports League (SSEL).
The continued
In the Spring of 2021, cross-departmental success of the project
meetings were held between Educational would not be possible
Technology and IT in order to navigate without the amazing
through the technical hurdles that occur as partnership between
a result of implementing a new innovative Educational Technology
program. Collaboration between and IT. Special thanks to Jorge
Educational Technology, IT Security, IT Savaglia, Michael Sims, Tim Carey,
Enterprise Applications, IT Infrastructure, Michael Pare, Corey Farmer, Maggie
and IT Technical Operations allowed Papa, Ron Monbleau, Jorge Burgos,
us to create special considerations for Jeancarlos Abreu, Michael Pelletier, and
rooms designated as eSports labs. These Kevin Ogonowski for their continued
specialized learning environments allow support. If your school is interested in
the computers and consoles to exit our starting an eSports club or team, contact
network and access the games students John Shoemaker (john.shoemaker@
need with the shortest amount of hops to
palmbeachschools.org).
ensure the lowest latency possible.
Diagram Citation: Anderson, Tsaasan, Reitman,
In May 2022, the Pew Foundation Lee, Wu, Steele, Turner & Steinkuehler (2018)
provided another grant of $498,000 to
Palm Beach Lakes Community High
School to allow them to bring Scholastic
