Introduction and a bit about myself...

Hello everyone! My name is William Kai Stephanos. I am a graduate student at ETSU in a dual program in Educational Technology and Public Administration. I am married and have two sons. I am originally from Honolulu, but have lived all over the world.

I spent most of the summer in Kenya teaching children in the largest slum in Africa called Kibera. It has a population of ~1.5 million people in an area of ~2 square miles. There are no toilets [open sewers] and very little water. Often times the electricity, if available at all, would go out, sometimes for days at a time. It was a life changing experience. The students were amazing and inspiring. Despite their desperate situation, they were amazingly motivated, hard working and very dedicated to their studies. I worked with a youth organization and helped to implement a program called 'Citizen Media Project". I brought computers, video cameras and still cameras with me. The students had never had the opportunity to have hands-on experience with technology. They caught on very quickly and did exceptional work despite the fact that the classrooms were made of sticks, mud and corrugated metal roofs. I am working on a documentary as well as a web site about the work I did there. I intend to continue to be involved with this project.

I am very intrigued by the use and implementation of technology in both academic settings as well as in the public sector. I truly feel that only properly educated [trained] people can make sound decisions in regards to technology based programs.