EDTECH: Why bring esports to Southern University Laboratory School?
TURNER: Before the principal recruited me, he told me that he wanted to win. I took that to mean, what can we do to better the school? Being an avid gamer, I started researching esports leagues for high school kids. I went to my administrators and proposed starting an esports club — not only a club, but a full program where we had a team and we created an ecosystem around the students.
EDTECH: What do you say to skeptics who question the value of esports?
TURNER: When I proposed it, my principal wasn’t really sold on the concept of esports. But he’s an avid gamer as well. I brought in the Louisiana State University esports team to meet with the administration and describe the scope of their program. We took a trip to Dallas one weekend for a conference and went to the esports arena in Arlington, which is the biggest esports arena in the United States. From that point, my principal was sold on it.
I talk to parents about the numbers. You have the head of IBM saying things like, “The new thing is new-collar workers — we’re able to pull them from high school and give them a trade, and now they’re making six figures with the training opportunity they had through IBM.”
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My main objective is not only to teach students things within the game that can help them in life, but also to have strategic technology partners on board to give them a skill set.
EDTECH: Are your students also learning many of the same things you get with traditional sports — competition, teamwork, responsibility, showing up?
TURNER: Of course. We also talk about health and wellness, like being at the console and not grabbing unhealthy snacks, having some water, maybe some nuts and fruit. Using the proper posture, giving your hands and wrists a break. Doing exercises to bend your hands. Focusing on that health and wellness piece is really important — it’s actually one of our pillars.