Overview
At Region 10 Education Service Center in Texas, instructional designer Ashley Menefee leads a groundbreaking initiative that keeps students connected —
even when they can’t physically attend school.
Through a fleet of telepresence robots – from Reggie’s Robots program – Region 10 ensures that every student — regardless of health or circumstance — can participate, learn, and belong.
“I love being able to offer these robots to classrooms,” says Menefee. “Every time I see a student light up because they’re back with their classmates — even virtually — it reminds me why this matters.”
The Challenge
Students who are homebound due to medical conditions often face long periods of isolation — missing not only lessons, but also friendships and daily school life.
Meanwhile, teachers needed a solution that felt natural, easy to set up, and didn’t add technical burden to their day.
Region 10 set out to find a way to keep learning inclusive, engaging, and connected.
The Solution
To bridge the gap, Region 10 deployed 23 telepresence robots across its districts — with six sponsored by Children’s Health in Dallas — to serve students receiving care.
When a request comes in through Region 10’s online form, Menefee personally oversees the process:
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Trains teachers and students on setup and use
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Ensures network readiness and troubleshooting
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Coordinates deployments across districts and homebound programs
“Whenever a request comes in, I go out and train the teachers and students, make sure the robot is set up on the network, and handle any troubleshooting,” Menefee explains.
Implementation in Action
Menefee champions the program across Region 10 through:
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Live demos at technology and assistive education conferences
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Collaborations with homebound teachers and special populations teams
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Explorations of new use cases, such as library access and inclusive learning zones
Her outreach has fueled steady adoption:
“Last year, I demoed the robot for a group of homebound teachers. From that one meeting, one teacher recommended six students who now use the robots. That’s the kind of ripple effect this program can have.”
Educator Response
Initial skepticism quickly turns into enthusiasm.
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“At first, teachers are like, ‘A robot? What does that even look like?’” says Menefee. “But once they see it in action — and see how easily it helps a student rejoin the class — they’re excited. It just clicks.” |
Impact
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23 robots available across Region 10 districts
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6 sponsored by Children’s Health for medically homebound students
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Dozens of students have stayed connected to their classrooms through the program
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Growing educator adoption through ongoing outreach, demos, and word-of-mouth
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Saving countless hours in travel
Looking Ahead
Region 10 plans to continue expanding awareness of the program and collaborating with special populations, assistive technology departments, and homebound educators.
Region 10 continues to build partnerships and awareness through outreach to special education departments, homebound programs, and assistive technology teams.
Summary
Region 10 ESC’s telepresence robot program demonstrates how innovative technology can remove barriers to learning, giving every student — regardless of circumstance — a seat in the classroom. With dedicated training, thoughtful implementation, and strong community partnerships, Region 10 is redefining what inclusion looks like in education and shows what’s possible when innovation meets empathy.
By combining technology with hands-on training and strong community support, Region 10 is redefining inclusive education — ensuring that no student is ever left out of the learning experience.
Reach Out
For questions, comments, or suggestions, email the team at info@b-inc.com.