Robin Green EDUC 5373

Pregnant and parenting youth (PPY) in the Tulsa area are faced with many dividing factors that educators  would expect for this community. PPY often live in families that receive government assistance benefits and are often children of parents with lower levels of education (Mickler & Tollestrup, 2024). Oklahoma State Department of Health data show that PPY are disproportionately members of minority groups (2024). Data show that only 51% of teen mothers go on to earn a high school diploma as compared to 90% of their counterparts (Mickler & Tollestrup, 2024). Each of these factors contributes to the digital inequities that PPY in the Tulsa area face. Minority groups are often distrustful of digital technologies and may be unaware of “how technology can help raise one’s social position” (Darvin, 2019, p. 213). Most of the Strong Tomorrows students complete their education via an online school through Tulsa Public Schools. The curriculum used by the program relies heavily on p...

My name is Robin Green and I have worked in education my entire adult career. I taught in small, rural districts in Oklahoma for 10 years before beginning my career in online education. I’ve worked as an online teacher, professional development specialist, an instructional designer, and curriculum developer. I have a heart for marginalized communities in our schools which is why I’m particularly interested in applying what I learn with a non-profit called Strong Tomorrows. This non-profit serves Tulsa area students who are pregnant and parenting.  Strong Tomorrows focuses on four main areas of support: high school graduation/college and career readiness; high quality child care and early education; young parent engagement; and health and wellness. In the past ten years, Strong Tomorrows has served over 1,459 youth. In the 2023-2024 school year, the program supported 137 babies. The rate of teen pregnancy has decreased by 50% in Oklahoma in the last 10 years (Healthy Teens OK!, 2025...