A sabbatical that became a movement.
Robert and Irina Cobbs founded Tech My School in 2021 after spending twenty years working in schools across four continents and every financial demographic. What began as a first sabbatical in Puerto Rico became something bigger.
What they found on the island was a crisis hiding in plain sight: on the international PISA exam, Puerto Rico's students scored 378 in math against the U.S. mainland's 470 — a 92-point gap, below Mexico and below every country in the OECD's comparison. These are American kids receiving the weakest education in America. Because education is the foundation every industry is built on, that gap doesn't stay in the classroom — it shapes the island's hospitals, businesses, and future.
They saw that Puerto Rican schools significantly lagged behind 21st-century educational practices — not for lack of talent or will, but budget. Rather than merely donating resources, they built a structured support system: comprehensive strategic plans, trained staff, and students gaining standards-aligned 21st-century skills.
Unlike typical EdTech companies, Tech My School is a true nonprofit. Donor contributions and partner funding fuel operations, with all revenue directed toward serving low-income schools at no cost — over $1 million in goods and services donated so far.
Our mascot, the Puerto Rican Green Parrot, symbolizes intelligence, hope, and our commitment to the island. 🦜
