Meeting Kids’ Needs: Palm Springs Unified School District’s eSports Program Showcases the Benefits of Gaming
Did you know that a local school district has a full-fledged esports program? For nearly a decade, the Palm Springs Unified School District has been building a desert esports presence: Instead of traditional sports like basketball or football, students compete against each other in video games. Every high school and middle school in the district […]
Did you know that a local school district has a full-fledged esports program?
For nearly a decade, the Palm Springs Unified School District has been building a desert esports presence: Instead of traditional sports like basketball or football, students compete against each other in video games. Every high school and middle school in the district has an esports team, with a few elementary schools joining in as well.
The district recently hosted a tournament with different PSUSD schools (as well as some from the Desert Sands Unified School District) competing against each other at the district’s new Esports Arena at Desert Learning Academy.
During a recent Zoom interview Will Carr, PSUSD’s director of educational technology, he talked about the beginnings of esports in the district’s schools.
“Back in 2016, we started preparing the district to bring esports into the curriculum here,” Carr said. “We had a great superintendent and a pretty open-minded board, which allowed us to approach the situation and talk about funding. What they said was, ‘Let’s give it a shot, as long as it’s not shooting games.’ We had to stick to games like Super Smash Bros. and League of Legends or Dota.”
At the same time, there were national efforts being made regarding esports in schools. Carr and his team used a curriculum built by the North American Scholastic Esports Federation to get the district’s approval for an esports program.
“We said, ‘Hey, there’s this corporation that’s tied to a college, and they have outlined this curriculum,’” Carr said. “The curriculum covers shoutcasting (announcing in esports), entrepreneurship, coaching, medical, IT design, setting up the network properly and all the things that have to do with a big esports event. From there, we started creating small pilot high schools, and that allowed us to get our foot in the door, open up some funding to buy some decent machines or build machines, have practices and work on getting a stipend for teachers so they can coach, just like football coaches or basketball coaches or soccer coaches do.”
In 2025, the esports program at PSUSD is thriving, thanks to an annual budget and the new arena.
“We created an environment that fits different kids’ needs,” he said. “Some kids in the esports program aren’t involved in basketball, swimming, soccer or sports in general. There some of them are involved with bands; some are involved with theater, but a lot of them aren’t involved with anything except for esports. We created a place where those students have an agency, and now they have a voice. There was a group of kids who didn’t do anything with the school besides go to school, and they’re now a part of this community. Some of them are the gamers, and some of them are shoutcasters, and some of them are fanart designers.”
Esports can also attract a wide variety of students, all year.
“We can bring in different games very easily, and there’s a job for everybody,” Carr said. “A lot of our esports teams at the schools consist of 35 to 40 students, and about 18 to 20 of them are the varsity or the ‘professional players.’ The rest are support, either doing entrepreneurial fundraising, coaching, setup or tear downs, things of that nature. Some are just practice squads.”
“The biggest roadblock has always been that ‘video games are bad, and kids who play shooting games shoot other kids and have rage and anger.’ Our parents don’t see the opportunities and the possibilities in the market space—and in our valley here, there’s not a ton for the kids to do.”
Will Carr, PSUSD’s director of educational technology
Bringing gaming into school has been a lifelong dream for Carr, and he hopes parents and the community look beyond the stereotypical anti-video-game arguments, and realize the many benefits of an esports program.
“There’s so much around studying, building a high-end computer, optimizing the network for speed and low latency, ergonomics, posture, rage and controlling your emotions, and all that good stuff,” Carr said. “The biggest roadblock has always been that ‘video games are bad, and kids who play shooting games shoot other kids and have rage and anger.’ Our parents don’t see the opportunities and the possibilities in the market space—and in our valley here, there’s not a ton for the kids to do.”
Carr sees a future for Coachella Valley esports beyond just being a school activity.
“We wanted to create a community in the valley, so we didn’t have to drive to San Diego or drive out to Orange County for this group of people and fans alike to start seeing what esports is about,” he said. “We built this brand-new esports arena. … We want to start opening it up to the community, meaning that we want to start hosting community gaming events, or partner with outside people to bring in community events, just to start getting it more adapted into the community.”
Students have already benefited from PSUSD’s esports program, Carr said.
“We have kids who have received scholarships,” Carr said. “We’ve had students who, their grades are so-so, but because they do esports, they were admitted into schools. We have kids who receive all kinds of swag from Logitech, G.Skill and HyperX.”
Carr said he’s happy the Coachella Valley is catching on to “one of the largest industries there is in the world.”
“It’s the future, and so the job of the school district … is to prepare those kids, or to create an avenue for those kids to be involved with that,” Carr said. “… What we’re trying to do is create professional gamers by the time they become high school kids. We’re trying to get them hooked. They’re already kind of hooked, but they’re hooked in casual play without much thought. We’re trying to give them the structure. We’re trying to give them these pathways. We’re trying to teach them how to control emotions and not get burnt out, and teach them balance at the elementary levels. As they get into high school, we start giving them some fine skills.”
Elementary-school students start with more lighthearted games like Super Smash Bros., before advancing to more competitive and strategic games like League of Legends in higher grades.
“We’re doing that to build awareness and understanding of the games and certain skill sets and communication tactics, so when they get to high school, they’re that much better,” Carr said. “When they’re in high schools, they start getting scouted by colleges.”
To involve other local school districts and the community at large, PSUSD founded the Desert Valley Esports Alliance. Carr detailed the three “seasons” within each school year.
“Season one is right around September, when all the high schools and middle schools have their rush,” he said. “… Season one is joining esports and creating your team, so we give them about six weeks to form their teams, and for us to come out to help out with anything, if we need to refresh computers, add additional network drops, furniture, whatever is needed.
“Season two starts right around Thanksgiving, and that’s pure scrimmage play. We have scrimmage play for another six weeks. … It’s a chance for the coaches to see who’s best in what roles, and it’s also a chance to meet other coaches and kiddos. After the scrimmage season, we go into the seeding season. Every game has a point assigned to it, and for the next six weeks, they round-robin and play every other team once or so. The game points seed them for the finals. The finals are three weeks long.”
Carr credited The Foundation for Palm Springs Unified School District, a nonprofit that assists the district, for helping ensure the esports program’s future is bright.
“We get about $175,000 donated through The Foundation for esports annually, which really makes things go smooth,” Carr said. “You can’t buy a ton with that, but you can upgrade some video cards. We can get additional consoles, subscriptions, and things of that nature. That helps out a lot.”
Carr hopes to expand local esports awareness beyond the schools.
“It’s not just gaming anymore; it’s a lucrative business,” he said. “… Because there’s so much money around this ecosystem, there’s a lot of buzz in the valley. The mayor of Palm Springs, Ron deHarte, is really interested in bringing something to the valley that’s involving esports and people streaming and watching stuff. … Right now, they’re leaning toward something like a big esports qualifier or festival, so we’ll see what happens.”
Spain starts strong in Gran Turismo World Series Nations Cup in London
The eighth season of the Gran Turismo World Series (GTWS) kicked off its first live event on June 7 at the Television Centre in London, UK. After a thrilling showdown in the Manufacturers Cup, all eyes turned to the Nations Cup, where drivers took to the track as proud ambassadors of their home countries and […]
The eighth season of the Gran Turismo World Series (GTWS) kicked off its first live event on June 7 at the Television Centre in London, UK. After a thrilling showdown in the Manufacturers Cup, all eyes turned to the Nations Cup, where drivers took to the track as proud ambassadors of their home countries and territories.
A field of 12 racers, comprising of the top three finishers from the 2024 Nations Cup and the highest-ranking drivers from each region in the Online Qualifiers, lined up to battle in the first round of a championship that will ultimately determine the world’s fastest Gran Turismo driver.
The day began with a five-lap Sprint Race, where Spain’s Jose Serrano and Pol Urra secured a one-two finish, earning the top two starting positions for the Grand Final.
Nearly every driver on the grid chose to start the 20-lap Grand Final race — held at the scenic Grand Valley Highway race course — on medium-compound tires. However, the Netherlands’ Kaj de Bruin, starting from P10, opted to gamble on softs. His bold strategy paid off early, propelling him into the lead by the fourth lap. Yet he struggled to maintain the pace under relentless pressure from Serrano, Urra, Kylian Drumont of France, Takuma Miyazono and Takuma Sasaki of Japan, and Italy’s Valerio Gallo.
With their Red Bull X2019 Competition race cars exceeding 320 km/h on the straights, the drivers left nothing on the table. Tire strategy played a pivotal role: de Bruin made two stops, while most others managed with just one. Miyazono and Drumont chose hard-compound tires for their final stints, a gamble that failed to pay off. In the closing laps, a fierce wheel-to-wheel battle for the lead unfolded between the two Spaniards, each pushing the other to the limit. The sold-out crowd watching the action live was on the edge of their seats, gasping and cheering with every turn and attempted overtake.
Ultimately, Serrano emerged victorious ahead of Urra, with Gallo completing the podium.
Round 2 of the Gran Turismo World Series will be held in Berlin on September 20th. Watch it live on RACER Network.
Husker football hall of famer teaching life lessons through esports
OMAHA (KMTV) — From the gridiron to gaming. Former Husker Ahman Green has an extensive resume on the football field, and now he’s fulfilling his love of competition in a different way: with esports. Video shows Ahman Green helping with and playing video games at an esports camp at Quest Forward High School. Green has […]
Former Husker Ahman Green has an extensive resume on the football field, and now he’s fulfilling his love of competition in a different way: with esports.
Video shows Ahman Green helping with and playing video games at an esports camp at Quest Forward High School.
Green has been playing video games since he was five years old.
He hopes help young esports players learn valuable lessons applicable in esports and eventually the workforce, such as team work, accountability, respect and more.
WATCH KELSEY’S STORY:
Gridiron to gaming: Husker football hall of famer teaching life lessons through esports
BROADCAST TRANSCRIPT:
Not only is Ahman Green a Nebraska football hall of famer, he’s also a gamer.
“It was something that started then when I was five and then carried on through high school, back here to Nebraska,” he said. “It was the competitiveness of some of the games, trying to play against somebody to try to beat you. You either win or you lose, you gotta figure it out.”
In addition to coaching athletes in traditional sports, he’s also coaching esports.
“The only really physical thing we have is between your controller or your mouse and keyboard and putting on your headsets,” Green said.
Despite the differences, Green finds skills transfer over from the playing surface to not only video games…
“Goal setting, rules, team rules, team work, respect, accountability, all that ties in the same,” he said.
But also to life.
“You learn how to be somebody that has confidence in themselves, learning how to work with other people and how to talk to other people,” Green said. “Because if they’re not talking a certain way, some people might not listen.”
“Sometimes you need to work by yourself, but other times it’s easier and much more efficient to work as a team,” Maximus Johnson, an incoming eighth grader who attended esports camp at Quest Forward High School, said. “And learning teamwork is a vital component in completing or fulfilling a goal.”
“Concentration and like focus(ing) on stuff,” rising seventh grader and esports player Noah Schaffner said. “It doesn’t matter if you do it in Super Smash Bros, Mario Kart, Minecraft. If you lose your train of thought when you’re doing something important, you probably don’t get it back.”
And no matter if it’s scoring a touchdown or winning a Smash Bros tournament, Green wants kids to keep their competitiveness and succeed in the future.
“Esports gets you out of that comfort zone,” Green said. “And so that’s what I’m gonna do. I try to get them out of that comfort zone. And if they learn one more thing than they did the day before, then that’s a win.”
Revival Gets Announce in Xbox Showcase With First Teaser
ATLUS stated regarding Persona 4: Revival at the Xbox Games Showcase on June 8, 2025. The game is returning, but differently, not a remake per se. This one brings a new appearance and modifications from the original. No release date announced as of yet, but more information is to come. The confirmed platforms are Xbox […]
ATLUS stated regarding Persona 4: Revival at the Xbox Games Showcase on June 8, 2025. The game is returning, but differently, not a remake per se. This one brings a new appearance and modifications from the original. No release date announced as of yet, but more information is to come.
The confirmed platforms are Xbox Series X|S, Xbox PC, Xbox Cloud, PlayStation 5, and Steam. It is apparent that ATLUS is attempting to introduce this game to more types of players, including old and new ones.
Inaba’s Mystery Comes Again with Changed Feeling
The action occurs in a small town called Inaba. Things were ordinary until some bizarre murders began. Meanwhile, students learn about a secret television channel that can be accessed only when it rains. What is found there is not ordinary. A world that is hidden, and shadows lurk behind screens.
Players track a high school team that gets far into the case-solving, as well as student life. The game retains turn-based battles and choices of the day, such as what to do after school. This iteration differs from Persona 4 Golden, which was a remastered version. Revival takes its own spin.
From the Director: Message and What Comes Next
Kazuhisa Wada of P-STUDIO presented a message regarding the new title. According to him, Persona 4 is part of ATLUS’ heart. The team is taking care and working hard on this version. Wada informed that he is confident both fans and new players will have fun with what they create.
He also mentions that they are doing many more projects of Persona in the future. The work on the rest of the series continues strongly. So, the fans can wait for further updates.
This game is progressing with another game, Persona 5: The Phantom X, which will be available on June 26, 2025. With these, ATLUS and SEGA indicate how they are going to expand the world of Persona further.
Gamers can anticipate more news and updates on the game shortly. In the meantime, series fans have something to eagerly anticipate once again.
Written By Manika Kayal, Intern, India Today Gaming.
DACC’s Michael “Guido” Esteves Wins State ICCTA Pacesetter Award
THE FOLLOWING IS A DANVILLE AREA COMMUNITY COLLEGE RELEASE DANVILLE – Danville Area Community College is proud to announce that alumnus and current Director of Audio, eSports, and Community Engagement Michael “Guido” Esteves has been named the 2025 recipient of the Illinois Community College Trustees Association (ICCTA) Pacesetter Award. He was honored at the […]
THE FOLLOWING IS A DANVILLE AREA COMMUNITY COLLEGE RELEASE
DANVILLE – Danville Area Community College is proud to announce that alumnus and current Director of Audio, eSports, and Community Engagement Michael “Guido” Esteves has been named the 2025 recipient of the Illinois Community College Trustees Association (ICCTA) Pacesetter Award. He was honored at the ICCTA Awards Banquet held Friday, June 6 in Bloomington, Illinois.
The ICCTA Pacesetter Award recognizes recent community college graduates who have made outstanding achievements in their careers and in service to their communities. Esteves, who works full time for DACC, was chosen for his innovative work in music education, digital arts, eSports coaching, and student mentorship—all of which reflect the transformative power of community colleges.
A DACC graduate himself, Esteves returned to college as a non-traditional student, determined to create a meaningful path forward. He found that path at DACC, where he thrived academically and discovered his passion for teaching and mentoring students. Today, he serves as a volunteer music educator through the Project Success program, working directly with students at Danville High School. In this role, he uses music and creative expression not only as an educational tool, but as a way to introduce high school students to the opportunities available through community college.
In addition to his work in the classroom, Esteves is the driving force behind DACC’s nationally ranked eSports program. As head coach, he has guided Jaguar athletes to back-to-back national championships in Mario Kart and helped individual players achieve national rankings. His leadership has made DACC a standout in collegiate eSports and has opened new academic and career pathways for students interested in gaming, digital media, and technology.
“Guido is a powerhouse of creativity, energy, and heart,” said Dr. Randall Fletcher, DACC President. “Whether he’s teaching music, coaching eSports, or mentoring a student one-on-one, he gives his all—and students respond to that. His journey is a powerful example of what a community college graduate can accomplish.”
Outside the classroom, Esteves is known for his dedication to student engagement, diversity, and inclusion. He has helped hundreds of young people find their voice—whether through a musical performance, a digital project, or a competitive gaming experience. His work helps students see education as something personal, empowering, and achievable.
“Winning the Pacesetter Award is such an honor,” said Esteves. “But the real reward is seeing students grow into who they’re meant to be. DACC changed my life, and I’m just trying to pass that on.”
Chester County Intermediate Unit hosts inaugural PSEL Esports Expo with Rocket League Tournament
DOWNINGTOWN — Over 40 educators and coaches, along with 25 students and 12 sponsors, gathered on Monday, June 2, for the inaugural Pennsylvania Scholastic Esports League (PSEL) Esports Expo at the Chester County Intermediate Unit (CCIU). The event featured a Rocket League tournament and offered a full day of exploration into the dynamic world of […]
DOWNINGTOWN — Over 40 educators and coaches, along with 25 students and 12 sponsors, gathered on Monday, June 2, for the inaugural Pennsylvania Scholastic Esports League (PSEL) Esports Expo at the Chester County Intermediate Unit (CCIU). The event featured a Rocket League tournament and offered a full day of exploration into the dynamic world of scholastic esports.
The event provided participants with opportunities to witness competitive gameplay, explore cutting-edge esports solutions, and build valuable connections in the esports education space. The tournament ran bracket style with top teams competing in the final competition.
“We were thrilled to welcome so many of our scholastic esports colleagues from Pennsylvania and beyond to our first PSEL Esports Expo,” said Kammas Kersch, director of the PSEL Esports League. “As an educator-led league, it is important to us to continue to foster learning opportunities for both students and educators. One of the highlights of the day was getting to spend time networking with our PSEL community!”
Kersch, who is also the CCIU STEM services coordinator, opened the event with a welcome and introduction that focused on key pillars for setting up an esports program in schools.
Several sponsors hosted engaging spotlight sessions designed specifically for educators, offering valuable insights, tools, and resources to help support successful scholastic esports teams.
The Rocket League finals saw an exciting playoff between West Chester Henderson High School and Chichester High School, with both teams showcasing impressive skill and teamwork. In a thrilling finish, Henderson High School emerged as the tournament champions.
Matt Swan, CCIU STEM innovation specialist, emphasized, “The Rocket League matches were full of great highlight plays, and in the end West Chester Henderson walked away as the champions without losing a single game!”
Swan continued, “We want to congratulate the players from West Chester Henderson on their phenomenal performance and also recognize the players from Chichester High School & 21st Century Cyber Charter School. We look forward to our next chance to showcase the skills of these amazing student competitors!”
Karen Ruggles, DeSales University varsity esports program director, closed the event with a talk that channeled the day’s excitement into a reflection on the future of esports—encouraging attendees to recognize how gaming, competition, and community can fuel personal and professional growth, while inspiring them to embrace their individual potential to shape a thriving, positive future for the industry.
The event received overwhelmingly positive feedback from attendees, sponsors, and students alike. Educators and parents praised the organization and valuable insights shared, sponsors appreciated the meaningful engagement, and students were energized by the high-level competition and community-centered atmosphere.
The CCIU Events Team and PSEL Esports Team is already planning for the next event and looks forward to bringing esports colleagues together again soon.
ESports pioneer-turned musician subject of new documentary | Local News
FAIRFIELD — Walter Day would say he’s living proof that it’s never too late to pursue one’s passions, and that’s the focus of a new documentary he’s featured in. Day, 76, who founded Twin Galaxies — a platform that tracks arcade game high scores — was featured in the 2007 documentary “The King of Kong: […]
FAIRFIELD — Walter Day would say he’s living proof that it’s never too late to pursue one’s passions, and that’s the focus of a new documentary he’s featured in.
Day, 76, who founded Twin Galaxies — a platform that tracks arcade game high scores — was featured in the 2007 documentary “The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters.” But by that point in his life, Day had shifted gears and changed his passion. He’d moved on to music.
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Donald Promnitz is the associate editor of the Ottumwa Courier and the Oskaloosa Herald. He can be reached at dpromnitz@ottumwacourier.com. Follow him on Twitter @DonPromnitz.
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Stephen A. responds to LeBron’s NBA coverage criticism | First Take
