Mentoring the next generation: How Dr. Thomas Proffen and the Internet Innovators are bridging the Digital Divide
Eastern Tennessee (March 27, 2025) - In today’s fast-paced digital world, access to technology and the skills to use it effectively are essential. However, not everyone has the same level of comfort with modern devices and applications. That’s where programs like Connected Nation’s Teens Teach Tech, powered by AT&T, come in — bringing tech-savvy youth together with older generations to foster learning, confidence, and connection.
One such team making an impact is the Internet Innovators, a group based in Farragut, Tenn. Led by Dr. Thomas Proffen, a mentor with ORCSGirls (Oak Ridge Computer Science Girls), this team is dedicated to teaching digital skills to seniors and other community members. Dr. Proffen recently sat down to discuss how the team got started, the challenges they’ve faced, and the importance of mentorship.
A chance encounter and a new opportunity
Dr. Proffen first learned about Teens Teach Tech through a social media message that he nearly ignored. “Jessica [Golson, Outreach Coordinator with Connected Nation] reached out to me, and I almost dismissed it as spam,” he recalled. “But she was persistent, and I’m glad she was.”
As the founder of ORCSGirls, an organization dedicated to teaching coding and technology to middle and high school students since 2017, Dr. Proffen saw the potential in expanding their outreach to include adults. He felt the program was a great opportunity for his high school volunteers to take their teaching skills to a new level.
“I was looking at my volunteers and thought this would be a perfect way for them to stretch and teach adults,” he said. “It also had a very low overhead in terms of time commitment, which made it easy to integrate into our existing efforts.”
Finding the right audience
Like many new initiatives, the Internet Innovators faced challenges in their early days — specifically, finding participants. While their initial training sessions took place at a local library, turnout was lower than expected. That led the team to brainstorm alternative locations, ultimately deciding to reach out to assisted living facilities.
“We sent out about 20 or 30 letters to local assisted living homes,” Dr. Proffen said. “Only one responded, but that was all we needed to get started.”
Since then, the team has been teaching seniors about topics like mobile device basics and internet safety.
“The residents were excited to learn, but we also realized that teaching in an assisted living setting was different from a library,” he noted. “There were more one-on-one needs, and people sometimes got stuck on a single issue.”
The power of intergenerational learning
Dr. Proffen believes that intergenerational learning is one of the most effective ways to bridge the Digital Divide. “In most families, it’s usually the grandson or granddaughter who teaches their grandparents how to use technology,” he said. “That dynamic works well because it creates a comfortable learning environment.”
The Internet Innovators have seen this play out firsthand.
“Watching our high schoolers step up and teach is incredibly rewarding,” Dr. Proffen added. “Leah, one of our volunteers, has been with ORCSGirls since she was in fifth grade, and now she’s leading these sessions. Seeing that growth is amazing.”
Expanding the program
As the Internet Innovators continue to refine their approach, they’re looking at ways to increase one-on-one learning time and bring in more student trainers.
“We’re considering whether it’s better to grow our team or create a second team,” Dr. Proffen said. “Having more hands makes a big difference when working with seniors who need extra help.”
One of the biggest reasons the program works so well, he noted, is its simplicity.
“Teens Teach Tech is well-organized, the materials are ready to go, and the reporting requirements are minimal,” Dr. Proffen said. “That makes it easy for mentors like me, to focus on what matters — helping students teach and seeing the impact they make.”
Advice for future teams
For any students or mentors considering joining Teens Teach Tech, Dr. Proffen has one piece of advice: just go for it. “People often think they don’t have the skills to teach, but if you have a smartphone, you know enough to help someone else,” he said. “It’s more fun than you’d expect, and the impact is real.”
Looking ahead, the Internet Innovators plan to continue their work and inspire other young people to step into mentorship roles.
“This program shows that even a small team can make a big difference,” Dr. Proffen said. “We’re just getting started.”
For more information on how to get involved with Teens Teach Tech, powered by AT&T, visit HERE and see how you can make a difference in your community.
Also, be sure to read the second blog of the Internet Innovators series featuring an award-winning teen instructor, Kristen Moor. CLICK HERE