Welcome to the CSTA Volunteer Spotlight series, where we celebrate the incredible individuals who dedicate their time and passion to making a difference in the CSTA community. Join us in recognizing the extraordinary work of Daniel as a long-time Conference Committee member and supporter of multiple initiatives at CSTA.
What inspired you to volunteer your time with CSTA? How has this experience impacted you?
I joined CSTA soon after it was founded. On that original membership application form, there was a checkbox asking, “Would you be interested in volunteering?” I checked the box, and then forgot about it. A year or two later, Chris Stephenson reached out, encouraging me to join a team of CS teachers to develop an advocacy toolkit for talking to parents, school administrators, and policymakers. When I asked, “How did you get my name??” she said, “Well, you checked the box!”
I had such a fantastic experience connecting with other passionate CS educators from around the country that I jumped at the chance to participate in any effort CSTA coordinated or contributed to. As a result of these experiences, I have gained lifelong friends, developed tremendously as a professional, and achieved local, state-wide, and national “wins” that have made CS more equitable and accessible for countless students and teachers.
How long have you been involved with CSTA, and what motivated you to join?
As an undergraduate CS major, I was a student member of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM). When I graduated college and began teaching CS, I joined ACM as a professional member. When CSTA was formed, I learned of its existence through the ACM. I joined right away, as there were so few CS teachers in my area at the time.
Can you share any memorable experiences or highlights from your involvement with CSTA?
I have worked on so many projects with CSTA, it’s hard to pick one. I have served in just about every conference committee role there is, I worked on two editions of the CSTA Student Standards, I’ve contributed to several ad-hoc efforts like the CS Principles Summit, and I’ve honed my advocacy skills through multiple committee experiences. One of the most rewarding experiences was being selected as an inaugural recipient of the CSTA / ACM / Infosys Foundation Awards for Excellence in Computer Science Teaching.
How has CSTA impacted your teaching career and professional development?
Every engagement I’ve had with CSTA has brought me value in one form or another. As a CS major new to teaching, I learned a tremendous amount about pedagogy by attending the CSTA Conferences and participating in workshops led by more experienced educators. As CSTA grew and I engaged in volunteer roles calling for more substantial responsibility, I learned so much about project management and working with teams with diverse experiences and opinions. At every step of the way, CSTA has helped me grow the breadth, depth, and quality of my professional network.
In what ways do you see CSTA shaping the future of computer science education?
The CSTA Standards are the Gold Standard for what it means to teach CS in the United States. So many state standards are aligned with or inspired by the CSTA Student Standards. The standards were initially informed by the ACM standards, then substantially revised to align with the K-12 CS Framework and courses such as CS Principles, and again revised to account for the latest developments, such as AI. The CSTA Standards are tremendously influential in shaping current and future CS Education.
Are there any specific initiatives or projects within CSTA that you’ve been particularly passionate about?
In recent years, the CSTA Annual Conference has been the project I have spent the most time supporting. As CS education initiatives have grown in the last decade, it has been phenomenal to see so many new and energetic faces attending the conference for the first time.
What does the future of CSTA look like?
CSTA has grown and adapted over the years in response to the changing shape of its membership, the available resources and support from policy makers and sponsoring organizations, and trends in the education landscape. I don’t think any of us can tell what the next few years will look like, but I am confident that CSTA’s leadership and navigate the landscape in ways beneficial to the membership. CSTA will always been a champion for CS educators and their students, no matter what challenges the road ahead presents.