9-12 Representative

I am deeply motivated to serve on the CSTA Board due to my unwavering commitment to promoting equity and access in CS education. My passion stems from personal experiences, including the realization that my daughters, like many young girls, lose interest in STEM in the middle grades. Witnessing the gender disparities in CS education and the lack of representation in my Latinx community has fueled my determination to advocate for change. As a member of the Board, I hope to leverage my diverse experiences, including serving on the CSTA CSHS Advisory Committee and as a CSTA Equity Fellow Alumni. I want to elevate underrepresented voices and advocate for opportunities for all students, particularly those who, like my own students, face barriers to access and opportunities. I aspire to contribute to CSTA’s efforts, in ensuring that every student has the chance to thrive in the world of computing. It all begins with us, the computer science teachers!

With over 15 years of teaching experience, including my current role as department chair, I have honed essential leadership, collaboration, and communication skills. My tenure as a classroom teacher, mentor, and advocate for CS education has uniquely equipped me to drive change and empower my community. Playing a pivotal role in establishing our school’s Instructional Technology and CS pathway has been a testament to my unwavering dedication and passion for advancing educational opportunities in computer science. Additionally, I have pursued professional development opportunities, such as obtaining Computer Science authorization for my state and achieving National Board certification in Information Technology, to better serve my students. Through these experiences, I have cultivated a strong foundation in leadership and an understanding of how to effectively collaborate with diverse stakeholders to achieve shared goals.

My commitment to promoting equity in CS education is deeply rooted in my personal and professional experiences. Witnessing the challenges my students, especially young girls in the Latinx community, face, I’ve been dedicated to advocating for computer science opportunities. Establishing a comprehensive CS pathway spanning from 7th to 12th grade, offering a spectrum of CS courses, has empowered over 350 students each year. As the founder of a Girls Who Code Club and a CS Honor Society, I have created inclusive spaces and implemented strategies to recruit and retain diverse students in my CS classes. Additionally, participating in initiatives like the CSHS Student Leadership Summit has enabled me to amplify diversity and inclusion in CS education, providing my students with a broader platform to voice their expertise. I am committed to breaking down barriers, firmly believing that our students must be at the forefront to ensure a sustainable and equitable participation in computing.

In my journey with CSTA, especially as a CSTA Equity Fellow, I’ve been actively involved in advancing diversity and inclusion in computer science education, focusing on our family engagement initiatives. Presenting at the CSTA Equity in Action summit has provided a platform to showcase our community’s CS efforts and offer insights to fellow educators seeking to enact change in their communities. Additionally, serving on the CSTA CSHS Advisory Committee provided me with opportunities to organize impactful events such as the CSHS Student Leadership Summit, which facilitated collaboration and community engagement among CSHS chapters and students. Furthermore, as a K-12 representative for the NSF-funded project, Reimagining CS Pathways, I’m committed to bringing my perspective as a Latinx computer science teacher to shape the future of CS education to all students.

I am interested in serving on the CSTA Board, leveraging my unique perspective as an Asian American female high school computer science teacher, to amplify the voices of underrepresented groups in computing. My primary objective is to champion inclusivity and equity in computer science education, recognizing the importance of diverse representation in shaping the future of CS. I am also invested in supporting both new and experienced teachers. I envision creating an environment that facilitates the sharing of best practices that actively works towards breaking down barriers to equitable access to resources and opportunities. I support engaging and strengthening our existing networks and communities of teachers, fostering collaboration and mutual support. I want to help ensure a more diverse and accessible landscape in computer science education, fostering an environment where every individual, regardless of background, has the opportunity to thrive and contribute to our community.

As a district CTE mentor for CS teachers, I help to guide and support teachers. My role as a mentor and consultant for the College Board for AP CSA has also given me experience in supporting new and experienced CS teachers. I have presented at AP Annual Conference, CSTA Annual Conference, and SIGCSE where I have developed and shared resources for teachers. As a former Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellow at the National Science Foundation and a current ECEP Facilitator, I have worked with broadening participation in computing programs, strengthening my advocacy and policy development skills. My past role as a board member for Girls On the Run Orange County shows my commitment to community service and organizational governance. My international volunteer experience and financial supervisor role for Gamma Phi Beta highlights my global perspective and financial management skills. I have also previously served as the co-chair of ISTE’s CS Teacher Standards Committee.

My experiences and perspectives uniquely position me to champion equitable participation in computing. As an Asian woman who studied computer science in high school and college, I understand the challenges faced by underrepresented groups. During my time as an Einstein Fellow at the NSF, I worked on broadening participation in computing programs, solidifying my commitment. I am involved with Expanding Computer Education Pathways (ECEP) which also supports BPC. In my role as a teacher, I am dedicated to increasing female enrollment in computer science through recruitment and retention efforts. Serving as an advisor for Girls Who Code and Women in Tech clubs, I actively foster supportive environments. As the equity chair of my teacher union, a CTA Asian Caucus member, and a member of the CSTA AAPI Steering Committee, I advocate for policies that promote inclusivity. My commitment to equity helps underrepresented voices be heard, making computing education more accessible and diverse.

I have made meaningful contributions to CSTA through the years. Presenting at the CSTA Annual Conference in 2018 (Introducing Google Firebase: A Free Database for Your Mobile Apps) and 2020 (Connecting App Inventor with a Database) showcased my dedication to fostering professional growth within the community and sharing resources with new and experienced teachers. Serving as an advisor for the CSTA Orange County chapter in its first year, and subsequently becoming the regional representative for Orange County within the Greater Los Angeles chapter, reflects my commitment to community building. In this role, I actively plan events that help unite teachers in our region, facilitating collaboration and resource-sharing. Additionally, my participation on the AAPI Steering Committee underscores my dedication to promoting diversity and inclusion within CSTA, ensuring that the organization reflects the rich tapestry of perspectives in the field of computer science education.

Aligned with the values of CSTA, I believe that teachers and others at the school level should be involved in policy decisions since they work directly with the students who are most affected by these decisions. Computer science education is still a relatively new area and is growing. I would like to be a part of that growth, beyond my school and district. As a member of the Board, I hope to use my expertise as a teacher with almost 20 years of experience to inform policy and as a liaison on the Standing Committees. My skills would be useful in the planning of events/conferences and designing professional development opportunities. I am a logical thinker with highly developed organizational and communication skills. When I began teaching CS, I was lucky to have a large network of teachers to run ideas by and to help me improve; however, I am aware that this is not the case for all teachers of CS. I would like to help other teachers expand their network and develop a community.

Prior to teaching CS, I was a math teacher for over 15 years. When the Common Core standards (CCSS) were introduced, I worked with BetterLesson to create a year of curriculum aligned to the geometry standards. After a few years of implementation, the NYS Department of Education convened a Standards Review Committee to rewrite the CCSS. I was a member of the geometry team. I have served on the School Leadership Team for two different schools, was the math department chair for two years at my last school, and the geometry lead teacher and CS lead teacher at my current school. This summer, I helped facilitate computer science training for NYCDOE teachers participating in CS4All PD. I am working towards certification in School Building and School District Leadership and will complete my program by June. In addition to teaching computer science classes, I am the programmer for my school and help to ensure compliance for English language learners and students with disabilities.

I have taught in New York City public schools for over 15 years. Additionally, I taught for 3 years in England and have visited Guatemala several times to work with teachers and students. All these experiences working with students from a variety of different racial, ethnic, cultural, religious, and economic backgrounds, including students with disabilities and English language learners have informed my teaching and helped me to develop equitable practices for teaching computer science. I feel that all students deserve access to high quality computer science education. It is our responsibility to ensure students know they can be successful in computer science. I recently wrote an article for the CSTA Voice entitled “Creating a Sense of Belonging in the CS Classroom” where I describe some practices in my classes. I have also spoken at conferences in NYC about incorporating social justice content in CS classes and integrating CS into other content areas.

Since August of 2021, I have been active member of the CSTA NYC chapter. I joined shortly after beginning a Computer Science teacher training program. At both virtual and in person meetings, I actively participate in activities and discussions. I became at CSTA Equity Fellow in September 2023. As an Equity Fellow, I work with teachers and stakeholders from around the country to promote equitable practices in Computer Science education. In addition to monthly meetings and convenings, I meet with a small group of fellows to develop our project on integrating social justice and computer science into other content areas. Two of us spoke at the February chapter meeting for CSTA NYC to provide professional development on increasing equity in CS classes. I attended CSForNY State Summit sponsored by CSTA in 2022 and 2023 and the How We Teach Computing conference in 2022. This year, I presented a session entitled “Engaging the School Community in CS” at the CSTA Equity in Action Conference.