At-Large Representative

I’m eager to join the board because I’ve devoted much of my energy to working with CSTA in various roles, and I see this as a fantastic chance to serve more formally. Given CSTA’s significant role in the field of CS Ed, I believe bringing diverse perspectives to the table is crucial. Above all, I’m passionate about seeing CSTA grow positively. I aim to use my DEI experience to help build and strengthen inclusive communities for CS teachers, aligning with one of CSTA’s top priorities. I also see a golden opportunity for CSTA to enhance its support for the training and development of new CS teachers. I’m keen to lead discussions on how we can better allocate resources to boost this aspect of professional learning. Teachers are always seeking the best PD and curriculum options. I’d love to assist in sifting through resources and streamlining the selection process, ensuring educators have access to top-notch, equitable materials that promote inclusive CS in their schools and districts.

I have been blessed to work in leadership roles that have given me a platform to share my perspectives in diverse settings. At Rice University, I led the Campus and Community Board for RUPD, focusing on fostering positive interactions among staff, students, and campus police. Currently, I’m on AI Advisory Boards for school districts, navigating the complexities of AI technology in educational settings. I bring a wealth of experience in leading PD workshops both nationally and internationally, and I’ve developed CS and STEM curricula widely used by teachers. My senior roles at WeTeach_CS and the ECEP Alliance have honed my skills in strategic planning, budgeting, and managing grants focused on CS education. Additionally, my work has been recognized at CS conferences like SIGCSE, underlining my desire to advance our field. I am unafraid to voice differing opinions from my peers because I feel that it is imperative to have diversity of thought when making important decisions.

A saying that I have recently coined is that “you can ban the word but you can’t ban the work.” Despite DEI facing challenges, especially in my state, I’m committed to advocating for equitable CS. Last semester, I rallied CS leaders nationwide to craft an Inclusive CS Learning Guide, focusing on transforming our core pillars of representation and student expression into actionable strategies for classrooms. I also launched a hybrid course, “Scaling Inclusive Pedagogy,” to arm K-12 teachers with tools for embracing diversity and ensuring equitable CS access. Through my efforts, I’ve championed the CAPE Framework for Equitable CS Education, aiming to boost the capacity of schools to offer CS and widen student access. This includes training more K-12 CS teachers, particularly from historically excluded groups, making CS more relatable for diverse students. As Co-PI of the Computing Educator Diversity Initiative, I’m deeply involved in making CS education inclusive and accessible for all. in action. (1000 characters):

Since learning about and joining CSTA in 2019, I’ve aimed to make impactful contributions aligned with CSTA’s mission and values. As Vice President (2021-2023) and currently President of CSTA Greater Houston, I’ve led PD sessions on equitable computing and organized enriching events for our members. My involvement extended to being a member of the CSTA Chapter Leaders Committee over the last two years. I’ve had the honor of keynoting notable CSTA events such as the 2021 Texas Chapters Conference, the 2021 Cultivating a Community of Learners Summit, and the 2023 Wyoming Computer Science Education Conference. Additionally, I’ve presented at the CSTA Annual Conference, Impacts of Computing Summit, and Equity in Action Summit. My contributions include several articles for the CSTA Voice, enriching our community’s dialogue. A defining moment was participating in the 2022-23 Equity Fellows Cohort, collaborating with some of CSTA’s most inspiring leaders.

CSTA is a unique institution that serves as a foundational support structure for tens of thousands of members who are passionate about teaching computing concepts to students in the K-12 environment across the world. It is an institution that is for members, by members, and through the exemplary voluntary service of its members and a place where an equity focus is woven into its very fabric. My professional growth in the CS education space since 2014 is largely because of the opportunities that I received from CSTA to learn and grow. CSTA lives in its chapters, and as a founding leader of one of the chapters in Florida, I will continue to bring this critical lens and perspective to the table. I want to continue serving on the Board of CSTA to contribute to its efforts towards empowering, engaging, and energizing CS educators all around the world. I hope to represent the voices of the various stakeholders that I have served and grown to understand in the 14 years as an educator of CS.

My leadership skills include the ability to build a coalition of efforts towards a mission, creating a culture of service and excellence, and my ability to sustain and enjoy hard work. I led the efforts to create a PBC/Broward Chapter in South Florida with a coalition of chapter leaders and a culture of collaboration and openness while offering high quality PD opportunities. While I had extensive experience leading teacher PD’s at national and local levels in the K-12 environment, I have continued to work around other boundaries: between high school and community colleges/universities, and between academia and the computing industry. I currently lead a diverse team at FIU with a mission to achieve gender equity in tech in the South Florida ecosystem and it has been a period of intense coalition building and collaboration between multiple stakeholders. The population I serve through my day job and my volunteer efforts with CSTA includes CS educators and students in the K-16 environment.

Girl Engineers of Tomorrow Day (GET Day) at my former school increased the enrollment of girls in our engineering academy. Since a shortage of trained teachers is a major reason for lack of access to equitable CS education in the K-12 space, I worked with local academies of CS education to provide teachers with Professional Development to prepare them for the rigorous state teacher certification exam in CS. I also helped set up training programs to help elementary school teachers get proficient in embedding computational thinking in their lessons. I volunteer to educate and empower CS undergraduates at FIU to teach CS in underserved elementary and middle school My work at FIU is to increase the percentage of women in computing by growing the pipeline of students from high schools and community colleges. I ideate, design, and run workshops called “Guild” for women and other minoritized students by introducing computing in a beginner-friendly way, and help them build a support community.

I am the co-founder and President of the PBC/Broward Chapter in Florida alongside a team of chapter leaders and close to 100 chapter members. I work closely with the leadership of the 2 other CSTA Chapters in Florida in providing professional development opportunities for all CS educators in Florida. I worked alongside other CSTA leaders in the state in planning the first in-person Florida CS Summit last year. I served on the CSTA Chapter Leadership Committee for 3 years and was a CS Honors Society sponsor at my high school in 2019-20. I currently serve on the CSTA Board as the At Large Representative for the 2022-2024 term, where I served on multiple committees including the International Chapter Committee. I led the effort of the Board and the CSTA leadership in establishing the first CSTA Chapter in India, and am currently working with the India leadership team in establishing a strong foundation structure. I currently also serve on the Executive Committee of the CSTA Board.

For the past 4 years, I have proudly served as a member of the CSTA Board and Equity Fellow Alum. In these capacities, I have been an active contributor to the CSTA’s strategic priorities in the CSTA community and beyond. In addition to my work as a member of the Executive Committee, this year I was part of the Board Strategic Planning Task Force helping to guide and shape CSTA’s vision, mission, and values for the next five years. I am excited to continue to impact CS education as a seasoned Board member who has taken a glimpse into CSTA’s next chapter by building on the foundational work I have begun as a member of various committees and task forces. This would include expanding the scope of teachers that CSTA serves with more inclusive offerings for emerging computer science teachers that are hidden in elementary schools, preservice teacher programs, CS authorization programs, and non-computer science disciplines.

As an educator of 20 years, I have served on various school diversity committees to create policies and programs to promote diversity, equity, inclusion, justice, and belonging. I have collaborated with diverse teams of stakeholders to deliver quality experiences for students. As a visionary, I develop opportunities for professionals to grow and change by cultivating their creative minds and innovation practices. I serve on the CSTA’s Board, Executive Committee, PD Committee (former Chair), 20th Anniversary Board Task Force (lead), and Strategic Planning Taskforce. I am a part of the inaugural cohort of CSTA Equity Fellows and an active alum. I serve on the Board of a local community makerspace, Maker Nexus, helping to broaden access and participation in the maker community. I collaborated with San Jose State University College of Ed to design a CS Authorization program aligned with social justice and liberatory practices to attract a range of teachers to become CS educators.

As a black woman computer scientist, equitable participation in computing has been my livelihood and the lens through which I entered education. I am invested in building inclusive tech communities and allowing for diverse perspectives to be welcomed in tech fields. Technology is the currency of the future and all students must have access to CS education to engage and compete in our society. Access starts with education and increasing the number of CS teachers in the K-12 grade levels is one place to get started. As a CS Education Leader, I have been developing and championing programs that demystify CS for K-12 and higher-ed educators and help them engage with why CS education is important to their students highlighting the small steps they can take to bring CS into their classroom today. As an artist and computer scientist, I push for CS integration as a gateway to bring more teachers into the CSTA community. I serve as a mentor to several emerging CS teachers across the nation.

Describe your previous experiences with CSTA and the meaningful contributions you have made to the organization. (1000 characters):

I was one of the founding members of the CSTA San Mateo County chapter and am in regular attendance at Northern California Area chapter meetings sharing my knowledge, curriculum, and CS activities I participate in as a presenter and member. I am a member of the inaugural cohort of CSTA Equity Fellows and am an active Equity Fellow Alum who has attended and presented at CSTA conferences, summits, professional learning series, and other events over the past four years. I currently sit on the CSTA Board and Executive Committee where I lead a Task Force and participate on the CSTA PD Committee. Additionally, I participated on the CSTA Board Strategic Planning Taskforce and Nominations and Elections Committee. I support CS teacher programming and practice through collaborative projects with higher-ed, researchers, and organizations (CSforCA and The Kapor Center) supporting the CSTA mission. I am excited to continue to support and serve the CSTA community.