CSTA IMPACT Fellowship

CSTA IMPACT Fellow, Cohort 6

Angela Marquez (She/Her)

Yá’át’ééh! Shí éí Angela Marquez yíníshyé’. Táchii’nii nishłį́, Tł’ááshchí’í ’éí bá shíshchíín. Kinyaa’áanii ’éí dashicheii áádóó Tábąąhí ’éí dashinálí. Angela Marquez is Diné, indigenous to Leupp, AZ on the Navajo Nation. Angela’s work at the University of Arizona Data Sciences Academy (DSA) is grounded in relational accountability, entering any work through the lens of serving our relatives and sharing accountability with our communities. Educators at the DSA explore questions such as “What data stories do we care about?” and “How can we use data to answer our questions?” Working with Indigenous and Indigenous serving Computer Science (CS) educators, Angela sees the value of computer science education as giving tribal community members a choice to work from home, a choice to raise families with their home community, home language and home culture. Empowering today’s students in CS allows for a more equitable future for all students.

Learn About Angela

As Cohort 6 completes projects throughout the 2024-2025 school year, we’ll link their work to their profiles. Check back soon to see what Angela has done!

CSTA IMPACT Fellow, Cohort 6

April Pelfrey (She/Her)

April Pelfrey is a Cybersecurity educator at Innovation Academy within Fulton County Public Schools, bringing over eight years of teaching experience from Gwinnett County Public Schools. As a second-career teacher, she draws from 15 years as a Department of Defense contractor specializing in geospatial intelligence. April is deeply committed to creating equitable opportunities in computer science education for all students. In the summer of 2023, she furthered this mission by teaching computer science and robotics in Tanzania through the Fulbright Fellowship. A graduate of the University of Georgia, April holds a master’s degree in Workforce Education and is dedicated to fostering inclusive learning environments that empower the next generation of technology leaders.

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CSTA IMPACT Fellow, Cohort 6

Chala Hannon (She/Her)

Chala Hannon is an inspiring educator and dedicated advocate for Civics and Computer Science education. With a background as an IT Analyst, Chala made a transformative shift from corporate America to the classroom, driven by a passion for teaching and community service. She currently serves as an AmeriCorps Ambassador and a LIFT-TQP Fellow, roles that underscore her commitment to educational advancement and civic engagement.

Chala is also the Co-founder of a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering young girls through data and digital skills training, reflecting her deep commitment to bridging the gender gap in technology. Her pursuit of excellence in education is further exemplified by her upcoming graduation with a Master’s in Educational Leadership & Policy Studies this December. With plans to pursue a doctorate next year, Chala continues to champion educational reform and equity, shaping the future of both her students and the broader community.

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CSTA IMPACT Fellow, Cohort 6

Dr. Sharisa Chan (She/Her)

Dr. Sharisa Chan is the Associate Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Professional Development for UCLA Center X’s Computer Science Equity Project. Previously, she served as a county administrator at the San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools, focusing on equitable computer science and technology integration in education. She led sessions on Equity Minded Instruction in Computer Science for Seasons of CS and organized Innovation Day events, offering underrepresented students hands-on experience with physical computing tools tied to Global Sustainable Development Goals. Additionally, Dr. Chan provided professional development for TK-12 teachers on integrating computer science into their curricula. She holds a doctorate in Educational Leadership with a focus on Curriculum and Instruction, a master’s degree in Education from UC Riverside, and a bachelor’s degree in Liberal Studies. Dr. Chan is passionate about expanding computer science education and fostering interdisciplinary connections in the classroom.

Learn About Sharisa

As Cohort 6 completes projects throughout the 2024-2025 school year, we’ll link their work to their profiles. Check back soon to see what Sharisa has done!

CSTA IMPACT Fellow, Cohort 6

Jade Solomon (She/Her)

Jade Solomon is a Computer Science and Math teacher at Everett Middle School in San Francisco, CA, where she teaches 6th, 7th, and 8th-grade Computer Science and co-teaches Math 7 with the Resource Specialist Program (RSP). With a Master of Arts in Teaching Mathematics from Stanford’s Graduate School of Education (GSE), Jade is committed to making STEM education inclusive and engaging. She uses Complex Instruction to promote collaboration through group work and structured roles, creating a dynamic and supportive learning environment.

Outside the classroom, Jade’s approach to teaching is shaped by her experience with positive reinforcement training for her energetic puppy, Rutabaga. She also cares for seven pet snakes, each in its own bio-active terrarium. With a background in Psychology and Computer Science, Jade spent a decade as an active member of Noisebridge Hackerspace, a nonprofit dedicated to community-driven education and innovation.

Learn About Jade

CSTA IMPACT Fellow, Cohort 6

Keya Belt Robinson (She/Her)

Keya Belt Robinson is a veteran STEM educator and a passionate advocate for educational justice, with over 20 years of experience teaching computational thinking across the curriculum. Keya is the mother of a neurodivergent child and has a passion for making computer science accessible for all learners. Based in Maryland, Keya currently serves as a Program Design and Innovation Manager at the National Math and Science Initiative (NMSI), where she develops professional development programs for STEM educators and leaders. Her work emphasizes culturally responsive pedagogy, with a focus on enhancing STEM literacy for learners who are “furthest from opportunity.” Keya is committed to diversifying the field of computer science by helping districts, school leaders, and teachers examine systemic barriers and identify gatekeepers that hinder or exclude marginalized learners. She develops programs that empower students to envision themselves in careers where they can apply their computer science skills in the future.

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CSTA IMPACT Fellow, Cohort 6

Mark Godinez (He/Him)

Mark Godinez is the lead teacher for the Academy of IT at South Dade Senior High School in Homestead, Florida, and the Miami CSTA K-16 Liaison of Student Engagement. He teaches Game Design and IT courses. During the summer he works with the Migrant Education Program with students in 4th through 8th grade. He received the Regional CSTA Teaching Excellence Award in 2023 and is a 2022 National NCWIT Educator of the Year recipient.
Mark was also named the 2019 and 2020 South Florida Affiliate NCWIT Educator of the Year and the 2018 South Dade Senior High School Teacher of the Year. He was a 2020 NASEF Scholastic Fellow promoting Scholastic Esports and Service learning.
Mark is passionate about promoting IT and Engineering outside of school. He founded a National Computer Science Honor Society to help promote computer science in his school and community. He recently earned a Computer Science K-12 Teaching Graduate Certificate from the University of Florida.

Learn About Mark

As Cohort 6 completes projects throughout the 2024-2025 school year, we’ll link their work to their profiles. Check back soon to see what Mark has done!

CSTA IMPACT Fellow, Cohort 6

Neil Plotnick (He/Him)

Neil Plotnick is a computer science teacher who has been with the Everett Public Schools since 2007. He has also worked as a special education inclusion teacher in grades 9-12 in math, science, English and history throughout his career. Neil’s specialty is cybersecurity and he established the school’s innovation pathway eight years ago. He has presented at numerous CSTA regional and national conferences. Neil has created curriculum for Cyber.org and founded the Cybersecurity Educators group on Facebook. When not teaching, Neil enjoys travel and sporting events with his wife Lisa and son Marty and their cats Homer and Robin. Neil is a national winner of the PAEMST, NCWIT Aspirations Educator Award, Civil Air Patrol STEM Educator of the Year and Cyber.org Cyber Educator of the Year.

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CSTA IMPACT Fellow, Cohort 6

Omar Shepherd (He/Him)

Omar Shepherd serves as a Project Specialist in Computer Science with the San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools. A primary focus of his work is increasing equity and access for all students to engage in computer science education. Omar serves as an ambassador for CS for ALL Teachers; Girls Who Code (GWC); CSforALL SCRIPT Facilitator, Board Member, Computer Using Educators (CUE); as well as a member of Region 7, with the Educator Workforce Investment Grant (EWIG) to support efforts to build teacher capacity across the state of California to teach Computer Science.

Learn About Omar

As Cohort 6 completes projects throughout the 2024-2025 school year, we’ll link their work to their profiles. Check back soon to see what Omar has done!

CSTA IMPACT Fellow, Cohort 6

Raymond Anacaya (He/Him)

Raymond Z. Anacaya is an interventionist at Olanta Creative Arts and Science Magnet School in South Carolina, with 10 years of teaching experience and a Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Leadership degree. He has dedicated his career to improving reading comprehension and numeracy skills through innovative STEM projects. Raymond was named PeeDee Region STEM Educator of the Year and was one of the Top 5 Finalists for South Carolina. He introduced after-school courses in coding, STEM experiments, and robotics, significantly expanding his school’s initiatives. He also implemented the AIM (Animating Imaginations in Motion) project, which led to notable improvements in students’ test scores. Raymond is committed to ensuring equitable access to STEM education, particularly for underprivileged students. He continually seeks professional development opportunities and collaborates with various stakeholders to enhance educational outcomes. His passion lies in motivating students to engage with STEM early on, believing that this early exposure is crucial for underrepresented students to pursue CS careers.

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CSTA IMPACT Fellow, Cohort 6

Renatae Burton (She/Her)

Renatae Burton is a passionate educator with 14 years of teaching experience, currently at The Bryan Allen Stevenson School of Excellence (BASSE) in Delaware, where she teaches middle school Geography, Civics and Economics, and U.S. History. In addition to her core subjects, Renatae is a dedicated computer science teacher and an advocate for STEM education. She actively promotes hands-on learning as a coach for the First LEGO League Challenge, where students engage in robotics and engineering projects. Renatae is an Applied Digital Skills Google Certified Educator and an ISTE-certified educator, integrating technology into her lessons to enhance student engagement and learning. She also serves as Delaware’s representative for the Middle States Council for Social Studies, a NewsLit and Retro Report Teacher Ambassador, and an advisor for the National Junior Honor Society. Renatae is committed to creating equitable opportunities for all students, especially in underrepresented communities. She resides in Delaware with her family.

Learn About Renatae

As Cohort 6 completes projects throughout the 2024-2025 school year, we’ll link their work to their profiles. Check back soon to see what Renatae has done!

CSTA IMPACT Fellow, Cohort 6

Roza Shaimurat (She/Her)

Roza Shaimurat is an experienced Computer Science teacher, currently in her 12th year of teaching the subject. She teaches AP Computer Science Principles, Programming Year 1, and Programming Year 2 at Lisa Academy North Middle High School in Arkansas. In addition to her teaching roles, Roza is the coach of the VEX IQ Robotics Club and the Coding Club. She is passionate about promoting equity in computer science education, ensuring that all students, regardless of their background, have the opportunity to succeed. Roza holds a Master’s degree in Information Technology (MSIT) and actively works to challenge stereotypes and provide support to underrepresented groups in STEM.

Learn About Roza

As Cohort 6 completes projects throughout the 2024-2025 school year, we’ll link their work to their profiles. Check back soon to see what Roza has done!

CSTA IMPACT Fellow, Cohort 6

Shilpa Agrawal (She/Her)

Shilpa Agrawal is a founding staff member of Comp Sci High and currently serves as the Director of Computer Science, coaching all the CS teachers in the school and overseeing the 4-year course progression, and the APCSA teacher. In her past 7 years at at Comp Sci High she has taught various classes including AP Computer Science A, Software Engineering, Intro to Physics-Engineering and AP Physics 1. Prior to joining Comp Sci High, Agrawal earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science from MIT, and worked at Google for 3 years as a Product Manager. She is passionate about teaching computer science because the subjects allow students to discover through hands-on problem solving. She aims to help build a field of computing that not only accepts people with different backgrounds, but actively encourages them to bring their full selves to the table.

Learn About Shilpa

As Cohort 6 completes projects throughout the 2024-2025 school year, we’ll link their work to their profiles. Check back soon to see what Shilpa has done!

CSTA IMPACT Fellow, Cohort 6

Tess Ramsey (They/Them)

Tess Ramsey (they/them) is a new media artist, technologist, and educator based in New York City. They run a makerspace at The Speyer Legacy School and teach Creative and Computational Thinking classes to students in grades 5-8. In addition to teaching technical skills of design, engineering and computer science, they help students develop their ‘maker mindset’ by celebrating creative agency, collaboration, problem solving, and resiliency. Before becoming a teacher, they received their BFA in Sculpture from the Tyler School of Art, where they focused on promoting gender equality through performance art, interactive installations, and community workshops. In their free time, they love to knit and search for rare vintage virtual pets to add to their ever growing collection.

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CSTA IMPACT Fellow, Cohort 6

Verna Hiser (She/Her)

Verna Hiser boasts 22 years in education, including 12 dedicated to gifted education and 4 focusing on computer science. A 2023 Amazon Future Engineer Teacher Ambassador, she is nationally board certified in gifted and talented education. Verna’s passion lies in providing inclusive computer science opportunities for neurodivergent students, particularly those who are twice exceptional—gifted with a disability. Her commitment to STEM education is evident through her involvement in project-based learning, Maryland Engineering Challenges, First Lego League robotics, and Destination Imagination. As a mother of three neurodivergent sons, Verna balances her professional life with her personal interests in Legos, reading, and acting.

Learn About Verna

As Cohort 6 completes projects throughout the 2024-2025 school year, we’ll link their work to their profiles. Check back soon to see what Verna has done!

CSTA IMPACT Fellow, Cohort 5

Cynthia Brawner (She/Her)

Cynthia Brawner is a National Board veteran teacher with over 25 years of experience. She teaches all subjects: English Language Arts, Math, Science, Social Studies, Writing, and coding to her third-graders at Wadsworth STEM Elementary in Chicago, Illinois. She runs the after-school Computer Science, Podcasting, Inventors, and Videography clubs for grades 3rd to 8th. Cynthia’s educational mission: empower as many students as possible through academic exposure to help students have a voice and reach their full potential. She’s a PilotLight Food Education Fellow, a Field Museum Ambassador, a DonorsChoose Ambassador, A Scholastic SuperSTEM Advisor, a Museum of Science and Industry Teacher Initiative Partner, and a Global Schools Mentor. She holds several postgraduate degrees: an MA in Early Childhood Advocacy and an MS in School Administration. She also holds several certificates from Adobe Exchange Education, ISTE, and CSTA. She is active in the faith-based community and continues to enjoy teaching.

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CSTA IMPACT Fellow, Cohort 5

Daa’iyah Cooke (She/Her)

Daa’iyah Cooke started her teaching career in 2017 at Woodlawn High School as a Technology Education teacher. In 2021, she was offered the opportunity to work close to home at Frederick High School where she teaches Computer Science (AP Computer Science Principles, Foundations of Computer Science and Advanced Computing Concepts – a cybersecurity class). This will be her 11th year in education and 7th year teaching. Daa’iyah is passionate about inspiring students, instilling confidence and helping them find their love of computer science. She has a Bachelors in Information Systems with a Business Administration minor from University of MD Global Campus (UMGC) and a Masters in Management of Information Technology from Hood College. Daa’iyah strives to bring computer science to all students and mentors the Robotics Club, Computer Science Honor Society and maintains her technology education roots by volunteering as the Vice President for Technology and Engineering Educators of Maryland (TEEAM).

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CSTA IMPACT Fellow, Cohort 5

Dan Jones (He/Him)

Dan Jones is in his third year of teaching computer science and sixth year of teaching special needs students at Whispering Pines Educational Center in Miramar, Florida. He takes great pride in connecting the world of computer science to his student’s everyday lives. He is a graduate from Florida International University with a master’s degree in higher education administration. He is also a doctoral candidate in K-12 organizational leadership. Dan’s true passion is his love of education and his desire to elevate his students to the next level of their educational journeys. He is committed to creating a career pathway program for his students and helping them find out what their passion for the future is. He brings a diverse technical background to classroom having spent 22 years as a Cadillac and ASE certified master technician. He is relentless in his pursuit of learning and teaching computer science and is currently working on completing the requirements for a STEM teaching fellowship at Florida Atlantic University. He is a 2023 CSTA Teaching Excellence regional award winner. He is the robotics and Esports coach at his school and hosts gaming tournaments for his students when they are not competing against other schools. He recently won a gaming lab, seven Alienware Gaming Computers through High School Esports League (HSEL) and is having a blast teaching AP computer science this year. He believes that everyone can learn computer science.

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CSTA IMPACT Fellow, Cohort 5

Dr. Kip Glazer (She/Her)

Kip Glazer is a long-time public educator and school administrator who is passionate about the proper use of technology for teaching and learning. Currently Principal in Mountain View, CA, she holds a Doctorate in Learning Technologies from Pepperdine. Her dissertation highlighted how game creation improves students’ literacy and numeracy skills.

As a public educator, she believes in the mission of public education of creating an educated populace for the protection of democracy, and she has worked on elevating practitioner voices in the educational technology space to fulfill that mission. She was a panel member for the webinar hosted by the US Department of Education on their launch of “Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Teaching and Learning,” and has joined as a member of the Practitioner Advisory Board for Engage AI Institute. As proud as she is of her professional accomplishments, she is most proud of her two sons who graduated from West Point and are currently serving in the Army.

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CSTA IMPACT Fellow, Cohort 5

Ebonie Campbell (She/Her)

Ebonie Campbell possesses a decade of experience teaching computer science at Maury High School in Norfolk, VA. She is currently engaged in a grant project with CodeVA serving as a Research-Practice Partner with Computer Science (CS) for CTE. The grant’s primarily objective is to advance computer science teachers by providing CS endorsements. This initiative supports high school teachers in Virginia, enabling them to acquire computer science endorsements, impart more advanced skills and concepts, and develop a strong sense of self-efficacy and identity as CS educators. Furthermore, the grant specifically targets teachers who are presently instructing introductory-level CS in schools with large populations of underserved students, including those from low income, rural, and students of color. Ebonie aims to boost participation in computer science courses and foster interest in the field among underrepresented minorities and women. Ebonie holds a bachelor’s degree in computer science and a master’s degree in education. She loves spending quality time with her husband and her twin sixteen-year-old daughters. She and her family reside in Virginia Beach, VA.

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CSTA IMPACT Fellow, Cohort 5

Elvage Murphy (He/Him)

After retiring from the practice of law, and a full professorship at a university, Elvage Murphy accepted the challenge of teaching middle school students with the hope of helping children prepare to make a successful transition into adulthood. He accepted the responsibility of teaching website design and computer programming, with limited familiarity in the field. His commitment to make this successful career transition speaks to and inspires his students to believe they can learn and excel in computer science.

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