CSTA IMPACT Fellowship

CSTA IMPACT Fellow, Cohort 2

Eboni Akpan Zook (She/Her)

Eboni Akpan Zook teaches Computer Science and Technology and facilitates a Girls Who Code Club at the Baltimore Leadership School for Young Women (BLSYW), an all-girls public charter school in Baltimore City, Maryland. Eboni is passionate about increasing STEM learning opportunities for young women of color and students from under-resourced communities. Eboni is entering her ninth year as an educator and recently partnered with the Maryland Center for Computing Education (MCCE) to create a unit of Early Childhood Computer Science curriculum integrated with Next Generation Science Standards. As a Code.org CS Fundamentals Facilitator, Eboni has trained hundreds of elementary school teachers in CS curriculum.

Learn About Eboni

CSTA IMPACT Fellow, Cohort 2

Elizabeth Naameh (She/Her)

Elizabeth Naameh teaches high school math and computer science, with a focus on equity and engagement. She founded the AP Computer Science program at USC Hybrid High and lectures at UCLA through the AP Readiness Program, which brings high-quality AP instruction to students and professional development for teachers throughout Los Angeles. Elizabeth is a committed advocate for girls and students of color in STEM, working to expand notions of “who” does CS. She has received training through AP CS 50, Code.org, and TEALS. Her accomplishments this year include competing in a triathlon, raising a kitten, starting a book club among friends, and not over-watering her succulents.

Learn About Elizabeth

CSTA IMPACT Fellow, Cohort 2

Eric Foster (He/Him)

Eric Foster is in his second year of teaching computer science at George Westinghouse High School in Brooklyn, New York. He prides himself on connecting computer science concepts to cultural references without pandering. His journey to becoming an educator started in 2016 when he left the industry to teach computer science to underserved communities. He has worked with CodeNation, Girls Who Code, All Star Code, and is a supporter of many more. Prior to teaching, Eric worked in digital publishing as a developer and technical project manager for over a decade.

Learn About Eric

CSTA IMPACT Fellow, Cohort 2

Laura Ramirez (She/Her)

Laura Ramirez is National Board Certified and is the Tech Integration Specialist at a Spanish bilingual K-8 school in the Mission district of San Francisco. Having seen how hesitant her students (girls and BIPOC) struggled to coexist with technology and computer science concepts, she created a space where girls and gender-expansive students were comfortable taking risks to solve problems. The Tech Chicas/Chicxs group was born and an army of young girls resurrected to fix the school’s tech issues and learn growth mindset skills. When not teaching, Laura is a member of G.A.N.A (Grupo para el avance de niñas y aliadxs) and La Colectiva, a group of fierce teachers who plan, collaborate, and facilitate activities to girls and nonbinary students to dismantle the microcosms of patriarchy in schools. She is a member of the SF Film Inclusion Advisory Board to improve the Board of Directors’ cultural competency skills, diversity, and refine strategy for providing filmmakers programs, and educational outreach.

Learn About Laura

CSTA IMPACT Fellow, Cohort 2

Leon Tynes (He/Him)

Leon Tynes teaches technology and computer science to K-8 students at the Academy of Math and Sciences – Desert Sky charter school in Phoenix, Arizona. He is working to transform STEM education within the diverse community that he serves through student participation in STEM challenges, student innovation, and scientific advocacy. Leon has secured a number of STEM grants to support his recent efforts such as Infymakers, McCarthey Dressman, and Verizon Innovative Learning. He was also an AP CSP reader for the past four years. His accolades awards include 2016 Henry Ford Teacher Innovator award, 2016 PBS Digital Innovator, 2017 Grosvenor Teacher Fellow (Galapagos), 2017 ISTE Technology in Action award, 2018 Fulbright Teachers for Global Classrooms Fellow (Morocco), 2018 ISTE Outstanding Teacher, 2019 Jacobs Educator award, 2019-20 CS for All Teachers Ambassador, 2019 CS for All Teachers Ambassador & 2019 CSTA/Infosys Honorable Mention for Teaching Excellence.

Learn About Leon

CSTA IMPACT Fellow, Cohort 2

Lilibeth Mora (She/Her)

Lilibeth teaching philosophy is that all students can learn and she will do everything in her power to create a positive learning environment that is conducive to collaborative learning and creative problem-solving. Lilibeth became a chapter leader for CSTA Sacramento and discovered a new passion in education–ensuring that all students have the opportunity to take a computer science course in high school and to change the demographics of who’s making programs, software, and artificial intelligence that is changing the way we live. Until the people in those positions match the people who they were intended for, people of all diversity, she will not stop.

Learn About Lilibeth

CSTA IMPACT Fellow, Cohort 2

Mayné González Osorio (She/Her)

Mayné González Osorio is the founder and former president of the CSTA Puerto Rico Chapter from 2017-2019 and is currently serving as Relations Manager. She has worked as a technology teacher at Jose E. Aponte De La Torre School. She has participated in various events promoting the advancement of CS in Puerto Rico, including the first PD of Mobile CSP in Puerto Rico in 2019 and Exploring Computer Science. Mayné has provided CS workshops to teachers and students through CSTA Puerto Rico and has collaborated in the creation of a CS curriculum with the University of PR and the Department of Education. Her passion and commitment to computer science have allowed her to partner with other entities outside of Puerto Rico. She recently participated in an online event known as Codifi-K, which emerged from the collaboration with Televisa Foundation, Infosys, and Cuantrix, which was focused on providing programming experiences to Spanish-speaking families.

Learn About Mayné

CSTA IMPACT Fellow, Cohort 2

Megan Bowen (She/Her)

Megan Bowen, a proud Mexican-American, has been an Educational Technology Specialist for ten years. She’s currently the Technology Coordinator and Integration Specialist while also teaching AP Computer Science, Digital Citizenship, Film and Video, and 3D Design at Salem Academy Charter School in Salem, Massachusetts. She also advises after school clubs like Makerspace, Robotics, and S.A.G.A (Sexuality and Gender Alliance). Megan graduated from Grand Valley State University with a B.A. in English and sociology, and an M.Ed. in educational technology.As a member of the queer community, Megan was accepted into the 2015 White House LGBTQ Tech and Innovation Summit to collaborate in identifying technology and computer science needs as they relate to the LGBTQ community.

Learn About Megan

CSTA IMPACT Fellow, Cohort 2

Richard Winn (He/Him)

James Winn is a library/media specialist at Wyoming Indian High School in Ethete, Wyoming. His second life began in a Code.org Fundamentals training where he learned that less than 1% of college grads come from the Native American population. This is an untapped resource for America. With this passion for representing his Native heritage, James earned his teaching certificate. Being able to share, inspire, and educate students about the opportunities in CS is now a lifelong pursuit. Through CS, all students everywhere and from every background have the ability to compete on a world stage and come to understand how important they are.

Learn About Richard

CSTA IMPACT Fellow, Cohort 2

Sarah Ciras (She/Her)

Sarah Ciras works with AccessCSForAll in a research practitioner partnership on the National Science Foundation grant, AccessCSforAll: Including Students with Disabilities in High School Computer Science. As part of this grant, she is helping to facilitate a week-long professional development program for educators. She has spoken at SIGCSE, the CSTA Annual Conference, and the College Board Forum. She has also provided accessibility input on Code.org’s CSP curriculum and to the AP Instructional Design team at The College Board on Computer Science Principles.

Learn About Sarah

CSTA IMPACT Fellow, Cohort 2

Shaina Glass (She/Her)

Shaina develops, supports, and implements programs and professional learning experiences for computer science educators, CSTA members, and Chapter Leaders aligned with the CSTA Standards for CS Teachers.

Prior to joining CSTA, Shaina worked in education for 20 years, educating all learners — students and teachers alike. As technology applications and STEM program director for Aldine Independent School District in Texas, she worked to expand equitable access to STEM, technology, and computer science instruction to over 65,000 PreK–12 students. She also serves as a board member of CSforTX, Texas’s Computer Science Advocacy Coalition, the Texas ECEP State Team and the past-president of CSTA Greater Houston. 

In her free time, Shaina enjoys yoga,  painting, cooking, and spending time with her family.

Learn About Shaina

CSTA IMPACT Fellow, Cohort 2

Shiela Lee (She/Her)

Shiela Lee is a special education teacher entering her 10th year of teaching. After spending a year teaching in Taiwan on a Fulbright Fellowship, she spent the next 8 years integrating computer science into her second-grade classroom in New York City. This upcoming year, she is the STEM teacher and is excited to help her students see their identities in the field of CS. Shiela is also a self-taught coder who has coded tools for teachers to use in their classroom, including a tool for stations teaching and an interactive hundreds chart to see mathematical patterns. She is committed to creating curriculum that is anti-racist and empowering her students to challenge stereotypes. Shiela is a Math for America Master Teacher Fellow and an Upperline Code Teaching Fellow. She holds a B.A. in philosophy from Grinnell College and a M.A. in curriculum and teaching from Teachers College, Columbia University.

Learn About Shiela

CSTA IMPACT Fellow, Cohort 1

Charity Freeman (She/Her)

Charity E. Freeman (she/her) is the Associate Director of Teacher Training at Discovery Partners Institute, a research hub of the University of Illinois System, where she focuses on building teacher capacity in CS at the K-12 and community college levels. In her efforts with CSTA’s Board of Directors, Annual Conference Committee, and its inaugural Equity Fellowship cohort, Charity supports equitable access, engagement, and achievement in CS education through education policy and teacher preparation. “CS For All means that any learner can envision a programmer, analyst, or gamer, and see themselves.”

Learn About Charity

CSTA IMPACT Fellow, Cohort 1

Cindy Wong (She/Her)

Cindy Wong is an elementary technology teacher at P.S.41 The Crocheron School in Bayside, New York. She has taught over twelve years, with the first nine years in third grade. She is a tech enthusiast and loves testing out new tools with her students in her computer lab. She holds Ed Tech certifications in Google Education Level 1 and 2, and is a Google Certified Trainer and Innovator. She is also part of the #NYCSchoolsTech Trainer Team and presented at the past four #NYCSchoolsTech Tech Summit, ISTE 2019, and CS4All TeachersCon. She was also a Community Builder Fellow for CS4All, one of the Chancellor’s Equity and Excellence Initiatives, to spread the culture of computer science to teachers, parents, and students.

Learn About Cindy

CSTA IMPACT Fellow, Cohort 1

Dr. Abigail Joseph (She/Her)

Dr. Abigail Joseph (she/her) has an extensive career as an educator in the California Bay Area as a teacher, coach, facilitator, and speaker. In 2022, she delivered a TEDx talk titled, Ubuntu Innovation: A Beacon for Humanity. Abigail currently works as an Instructor for the Oracle Education Foundation designing design challenge experiences for high school students that integrate design thinking, futures thinking, and emerging technologies. She is a CSTA Equity Fellow Alum and serves on the Board of Directors for CSTA and Maker Nexus, a local Silicon Valley community makerspace. Beyond teaching, making, and the arts, her current passion as an innovation coach is helping adults discover everyday innovation. She recently launched The Innovation Doctor (heyinnovationdoctor.com), where she helps professionals spark an affair with creativity in and out of the workplace. She inspires and empowers communities to use innovation to design and live connected lives filled with play, joy, and wonder. She enjoys innovating the possibilities of tomorrow with her husband in California.

Learn About Dr. Joseph

CSTA IMPACT Fellow, Cohort 1

Jacqueline “Jackie” Corricelli (She/Her)

Jacqueline “Jackie” Corricelli has been a public school educator since August 2003. As the Pre K-12 Computer Science (CS) Curriculum Specialist for the West Hartford Public School District, Jackie supports her district as a CS advocate, coach, reference, and researcher. In addition, she teaches CS courses at Conard High School. At the state level, Jackie volunteers as Treasurer of the CS Teachers Association (CSTA). At the national level, Jackie is an Advanced Placement (AP) Consultant and a member of the Development Committee for AP CS Principles. Jackie believes CS can and should be integrated in all subjects, Pre K-12. Computational thinking is a way of thinking about and solving problems. CS impacts all disciplines. Jackie is happiest when she works with a team to solve problems. Whether it is a team of students, teachers, coworkers, parents, or business partners, she loves to create and execute new ideas and learn from mistakes made. She is grateful for the support she receives from her family and community.

Jackie has a B.A. in mathematics and statistics from the University of Connecticut and an M.S.Ed. in mathematics secondary education from Westfield State University. She is certified in secondary mathematics and computer science education.

Learn About Jackie

CSTA IMPACT Fellow, Cohort 1

Michelle G. Lee (She/Her)

Michelle can make a room of adults feel giddy like kindergarteners, or so she’s told. As a Computer Science Content Specialist for San Francisco Unified, her mission is to severely disrupt patterns of who believes they can be successful at computer science. She lead-authored the district’s Kindergarten computer science curriculum and is co-authoring its upcoming pre-Kindergarten curriculum. Michelle also coaches, co-teaches with, and facilitates hands-on professional development for PK–5 classroom teachers and specialists and, to date, has introduced over 1,100 children to computer science. In 2019, CSTA and Infosys Foundation USA honored Michelle’s commitment to equity at their national conferences.

Learn About Michelle

CSTA IMPACT Fellow, Cohort 1

Noelle Valentine (She/Her)

Noelle Valentine is an English academic turned computer science teacher with experience working with rural Alaskan students. She is currently acting as the inaugural president of the CSTA Top of the World chapter. Noelle has served on Alaska’s CS Standards Writing Committee and championed the development of the CS.MatSu pathway in the Matanuska Susitna Borough School District. Driven to increase student access and opportunity, she created an expanded and revitalized Computer Science program for grades 6-12 at her alma mater, Susitna Valley Junior/Senior High School. In addition to building her own Girls Who Code Club, she was a co-founder of MSBSD’s district-wide Girls Who Code Summer Camp.

Learn About Noelle

CSTA IMPACT Fellow, Cohort 1

Rebecca Luebker (She/Her)

Rebecca Luebker is an enrolled citizen of the Cherokee Nation is the Social Science Chair at Haas Hall Academy in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Most of Rebecca’s academic duties are in the areas of Government and Economics, where she has been awarded the 2017 Gilder Lehrman Arkansas History Teacher of the Year. Computer Science has recently become a passion for her through her daughter. In 2017, in collaboration with the Computer Science Chair at her school, they developed a middle school Coding curriculum. Through this experience, she has been able to enjoy the struggles and successes that computer science brings to the classroom, and the ability to connect computer science and social science in cross-curricular endeavors.

Learn About Rebecca

CSTA IMPACT Fellow, Cohort 1

Shana V. White (She/Her)

Shana V. White (she/her) is the director of CS equity initiatives at the Kapor Center. She works on equitable CS initiatives, supporting CSforCA and CSforGA, and she also collaborates with Georgia stakeholders to improve teacher professional development and increase participation and success for students of color in K–12 CS courses. Prior to joining the Kapor Center, Shana worked for 16 years in K–12 education, serving in both public and private schools as a teacher and instructional technology specialist in metro Atlanta. Shana has a passion for disrupting the status quo, works to connect and create community for educators online, and holds a strong commitment to racial justice and equity in K–12 schools. She has a BS from Wake Forest University, an MS from Winthrop University, and an EdS from Kennesaw State University. Outside of work, Shana enjoys spending time with her husband and two kids, watching live sports, volunteering, watching rom-coms, and lifting weights.

Learn About Shana

CSTA IMPACT Fellow, Cohort 1

Shanti’ Coaston (She/Her)

Shanti’ Coaston’s special education experiences include having assisted in the transition of teaching CS to all students (APCSP, Intro to Game Design, Intro to Cybersecurity, Exploring CS, and Student TechCorps) full-time. Shanti has received CS training through CSforCLE and TEALS. Her activities and recognition include: 2018–19 Shaw High School and East Cleveland City Schools Teacher of the Year, 2019 APCSP Teacher Summit participant, Girls Who Code Facilitator, ESports Advisor, CSTA Ohio Member, 2018 CSforALL Conference attendee, Technology Integration PD provider, and the 2017 Ohio CS Curriculum Standards Writing Team, as well as a Co-Lead Mentor for new educators to the school district. She ensures that her students are exposed to college tours, career fairs, and CS competitions. Shanti’ believes that EVERY student, especially girls and students with disabilities, deserves to learn Computer Science.

Learn About Shanti’