Stories

Congratulations are in order for South Windsor Computer Science Teacher, and South Windsor Teacher of the Year 2019,  Jamie Lang for receiving the 2021 Connecticut NCWIT Aspirations in Computing Educator Award.  We reached out to Jamie to hear her story and gather some great tips you can use to improve your computer science presence in school for young womxn and the student body as a whole.

Raised Bill 1033 (2021): An Act Concerning the Inclusion of Computer Science and Financial Literacy as part of the High School Graduation Requirements will hold a public hearing before the CT Legislature's Education Committee on March 17, 2021.

 

Our Legislative Advocacy Advisor, Norm Sondheimer, watched the US Senate Confirmation Hearing for Secretary of Education of Dr. Miguel Cardona, Connecticut's Commissioner of Education.  Read on to hear his observations and key quotes. 

 

Remember that Norm's passion is advocating for CS in our state - reach out to him to help at nksondheimer@gmail.com!

 

 

 

 

 

Congratulations are in order.  Our Secretary, Christopher Kerr, was honored in August 2020 to receive the Connecticut NCWIT Aspirations in Computing Educator Award.  

On Thursday, 9/24/2020, I had the opportunity to talk with Connecticut Affiliate NCWIT Collegiate Award Winner, Tiffanie Edwards.  Read on to learn more!  

This past year has been unusual, to say the least.  One thing that has helped me to stay balanced and hopeful has been my participation in the CSTA Equity Fellowship.  Please read on to learn more about the fellowship!

CT CSTA Member Laura DiScenza took time to write a summary of her experience last summer at the Pathfinders Institute. 

 

It comes HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. 

 

Read on to learn more about why you should apply.  Information about the application can be found HERE.

 

Have YOU done/attended something amazing and would you like to share?  Reach out to Jackie Corricelli (jcorricelli@gmail.com) or Chris Kerr (mrkerrnhs@gmail.com) and we will help you get your thoughts published.

How did the CT CSTA represent at the State Capital this first week of March 2020?  Read below!

What happens when the CT CSTA gets involved with national CSEdWeek?  EVERYTHING!

 

Join us for the 3rd Annual CSTA New England Regional Conference on Equity in Computing at Boston University on Saturday, October 26, 2019.

We're very excited to share with you that our own Jackie Corricelli has been selected as a CSTA Equity Fellow! As an Equity Fellow, Jackie will take part in a year-long program that elevates educators who have demonstrated success in disrupting the disparities impacting females, underrepresented students of color, English language learners, and students with special needs in order to bring their inclusive teaching practices and leadership to educators across the country and around the world at the 2020 CSTA Annual Conference.

 

 

BostonFIGs annual festival took over two buildings in Harvard's athletic complex on September the 14th, exhibiting some of the most creative game development minds within New England.  CT CSTA Secretary, avid game player and designer Christopher Kerr was on hand to capture the action and take a few lessons back to the classroom.   What did he learn this year and what was uncovered that YOU use in your classroom?  Find out after the jump!

 

So honored to join Seth Freeman and Shannon Marimon in Las Vegas, NV for Global CS Ed Con! 

 

I have spent the past two days sharing and learning from amazing CS educators, policy advocates, and district leaders from across the US.  I am in awe of the amount of passion and creative thinking that can happen when inspired people assemble together.  I felt honored to take part in this first-of-its-kind Global CS Ed Conference!  

 

Some things you must know:

1) There are CSTA Educator Standards - these are the things CS Teachers need to do well.  You should check them out and review them!  Do this HERE.

2) CS For All has created SCRIPT, a support system complete with RUBRICS and RESOURCES to support districts to come up with a plan for themselves.  

3) CT CSTA and CSTA are here for you.  Please join us at meetings!  We cannot wait to create and share more ideas in person!

Skills21 is excited to announce the third year of an opportunity for teachers interested in the intersection between Science and Computer Science (CS). With support from the National Science Foundation, Skills21 is recruiting a cohort of teachers this year who want to engage their class in a CS challenge and present student team solutions at the 2020 Expo Fest on June 6, 2020 (expofest.skills21.org). 

 

Honor Societies have been a part of secondary and post-secondary institutions for hundreds of years.  What if there were a way to bring a computer science honor society to your school?  Virginia has led the US in this journey.  Read on to learn how to bring an honor society to your school...

Connecticut Computer Science Teachers Association leaders, Betsy Dillard and Christopher Kerr, attend this year's national leadership conference in Phoenix Arizona this summer!  

 

 

According to Wikipedia, Girls Who Code was founded by Reshma Saujani in 2012 who came up with the idea of creating the organization during her run for the United States Congress when she noticed that schools along her campaign route lacked girls in computer science classrooms.

 

Since 2012, these clubs have spread throughout the United States to try to right this wrong.  

 

I was recently contacted by our local point of contact, Emma Groves Baldacci, to ask if I can help spread information on our site about Girls Who Code.  I love that she reached out to us!  Let's please support this great cause. 

 

More information follows...

CS is State Law in Connecticut

 

Last night, I received a most exciting email from Norm Sondheimer, the CT CS Advocate who has been working tirelessly with so many people to channel energy toward the passage of this legislation.  We are SO HAPPY to announce that it is official; Computer Science is State Law in Connecticut!  Read on to learn about the legislation and our state level supporters...

The Masters School in Simsbury, CT is seeking a computer sciences professional to lead their CS program. 

Hello,

 

One of the things CT CSTA hopes to use this site to do is to market local opportunities, like this one!

 

Check out the start to a page devoted to opportunities by clicking the Local Opportunities button on the main page.

 

If you have something you would like to share, email jcorricelli@gmail.com.

 

Hope it helps,

CT CSTA

Computer Science Education, victories and challenges, were featured in the state capitol last Thursday, May 16.  The Congressional App Challenge, a competition any public high school can enter, was the centerpiece event.  Patrice Gans was the organizer for the event this year.  Check out this wonderful article written by the CT Education Association all about the event.  

 

We are excited to announce our new website.  With the help of CSTA National, we have been working to build this site to do a better job helping you to learn about all of the supports available to you.