Bringing computer science excitement to students across the Southwest, from New Mexico to Nevada, as we celebrate our 100th school visit!
Stop 1: Sierra Middle School (Las Cruces, NM)
Our first visit to New Mexico took us to Sierra Middle School in Las Cruces, where we had the pleasure of meeting CodeHS Pro teacher, Elizabeth Martinez. She teaches all of the school’s computer science classes, ranging from Intro to JavaScript to esports. It was a full day of six classes of middle schoolers. Two of her students gave us a tour of their outdoor campus before we sat down for lunch. This is a great way to kick off our time in New Mexico!
Stop 2: Xavier College Prep (Phoenix, AZ)
After a six-hour drive across the desert, we arrived at Xavier College Prep, an all-girls academy in Phoenix. Their computer science program is taught by fourth-year teacher Leon Tynes. His students were earning college credit through a partnership with a local university, and his robotics team had built an entire setup from scratch. Many students were enrolled in the Java course on CodeHS, and Mr. Tynes suggested adding more visual projects to enhance engagement. The visit ended with some fun as the students took photos in front of the pink van.
Stop 3: Gateway Academy (Scottsdale, AZ)
Our final Arizona visit brought us to Gateway Academy. Sarah Felzke, a teacher who introduced CodeHS to the school, was excited to explore new possibilities with a CodeHS Pro. We spoke to three classes, including a small group of four sixth-grade boys who were eager to showcase their video game creations. It was a fantastic way to wrap up our time in Arizona—and we had good laughs and great conversations.
Stop 4: Career and Tech High School (St. George, UT)
We kicked off Utah visit at Career and Tech High School in St. George. The school, built just two years ago, specializes in tech education. We met with Garrett Jones and his Python and web design students, who were eager to learn more about building projects and standing out in the field of computer science. It was a strong first stop in Utah, and the breathtaking views outside the school made it even better.
Stop 5: Hurricane Middle School (Hurricane, UT)
Hurricane Middle School marks a major milestone of the road trip—our 100th school visit while on the road! At the school, we met teacher Teresa Harris and her CS classes. We shared our story and gave an update on the road trip, which led to great conversations. The visit ended with three eighth-grade classes participating in the Python Turtle Graphics van drawing challenge.
Stop 6: Coral Academy of Science (Las Vegas, NV)
Our first stop in Nevada was at Coral Academy of Science in Las Vegas, where we presented to a large group—three combined computer science classes totaling around 100 students. During this time, teachers and students asked some amazing questions about CodHS and the road trip. The visit ended with us showing the school the CodeHS pink van.
Stop 7: Innovations International Charter (Las Vegas, NV)
We made our way over to Innovations International Charter School, located near the Las Vegas Strip. Principal Devina Harden appreciated the visit, emphasizing how important it was to expose students to computer science early on. We spoke to three large classes of seventh and eighth graders, introducing them to the CodeHS career center and the broader applications of coding. This group was very engaged and excited to learn about technology.
Stop 8: Founders Classical Academy (Las Vegas, NV)
Our final Nevada visit took us to Founders Classical Academy, where we met with pro teachers Kevin Brown and Wanda Gaston. Mrs. Gaston, a longtime CodeHS user, had recently introduced the platform to Mr. Brown’s class. She had high praise for CodeHS, particularly for the fast response time of the CodeHS team. Many students admitted they weren’t initially interested in computer science, but Karel made the learning process fun for them!
With the Southwest visits complete, we’re now on the way to San Diego, ready to visit schools in Southern California. Looking forward to seeing what’s next on the road trip!
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Want CodeHS to visit your school?
We're well into the road trip and excited to visit even more schools along the way! You can still request a visit for the CodeHS team to make a stop at your school on the road trip. If you’re interested, request a visit here codehs.com/roadtrip.
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