“My AP CSP class recently created a large group project that promotes maker education on campus through a food waste/composting campaign. Our students are developing a separate food waste collection system and will develop a natural system of composting on campus.”

“I have 19 students that I can’t say enough good things about. They are well motivated and enjoy the classroom rivalry. Some of my students are quite competitive when it comes to GPA, class rankings, graduation seals, and Industry credentials, I have noticed how much smack talk has become involved.”

“The seniors I taught last year had been with me as freshmen (pre-pandemic), as juniors (during pandemic with most at home, some in school), and as seniors (post-pandemic). We spoke a lot more about feelings, mental health, and fears than we normally discuss — and it amazed me when they thanked me for caring. I mean, it just seemed like what should happen.”

“My students love to compete. They compete in virtual competitions, and live competitions throughout the U.S.A. In total, we compete in over 50 competitions per year.”

“I had a truant student that just didn’t see why coming to school was necessary. Everything in school was meaningless. She happened to be in my class when we were working on a virtual robot. She was hooked. She was in the driver seat and was eager to learn and TEACH programming.”

Becoming a CodeHS trainer has always been a hidden passion of mine. I enjoy showing teachers and volunteers how powerful the codeHS platform is. I enjoy sharing with other teachers my enthusiasm for teaching culturally responsive lessons that engage the Black, Latino, Asian, and Native American students.

I work at a military academy in an impoverished area, but the cadets have a wonderful desire to learn and grow. My goal is to encourage students to achieve success regardless of their situations or circumstances. The cadets inspire and motivate me to share relevant real-world skills and life lessons that will enhance their lives.

My students love a challenge and like using Computer Science to solve societal problems. My students won state finalist in the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Contest using problem solving skills. CodeHS helps to develop the problem solving skills needed for my students to compete on a national level.

We are Navajo-Diné, loud and proud Native American from Chinle Arizona, Wildcat Country. Students are all on remote learning with laptops issued from the district. Student also have hotspots and slowly progressing through this tough year. We’re trying to get more students interested in coding and programming.

A majority of our students are low income and have big dreams, but don’t know how to get there. They are very family oriented and we are all proud of how fast and far they have come in their education.

A very meaningful event from our class is when we go to neighboring middle schools and my CS scholars teach CS lessons to those scholars during the Hour of Code week. This event allows them the chance to take ownership of what they have learned in our class. During this event, I have the luxury of seeing my scholars transform into mentors and motivators as they help to pique the interest of the next generation of high school CS scholars.

My classroom is organized chaos! Through various funding sources, including a generous local education foundation, I have secured a variety of kits and resources for my students so they can explore and create. For my computer science students, I have Android tablets, numerous small robots (ittyBitty bots, mBots, cyber:bots), Arduinos, Raspberry Pi, and micro:bits. My students enjoy being able to see these items in action as they explore computer science.

My school has an amazing culture I can only summarize with a story: While teaching health and sex-ed, one student had an embarrassing question. After she asked, all the students immediately gasped “Whaaat? REALLY??” She was so embarrassed! Without any direction from me, all the students immediately corrected themselves and encouraged her to let her question be answered. This is the kindest, most empathetic group of students I have ever had the pleasure of teaching.

In this time of Covid, students feel that they have no control over anything. For a few who are having an especially hard time, we are looking at our classes as an opportunity to completely control something in the midst of chaos. Students can tell the computer exactly what to do, and it has to obey. It is giving these students (and probably even more than I know) a feeling of empowerment at a time when they think it no longer exists. Those completely new to CS are finding that prospect especially exciting because they did not yet know the possibilities.

My students are special, over the last four years I have seen many enter and leave my classroom, I have seen my students use me and my class as a platform to reach and aspire to reach their dreams. Many of them have chosen Computer Science as majors at their respective universities and have continued to be shining beacons of hope and perseverance, leading by example. I say all these very vague things but this is where my words fail, for my students are special, and no real words can compare. My students are warriors, blazing trails for future generations of Navajo Students in the world of S.T.E.M.

My students come from some of the most socioeconomically disadvantaged neighborhoods in our area. Many of them have no technology at home other than a cell phone. Most of them begin our 3-year Computer Science course of study with zero knowledge of hardware or software other than the limited exposure they had at school.

I teach at an at-risk urban school on the border of Texas and Mexico. The majority of my students are either 1st or 2nd generation living in the US or they commute daily from Mexico. We are currently virtual, which means a large number of students do not have internet connectivity or lack a device. Our district has provided most of them with a device or a hotspot for use.