K-12 Standards Revision Task Force

Leadership Team

Deborah Seehorn (Co-Chair)

Deborah Seehorn retired in 2015 as a Business, Finance, and IT Education Consultant at the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI). Before working at the NCDPI, Deborah taught high school business in Whiteville and Hallsboro, NC. Prior to those teaching positions, Deborah taught Basic and COBOL programming, Database Management, and Microcomputer Systems at San Juan Community College in Farmington, New Mexico. Prior to that, she taught Algebra I and Basic Computer Programming to 9th graders at Tsé Bit ‘ai Junior High School in Shiprock, New Mexico. She began her career at Lejeune High School in Camp Lejeune, NC, teaching high school mathematics. Currently, she is serving as Chair of the CSTA Curriculum and Certification Committee.

Tammy Pirmann (Co-Chair)

Tammy Pirmann is the district coordinator for Computer Science and Business at the School District of Springfield Township, Montgomery County, PA, as well as a high school computer science teacher. Computer Science has been a graduation requirement at Springfield since 2009. Tammy is currently a doctoral student at Gwynedd Mercy University in Educational Leadership and is serving on the Board of Directors of the Computer Science Teachers Association. She has won the NCWIT Aspirations in Computing Educator Award and is passionate about access to computer science education as an equity issue.

Todd Lash (Elementary Team Lead)

Todd Lash, co-founder of EdcampCU, has served as an elementary educator for the last seventeen years, ten years of which, he was a school library media specialist. As an active member of CTRL-Shift (Creative Technology Research Lab), Todd has collaborated with individuals from all over the United States to help develop computational thinking opportunities targeted at children from all demographics. He is the co-winner of 2015 State of Illinois, Those Who Excel Award for Educational Teams and has presented on topics such as educational leadership, collaboration and computational thinking at numerous conferences. Todd also served as a writer for the K12CS Framework and serves on the Computer Science Teachers Association K-8 force, as well as its standards revision team. Todd’s is currently a full-time doctoral student at the University of Illinois in Special Education researching computer science education and students with disabilities.

Bryan Twarek (Middle Grades Team Lead)

Bryan Twarek (“BT”) is the computer science (CS) program administrator for the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD), where he is working to expand CS instruction to all students and all schools within San Francisco public schools. His goal is to ensure that all SFUSD students have equitable access to rigorous, relevant and engaging CS instruction, from pre-kindergarten to twelfth grade. To this end, he oversees policy, curriculum development, and professional development. He also serves as the CSTA Board of Directors school district representative. Previously, he worked as middle school dean, teacher, educational technology teacher on special assignment, and technology integration specialist. BT graduated from Yale University with a degree in psychology and human neuroscience. He earned his master’s degree in urban education policy and administration from Loyola Marymount University. He also served as team lead for the Framework for K-12 Computer Science Education, a writer for the 2016 Interim K-12 CSTA Standards, and an advisor to several computer science research and curriculum development projects.

Daniel Moix (High School Team Lead)

Daniel Moix has taught computer science since 2003 at the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences & Arts; College of the Ouachitas; and Bryant High School. He is the Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA) Arkansas Vice-President, a member of the CSTA Computer Science Advocacy Leadership Team (CSALT), and Arkansas’s first K-12 Computer Science Education Specialist. Daniel was the 9-12 grade level lead for the 2016 CSTA K-12 Computer Science Standards and a writer on the Framework for K-12 Computer Science Education. Daniel is a recipient of the 2015 Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching and the 2016 Infosys/ACM/CSTA Award for Teaching Excellence in Computer Science.

Writing Team

Leticia Batista 

Leticia Batista is a bilingual kindergarten teacher in Oxnard, California. She has been an educator for 10 years and has taught grades K-4. She works in a 1:1 district and is currently at McKinna Elementary an Apple Distinguished School. As an Apple Distinguished Educator she is constantly exploring ways to integrate computer science and technology in the classroom to assist her students’ diverse learning needs and language acquisition. She loves exploring how Computer Science can be used by students to develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills to meet grade level standards. She has a Masters in Educational Leadership, is a Leading Edge Certified teacher, and an Apple Distinguished Educator.

Julia Bell 

Julia is an Associate Professor of Computer Science at Walters State Community College, previously with NWACC in Bentonville, AR as Networking Program Director and Systems Analyst for Fayetteville Police Department. TN Code Academy programming instructor, TN Achieves Scholars Mentor, Quality Matters Certified Designer and Course Reviewer, 2012 Faculty of the Year, Multiple Good as Gold Faculty Awards from Phi Theta Kappa, was a writer on the Framework for K-12 Computer Science Education, NCC Curriculum Standards Committee (cybersecurity education) and A.C.E. certified Forensic Examiner.

Chris Kuszmaul

Chris Kuszmaul first taught computer science a Tarkio College in Kansas City in 1982. Since then he has taught Formal logic, Aikido, creative writing, physics, calculus, engineering technology, and computer-aided design in addition to computer science at Stanford, MIT, Tblisi State University, The New England Aikikai, The Pacific Aikido Federation, The Harker School, Menlo School, Palo Alto High School, and a few other places — just not all those things at all those places. Chris worked for MasPar, a massively parallel supercomputer manufacturer in the late 80s and early 90s. He worked for a variety of failed startups in the late 90s and early 2000s. When not working for failed startups, Chris also served as a senior research scientist for Computer Sciences Corporation at NASA Ames Research Center’s National Advanced Supercomputing center. He has written more than a dozen reviewed papers in the area of computer science, and designed the four-year sequence of computer science classes currently offered at Palo Alto High School.

Dianne O’Grady-Cunniff

Dianne is currently working on projects to bring Computer Science to all students in K-12 as a teacher and as a member of the CS Matters in Maryland team. Curriculum has been developed by the project for a Maryland version of AP Computer Science Principles with teacher training for a rigorous high school class that has broad appeal and teaches computational thinking in a collaborative environment. As a Code.org Affiliate trainer, she leads workshops for elementary and middle school teachers to learn how to incorporate code into their classrooms. Computer Science Education is her passion and she believes every child should have the opportunity to create with technology. Dianne was a writer on the Framework for K-12 Computer Science Education and is a member of the Computer Science National Advisory Committee.
 

Minsoo Park

Minsoo Park is the director of teaching and learning at Countryside School. In 10 years of teaching, he has primarily served as a middle school computer science/algebra teacher, a technology coordinator, and a Middle Years Program International Baccalaureate coordinator in Chicago Public Schools. For past three years, he served as an enrichment and technology specialist in Unit 4 Champaign School District, implemented student-driven projects, and developed schoolwide computer science and math integration units that emphasize the metacognition and learning process through computer science concepts and computational thinking practices. He has been recognized with the Those Who Excel Award by the Illinois State Board of Education for the technology innovation team. Most recently, he served as a writer of the K-12 CS Frameworks. He is certified in computer science, math, social science, physical science, and technology education.

Lori Pollock 

Lori Pollock is Alumni Distinguished Professor in Computer and Information Sciences at the University of Delaware. She earned her Ph.D. and M.S. in CS at the University of Pittsburgh in 1986 and 1983, respectively, and her B.S. in CS and Economics at Allegheny College in 1981. Her research focuses on program analysis for building better software maintenance tools, software testing, energy-efficient software, and computer science education. She is an ACM Distinguished Scientist and was awarded the University of Delaware’s Excellence in Teaching Award and the University of Delaware’s E. A. Trabant Award for Women’s Equity. She serves on the Executive Board of the Computing Research Association’s Committee on the Status of Women in Computing (CRA-W). She is also leading Partner4CS, a project towards meeting the CS10K goals in the Delaware region.

Meg Ray 

Meg Ray is the Teacher in Residence at Cornell Tech where she is designing and implementing a computer science coaching program for in-service K-8 teachers in several New York City public schools. Her goal is to equip educators to effectively teach computer science to all students, with both rigor and joy. Meg is also an Adjunct Lecturer in the Department of Special Education at Hunter College. Previously, Meg developed middle and high school computer science curriculum in the private sector and as a classroom teacher. In the past, she has worked with community-based organizations to offer free CS educational events for families. She holds a Masters of Science in Special Education from Hunter College and a Graduate Certificate in Blended Learning and Computer Science Instruction from Pace University.

Dylan Ryder 

Dylan Ryder is an Educational Technologist at The School at Columbia University, the University’s K-8 laboratory school in New York City. His goals are to help students use technology safely, responsibly and creatively – with particular attention to engineering, computer science and design. Always pursuing innovative pedagogy, Dylan has published articles on teaching computer programming to young students for Edutopia, Creative Teaching & Learning, and ScratchEd. He has also delivered workshops on integrating computer science and engineering into K-12 education for ISTE, NSTA, ASEE, CSTA, and at schools and universities around the country. Dylan is the recipient of an HMH Education Excellence Award and serves as both a PBS LearningMedia Digital Innovator, and Ultimaker Education Pioneer. He holds a BS in Information Systems from the University of Rhode Island and an MA in Computing in Education from Teachers College of Columbia University.

Vicky Sedgwick

Vicky is a CSTA Board Member and K-8 Technology Teacher and Tech Trainer at St. Martin’s Episcopal School in the Los Angeles area. In addition to this, she is also in charge of the IT department as well as being the webmaster for the school. While Vicky always wanted to be a teacher, she started out her professional life, not in education, but as a software designer and computer programmer writing Accounting, Property Management, and Construction Software and teaching others how to sell and install the software. Vicky is currently serving as a CUE Independent School Learning Network Co-Chair and presents at conferences on topics related to technology and education. She is also the CSTA Board of Directors K-8 teacher representative and a leader of the CSTA K-8 Task Group; she helps to co-moderate the #csk8 chat every other week on Twitter.

Grant Smith 

Grant Smith is a founder of Launch CS. He prepares in-service K-8 educators to teach computer science. Grant is a former computer science teacher and has served as a district administrator. He has led #CSforAll initiatives at multiple school districts across the nation and has helped big impact organizations like Kodable and Code.org create new curricula and standards. Before becoming an educator, Grant worked in the Technology Advisory department of KPMG. He holds a B.S. degree in Information Systems and a Masters of Educational Technology. He is currently working on a Doctor of Education degree from the Johns Hopkins University School of Education.

Chinma Uche

Chinma Uche teaches Mathematics and Computer Science at the Greater Hartford Academy of Mathematics and Science and CREC’s Academy of Aerospace and Engineering. She is an AP CS Principles (AP CSP) Consultant and a member of the AP CSP Development Committee. Chinma is also a co-PI of the NSF-funded Mobile CSP project, a Code.org CS Fundamentals Facilitator and the President of the Connecticut Chapter of the Computer Science Teachers Association (CTCSTA). She is committed to the mission of the CSTA which includes bringing Computational Thinking to all K-12 students. Furthermore, Chinma is a member of the Connecticut State Department of Education’s Computer Science Advisory Committee and co-Lead ECEP Connecticut. Chinma holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Mathematics and a PhD in Biomathematics from Imperial College, London. She also holds Connecticut certification in Mathematics and a Connecticut Administrative license.