How A Little Village Teacher And A 12th-Grader Are Helping More Kids Get Into Computer Science

Tiny VILLAGE — A South Aspect high faculty teacher and a single of her students are remaining identified for their function to advance and endorse computer science schooling throughout genders.

Katie Roznai, a teacher at World Language due to the fact 2018, was awarded the Nationwide Heart for Girls & Information Technologies Educator Award for Aspirations in Computing. In her time at the college, she’s taught chemistry and an introductory laptop science training course.

The award is supplied to a teacher who encourages “women, genderqueer, or non-binary students to discover their curiosity in computing and technologies,” recognizing their work to “to advertise gender fairness in computing,” in accordance to its site.

Roznai started off primary the immediately after-college club Ladies Who Code right before the pandemic, calling it a “safe space” for kids to attempt out coding. She mentioned a lot of children may well have a stereotype of what a “coder” appears like, and she wants to drive previous these perceptions.

“I believe it is genuinely important to have just a space for persons who are normally underrepresented in pc science wherever they can variety of study in a diverse way without having the exact sort of people having in excess of the conversation,” Roznai said.

Krystal Morales, a senior at World Language, explained she joined Girls Who Code as a sophomore soon after using Roznai’s Discovering Computer system Science course.

Credit rating: Delivered/Katie Roznai

Roznai stated she nominated Morales for a pupil award from the Nationwide Center for Girls & Data Technological know-how Educator Award immediately after seeing the large schooler establish a really like for laptop science that is grown into her wanting to go after a faculty diploma in the discipline.

The university student award honors a student for computing-relevant achievements “and encourages them to go after their passions,” according to the website.

“I was sort of proud of myself,” Morales explained. “I joined [Girls Who Code] because I considered it would be some thing new. … I imagine it is great for ladies. Individuals want to improve the perspective that there are much more men” in the subject.

Morales’ award will come with scholarship and internship prospects for college students.

Roznai said Morales was 1 of two learners who would tune into Ladies Who Code soon after college when all learners were doing on the internet learning.

“I’m truly thrilled to see what is she’s heading to provide into the globe below,” Roznai reported.

Roznai’s award arrives with a smaller cash prize and dollars for skilled advancement, which she claimed she’s excited to use to mature the Girls Who Code club and carve out a lot more room for laptop or computer science in the school.

Looking forward, Roznai is escalating the computer science curriculum by bringing AP Laptop Science Concepts courses to the college. She explained she also hopes to strengthen participation in Ladies Who Code with college students again executing in-person understanding.

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