[vc_row padding_top=”0px” padding_bottom=”0px”][vc_column fade_animation_offset=”45px” width=”1/1″][text_output]June 13, 2017, Cedar Rapids, IA – NewBoCo, in partnership with Code.org, will be supporting 32 teachers in teaching computer science in schools throughout Iowa.
The teachers accepted are from every corner of Iowa, representing both rural and urban school districts. A few school districts have teachers from both middle and high school levels going through the training, earning them the benefit of a larger K-12 pipeline of computer science opportunities.
“Our teachers are excited about this new opportunity for their own professional learning, but more importantly, they are even more excited for our students who might discover a new passion or even a new way to solve complex problems,” Noreen Bush, Director of Secondary Education & Innovation at College Community School District, said.
“As College Community School District considers what it means to prepare all students for postsecondary readiness now and in the future, we know that the skill sets they need include not only content standards but also employability skills. Code.org provides learning experiences that could really align with almost any college or career pathway. Computer science skills–coding, programming, and networking–offer opportunities for our students to problem solve, critically think, and use complex communication.”
Osage Community School District also has teachers participating from middle school and high school.
“The Osage Community Schools are ecstatic to be a part of Iowa’s first Code.org cohort and have two teachers, Kelley Molitor and Chris Kyle, who are being given the opportunity to train with other leaders in technology education,” Osage Superintendent Barb Schwamman said. “Our students will greatly benefit by our staff who will come back and allow students opportunities they would not otherwise have had.”
NewBoCo is the only Code.org partner in the state and is proud to be furthering the goal of K-12 computer science for every student, in every school, in Iowa.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for school districts in our state, especially at a time when Iowa is supporting the importance of studying computer science as a foundational experience even if students choose not to pursue a career in technology,” NewBoCo K-12 Education Coordinator Samantha Dahlby said.
The program starts June 18 with a five-day conference in Houston followed by online self-paced resources, four weekend workshops during the academic year, and in-state computer science community building.
Below is a list of the school districts with one or more teachers participating in either the Computer Science Discoveries or Computer Science Principles Professional Learning Program:
Aplington-Parkersburg Community School District
Carlisle Community School District
Cedar Rapids Community School District
College Community School District
Des Moines Independent Community School District
Eldora-New Providence Community School District
Grundy Center Community School District
Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn Community School District
Interstate 35 Community School District
MOC-Floyd Valley Community School District
New Hampton Community School District
Osage Community School District
River Valley Community School District
Schaller-Crestland Community School District
Shenandoah Community School District
Sioux City Community School District
South Tama County Community School District
Tipton Community School District
Treynor Community School District
Twin Cedars Community School District
Union Community School District
West Fork Community School District
West Harrison Community School District
Western Christian High School
Winterset Community School District
Xavier Catholic Schools
About NewBoCo
The New Bohemian Innovation Collaborative is a nonprofit with the mission to accelerate world-changing ideas, from Iowa. The organization aims to create impactful startup businesses that grow here through its Iowa Startup Accelerator program and more; to foster world-class technical and creative talent via innovative educational programs for kids and adults; to assist thriving, innovative companies in developing new products and attracting the best talent through corporate innovation programs; and to make an outstanding social impact and make the world a better place. Since 2014, the program has grown dramatically, helping hundreds of startups get off the ground and grow, and thousands of children learn to code.
About Code.org Professional Learning Program
The Code.org Professional Learning Program is a year long training that is free for middle school and high school teachers. The high quality program starts with a full week in the summer, followed by quarterly workshops during the academic year to support teachers as they implement their curriculum and build a community of support amongst the computer science teachers in Iowa. The program is geared toward all levels of experience including teachers that have never taught computer science before.
Media contact: Jessalyn Holdcraft – jessalyn@newbo.co[/text_output][/vc_column][/vc_row]