At STEM Next, we know that one of the most critical issues in the field is empowering girls to engage in STEM subjects and imagine themselves in future STEM careers. Last week the White House recognized nine Champions of Change for Computer Science, including Andrea Chaves, a Spanish and computer science teacher and creative director at the Young Women’s Leadership School in Astoria, New York.
When challenged to incorporate computer science in her teaching, Andrea figured out that she could really engage girls in relevant and interesting projects in afterschool programs that extended their school-day lessons. TechCrew was created for girls to work collaboratively to create and produce technology-driven projects. And Andrea formed a partnership with a partnership with, Girls Who Code, which works to inspire and educate women to pursue careers in technology.
Read Andrea’s story on the U.S. Department of Education’s blog.
STEM Next seeks to spotlight programs like TechCrew where one of her students captured the goals of our work: “[Computer Science] has opened a new pathway in my life. It has made me discover a part of who I am that I didn’t know existed. I can now see what I would like my future to be.”