Code/Interactive, Mission CISD, Mission EDC, and Google
Team Up to Train Teachers & Counselors in Mission, TX
New York, NY — May 10, 2018 — Code/Interactive (C/I), the Mission Consolidated Independent School District (Mission CISD), the Mission Economic Development Corporation (Mission EDC), and Google will join forces to provide computer science professional development to 100 teachers and 20 counselors in elementary and junior high schools across Mission, Texas starting summer 2018.
Through this innovative partnership, one teacher from every grade level in all of Mission CISD’s 14 elementary and four middle schools will be prepared to teach computer science and integrate it across all core content areas. This program made possible by grants from Mission EDC and Google will support teachers in expanding access to a critical 21st century skill to young people at these schools, where 83.34% of students qualify as economically disadvantaged.
Rather than teaching students directly, Code/Interactive’s model to train in-district facilitators who provide professional development to teachers will build local expertise and capacity that will power a sustainable program capable of training even more teachers in the future.
“We are breaking down the access barriers to computer science education. The Mission Economic Development Corporation and Google grants will broaden participation across all student groups. Through these grants and our programming, we will create digital equity and forge a district where all students have access to a rigorous computer science education,” said Julia Barraford-Temel, Code/Interactive’s Associate Director of Programs.
Code/Interactive will train all 100 teachers in Scratch and ScratchJr, MIT-created visual block-based programming languages used to build animations, stories, and games. Junior high schools will also receive memberships for Mouse Create, an online learning platform used to build the skills they need to apply design and technology creatively to the world around them. In addition to the nine full days of professional development throughout the school year, teachers will be part of a community of practice where they can seek and provide support, share and pool resources, collaborate on content and instruction, and field questions.
In order to prepare counselors to adequately support a computer science program inside each school and broaden participation among female and minority students, Code/Interactive will also run professional development for 20 counselors.
Mission CISD is making major strides toward its visionary goal of building a computer science pipeline from Pre-K through post-secondary. This new program builds on the summer 2017 partnership between Code/Interactive, Mission CISD, and Mission EDC in which one teacher from all three Mission CISD high schools and four junior high school were trained in the computer science courses Scratch, Computer Science Discoveries, and Exploring Computer Science.
To receive more information about partnering with Code/Interactive in the Rio Grande Valley please email Julia Barraford-Temel at julia@codeinteractive.org or visit www.codeinteracative.org
About Code/Interactive:
Code/Interactive (C/I) is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit that trains educators and builds inclusive computer science programs because we envision a future where all students have access to computer science education. We provide districts, schools, educational organizations, and teachers with the curriculum, tools, and training necessary to implement K-12 computer science programs aligned to their goals and needs. For more information, visit www.codeinteractive.org.
About the Mission Consolidated School District:
The Mission CISD prepares and inspires all students to be equipped to excel in the college and career of their choice, dominate 21st century skills in leadership, knowledge, language, and technology to compete in a global economy and serve as successful citizens in their community. For more information, visit www.coding4tx.org
About the Mission Economic Development Corporation:
The Mission Economic Development Corporation is dedicated to creating a workforce with 21st century skills and a first class environment for conducting business recruitment, retention, and expansion while maintaining a steadfast focus on quality of life for the citizens of Mission. For more information, visit http://www.missionedc.com
