WeTeach_CS Summit 2025: Full Schedule

June 9-10, 2025
Renaissance Austin Hotel - 9721 Arboretum Blvd, Austin, TX 78759
Click HERE to access the WTCS Summit registration page

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9:45am CDT

Power of the Portrait: Art Meets Code to Inspire Girls in CS

Monday June 9, 2025 9:45am - 10:45am CDT

Trinity A

Join Code/Art for a dynamic workshop that explores the exciting blend of art and coding to make computer science more accessible and appealing. Participants will engage in a hands-on self-portrait lesson using JavaScript. They will also learn techniques for classroom implementation, explore a gallery of student-coded portraits, and learn about Code/Art’s self-portrait coding competition for girls. This single lesson offers a powerful way for educators to shape students' perceptions of computer science, fostering creativity and inclusion in CS. This workshop is designed for grade 3-12 educators, especially art and computer science teachers.

Presenters

Amy Renshaw

CEO and Founder, Code/Art

https://www.linkedin.com/in/amyaustinrenshaw/

Lisa Hauser

Chief Learning Officer, Code/Art

Lisa Hauser is the Chief Learning Officer at Code/Art with over 24 years of experience teaching computer science and mathematics in Miami public schools. A passionate advocate for increasing female representation in tech, Lisa was instrumental in launching Code/Art, driven by her... Read More →

Monday June 9, 2025 9:45am - 10:45am CDT
Trinity A

Broadening Participation, K-12

2:00pm CDT

Culturally Responsive Teaching: Empowering Students Through Representation and Relevance

Monday June 9, 2025 2:00pm - 3:00pm CDT

Nueces

Discover how culturally responsive teaching transforms classrooms into spaces where all students feel seen, valued, and empowered. This session, led by Victor Hicks and Yaritza Villalba, explores practical strategies for incorporating students’ cultural identities into STEM and computer science instruction. Participants will learn to design lessons that leverage representation and relevance to boost engagement and achievement in CS and beyond. Real-world examples from Coding with Culture and McKenzie’s Adventures will illustrate how educators can use students’ unique experiences to broaden participation and bridge gaps in STEM education.

Presenters

Victor Hicks

Founder & CEO, Coding with Culture

Victor “Coach” Hicks is a nationally recognized computer science educator, curriculum developer, and cultural strategist dedicated to expanding access to high-quality, culturally responsive STEM education for Black and Brown youth. As the founder and director of Coding with Culture... Read More →

Yaritza (Ja-Reet-Zah) Villalba

CEO & Founder, McKenzie's Adventures

Yaritza Villalba is an award-winning global Education Consultant, Speaker, and the CEO of McKenzie’s Adventures. With over a decade of experience, she is dedicated to creating an equitable and inclusive educational landscape. Yaritza's innovative approach has earned her the prestigious... Read More →

Monday June 9, 2025 2:00pm - 3:00pm CDT
Nueces

Broadening Participation, K-12

10:00am CDT

A New Era in CS Education: Overcoming Obstacles and Embracing Change

Tuesday June 10, 2025 10:00am - 11:00am CDT

Pecos

This session explores a 20-year journey in developing student-centered initiatives in technology. Participants will examine how student-centered programming has evolved, including how it has addressed challenges and what insights were gained during periods of significant growth. The session invites participants to reassess traditional computer science education approaches and consider how established ideologies affect participation. Ultimately, participants will be encouraged to broaden their perspectives on enhancing innovation in education.

Presenters

Terina-Jasmine Alladin

Senior Engagement Consultant, NCWIT

https://www.linkedin.com/in/terinajasminealladin/

Lauren Tomkinson

Program Manager, NCWIT

Hi! I am the Program Manager of the NCWIT Aspirations in Computing Community. The AiC Community is a dedicated space and network where students and early career professionals can find empowerment, mentorship, and opportunities for development in their computing and technology journey... Read More →

Tuesday June 10, 2025 10:00am - 11:00am CDT
Pecos

Broadening Participation, K-12

10:00am CDT

Strengthen Real World Experiences in CS Classrooms through an Equity Externship at Google

Tuesday June 10, 2025 10:00am - 11:00am CDT

San Marcos

Join us for an inspiring session on the CS Equity Externship, a partnership among NYC Men Teach, CS4All NYC, and Future Ready NYC. Learn how teachers gain firsthand experience at Google and transform these insights into culturally responsive classroom projects. This initiative empowers students with the knowledge and social capital for college and career success. Don’t miss this chance to bridge education and the tech industry, inspiring future technology leaders from historically underrepresented groups!

Presenters

Zuobin Tang

Program Manager, New York City Public Schools

Richard Haynes

Director of School Support, New York City Public Schools

Tuesday June 10, 2025 10:00am - 11:00am CDT
San Marcos

Broadening Participation, K-12

10:00am CDT

What is on the Horizon for Accessibility

Tuesday June 10, 2025 10:00am - 11:00am CDT

Guadalupe

Many students with disabilities face many challenges when trying to learn CS/Cybersecurity. In this session we will review the new ADA Title 2 rule from the Department of Justice titled “Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Disability; Accessibility of Web Information and Services of State and Local Government Entities” and its impact on CS/Cybersecurity. We will review and demonstrate several of the affordances the students with disabilities use to access computers. We will review accessible programming environments and curricula.

Presenters

Richard Ladner

Professor Emeritus, University of Washington

Talk to me about how to make your computer science course accessible and welcoming to students with disabilities.

Tuesday June 10, 2025 10:00am - 11:00am CDT
Guadalupe

Broadening Participation, K-12

1:30pm CDT

Strategies and Practices to Increase Girls' Enrollment in CS Classes

Tuesday June 10, 2025 1:30pm - 2:30pm CDT

Nueces

We will present and discuss findings from research on strategies and policies to increase girls’ participation in CS. This session will offer actions that teachers, administrators, counselors, family/community members, and policymakers can take to promote gender parity in CS. After discussing the research findings, participants will share their own tips, strategies, and lessons learned around fostering female participation in CS.

Presenters

Madeline Haynes

Strategies and practices to promote young women's participation in CS, Texas Advanced Computing Center

mhaynes@tacc.utexas.eduStarting in 2014, Madeline Haynes served as a graduate research assistant at TACC on the Education & Outreach and EPIC teams. Prior to graduate school, she taught high school math in the Rio Grande Valley. As a graduate student she also worked at the Charles... Read More →

Trae Madrigal

Tuesday June 10, 2025 1:30pm - 2:30pm CDT
Nueces

Broadening Participation, K-12