{"685492":{"#nid":"685492","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Rural Computer Science Initiative expands and inspires for new school year","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech\u2019s \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ceismc.gatech.edu\/rural-cs-initiative\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ERural Computer Science Initiative\u003C\/a\u003E, a state-supported program, continues to expand its reach and impact across Georgia. Now in its fourth year, the collaborative effort launched by the \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/ceismc.gatech.edu\/\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ECenter for Education Integrating Science, Mathematics, and Computing (CEISMC)\u003C\/a\u003E and \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/gtri.gatech.edu\/stem\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ESTEM@GTRI\u003C\/a\u003E, the K-12 outreach arm of the Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI), has grown rapidly for the second year in a row. Participating students increased from 4,400 to more than 10,000 this past academic year.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis fall, five new counties\u2014Baldwin, Coffee, Evans, Hart, and Monroe\u2014joined the initiative, bringing the total to 45 participating districts, with plans to add more districts in the spring. Over 70 teachers have engaged with the initiative through professional development offered at the beginning of each semester and co-teaching opportunities held throughout the year through a hybrid model. Georgia Tech faculty members lead instruction online in partnership with in-person classroom teachers across the state.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe\u2019re seeing real momentum in our partner schools\u2014computer science curricula are evolving, career pathways are clearly laid out for both teachers and students, and applications to computer science programs, including Georgia Tech, are on the rise,\u201d said CEISMC Executive Director Lizanne DeStefano. \u201cTeachers are advancing more quickly, and our professional development offerings now include cutting-edge topics like artificial intelligence in agriculture and healthcare, as well as unmanned aerial vehicle development to meet local needs.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor veteran educators such as Jansen Haight, the Rural Computer Science Initiative has shaped his pedagogical approach and strengthened his commitment to making computer science content accessible to all students. He joined the program during its second year when he was a newly minted computer science teacher at Lumpkin County High School. \u201cAt that time, I only taught Introduction to Software Technology and Computer Science Principles,\u201d he said. \u201cIt was incredibly valuable to collaborate with other teachers like me, to share ideas, and to see how to grow my program.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHaight, now in his third year with the Rural Computer Science Initiative and teaching computer science full-time, took advantage of every opportunity available to him, including external resources like the GenCyber AGENT Initiative at the University of North Georgia. His involvement with the professional development program for middle and high school educators\u2014focused on cybersecurity and computer science instruction \u2014inspired his next steps.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHaight explained that the curriculum developers in the Rural Computer Science Initiative recognized the absence of a structured cybersecurity unit. So, in his second year, he wrote a grant and collaborated with Bryson Payne, a cybersecurity professor and researcher at the University of North Georgia, to develop one. They adapted the unit this past summer so it could run completely offline for school security purposes and be more accessible to first-year students.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cOur program has expanded from a single introductory class to a full pathway, and I\u2019ve seen more students express interest in computer science careers \u2014 particularly in cybersecurity,\u201d Haight said. \u201cThe hands-on nature of the Raspberry Pi devices (programmable microcontrollers) and open-source tools has given students a sense of real-world application that motivates them to pursue further study.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA new area of focus this year is applying computer science and artificial intelligence to \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/online.fliphtml5.com\/zzqrc\/qpcd\/#p=15\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003Eagriculture\u003C\/a\u003E, including farming. Several school districts have been provided with FarmBots, including Twiggs County, which has been a partner since the initiative\u2019s pilot year. A FarmBot is an open-source, automated farming system that integrates coding, robotics, and data science, and can monitor variables such as soil moisture and temperature. One such system was installed in Georgia Tech\u2019s community garden to serve as a test bed for designing the related learning experiences and supporting partner schools in setting up their devices.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ET.S. Whitmore, a new computer science teacher for both the middle and high schools in Twiggs County, explained that the resources provided by the Rural Computer Science Initiative are helping him plan lessons across grade levels. His middle schoolers will be engaged with the cybersecurity unit, while most of the high schoolers have volunteered to assist with the FarmBot project.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cI learned so much in so little time. I have so much to learn, but I\u0027ve never been more excited,\u201d he said. \u201cI am learning to think outside of the box and find different ways to connect new learning to things previously learned. I expect to be more creative in my lesson planning.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENewcomer Ella Newsome is also bringing excitement and energy to Oglethorpe County High School as she begins both her teaching career and her participation in the Rural Computer Science Initiative. A recent mathematics graduate from the University of Georgia, she now teaches 10th grade geometry and computer science for grades 9-12.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cIt has become very clear that the other teachers in the community as well as the Georgia Tech staff can and want to help me,\u201d Newsome said of her early involvement with the initiative. \u201cThey want to see my students succeed and are willing to put much time and effort towards that goal.\u202f I feel empowered, supported, and motivated to engage my students with computer science!\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cIt\u0027s so nice to hear these stories and the enthusiasm about the project as we lift our heads up from the day-to-day implementation and\u202fplanning details, especially as we have kicked off the new school year with even more districts and schools,\u201d said STEM@GTRI Director Leigh McCook. \u201cIt\u2019s a great reminder of what is happening at the school, teacher, and student level as a result of the opportunities\u202fthis project\u2014and the people behind it\u2014bring.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn fact, the Rural Computer Science Initiative will be featured at the inaugural Georgia Tech \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.lifetimelearning.gatech.edu\/events\/symposium\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ELifetime Learning Symposium\u003C\/a\u003E on October 6, hosted by the College of Lifetime Learning of which CEISMC is a foundational unit. The K-12 education community is invited to tune in to the free live stream after 3 p.m., using this link: \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/mediaspace.gatech.edu\/media\/1_hzdv0u71\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003Ehttps:\/\/mediaspace.gatech.edu\/media\/1_hzdv0u71\u003C\/a\u003E, to view Dean William Gaudelli\u2019s keynote address, followed by a panel discussion of the initiative. Registration is not required\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe Rural Computer Science collaboration between CEISMC and STEM@GTRI is an important and valued connection between the Institute and the state of Georgia,\u201d Gaudelli said, reflecting on the initiative\u2019s growing impact and its role in advancing STEM education statewide. \u201cTeachers and administrators coming together to learn at the cutting edge of STEM pedagogy is a great example of what lifetime learning is all about. Georgia Tech expertise, coupled with a forum for knowledge creation and teacher growth, is a powerful combination. I am excited to see what comes next in this significant area of work at Georgia Tech.\u201d \u202f\u202f\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u2014Jo\u00eblle Walls, CEISMC Communications\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThis fall, five new counties\u2014Baldwin, Coffee, Evans, Hart, and Monroe\u2014joined the initiative, bringing the total to 45 participating districts, with plans to add more districts in the spring.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Now in its fourth year, the program continues to expand its reach."}],"uid":"36247","created_gmt":"2025-10-03 16:20:27","changed_gmt":"2025-10-20 17:57:04","author":"jwalls37","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-10-01T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2025-10-01T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"678257":{"id":"678257","type":"image","title":"Group photo of Rural CS teachers with Georgia Tech instructors at the fall 2025 kickoff. ","body":"\u003Cp\u003EGroup photo of Rural CS teachers with Georgia Tech instructors at the fall 2025 kickoff.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1759507040","gmt_created":"2025-10-03 15:57:20","changed":"1759770609","gmt_changed":"2025-10-06 17:10:09","alt":"Group photo of Rural CS teachers with Georgia Tech instructors at the fall 2025 kickoff. ","file":{"fid":"262257","name":"rural_cs_fall_2025_cohort.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/10\/03\/rural_cs_fall_2025_cohort.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/10\/03\/rural_cs_fall_2025_cohort.png","mime":"image\/png","size":972092,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/10\/03\/rural_cs_fall_2025_cohort.png?itok=5N4JxbfE"}},"678258":{"id":"678258","type":"image","title":"Rural CS teacher Jansen Haight with GTRI\u0027s Elizabeth Parrish at fall 2025 kickoff. ","body":"\u003Cp\u003ERural CS teacher Jansen Haight with GTRI\u0027s Elizabeth Parrish at fall 2025 kickoff.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1759507522","gmt_created":"2025-10-03 16:05:22","changed":"1759770757","gmt_changed":"2025-10-06 17:12:37","alt":"Rural CS teacher Jansen Haight with GTRI\u0027s Elizabeth Parrish at fall 2025 kickoff. ","file":{"fid":"262258","name":"Jansen-Haight-with-Elizabeth-Parrish.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/10\/03\/Jansen-Haight-with-Elizabeth-Parrish.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/10\/03\/Jansen-Haight-with-Elizabeth-Parrish.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":492607,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/10\/03\/Jansen-Haight-with-Elizabeth-Parrish.jpg?itok=phDkt-xR"}},"678259":{"id":"678259","type":"image","title":"Rural CS teacher T.S. Whitmore at fall 2025 kickoff. ","body":"\u003Cp\u003ERural CS teacher T.S. Whitmore at fall 2025 kickoff.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1759507893","gmt_created":"2025-10-03 16:11:33","changed":"1759770576","gmt_changed":"2025-10-06 17:09:36","alt":"Rural CS teacher T.S. Whitmore at fall 2025 kickoff. ","file":{"fid":"262259","name":"T.S.Whitmore-RuralCS.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/10\/03\/T.S.Whitmore-RuralCS.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/10\/03\/T.S.Whitmore-RuralCS.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":531248,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/10\/03\/T.S.Whitmore-RuralCS.jpg?itok=R5efXRhr"}},"678260":{"id":"678260","type":"image","title":"Rural CS teacher Ella Newsome at fall 2025 kickoff.","body":"\u003Cp\u003ERural CS teacher Ella Newsome at fall 2025 kickoff.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1759508027","gmt_created":"2025-10-03 16:13:47","changed":"1759770484","gmt_changed":"2025-10-06 17:08:04","alt":"Rural CS teacher Ella Newsome at fall 2025 kickoff.","file":{"fid":"262260","name":"EllaNewsome-RuralCS.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/10\/03\/EllaNewsome-RuralCS.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/10\/03\/EllaNewsome-RuralCS.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":636693,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/10\/03\/EllaNewsome-RuralCS.jpg?itok=j9ukuEBS"}}},"media_ids":["678257","678258","678259","678260"],"groups":[{"id":"361651","name":"Center for Education Integrating Science, Mathematics and Computing (CEISMC)"},{"id":"660375","name":"Lifetime Learning"}],"categories":[{"id":"42901","name":"Community"},{"id":"153","name":"Computer Science\/Information Technology and Security"},{"id":"42911","name":"Education"},{"id":"129","name":"Institute and Campus"},{"id":"132","name":"Institute Leadership"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"},{"id":"194611","name":"State Impact"},{"id":"194612","name":"Workforce Development"}],"keywords":[{"id":"411","name":"CEISMC"},{"id":"12888","name":"IPaT"},{"id":"170709","name":"STEM@GTRI"},{"id":"12673","name":"CS education"},{"id":"192012","name":"K-12 STEM education"},{"id":"192011","name":"K-12 STEM teachers"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[],"email":["joelle.walls@ceismc.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}