History

WHO ARE WE?

CSTA San Diego is the local chapter of the international Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA). CSTA can be considered to be the largest computer science department in the world.

CSTA - San Diego leads efforts in providing engaging, rigorous, and ALL-INCLUSIVE computer science education for all students in San Diego County. The goals of CSTA-SD are:

  • to help teachers, administrators, districts, and higher education institutions provide ALL STUDENTS computer science education and curriculum.
  • to broaden participation, specifically underserved and underrepresented groups, and provide equity access and opportunity of computer science education courses in all grade levels and institutions/organizations.
  • to connect computer science teachers in the region of San Diego County.
  • to advocate for computer science education for all students in San Diego County.

On June 3, 2009, CSTA approved the formation of the CSTA - San Diego Chapter in partnership with the San Diego Supercomputer Center (SDSC) Education K-12 program. Some of the first executive members of the CSTA - SD Board that we know of were Joe Pistone, Pat Giovengo, Caro Willing, and Dr. Diane Baxter, Jeff Sale and Ange Mason of the San Diego Supercomputer Center Education Department.. The Director of Education for SDSC at that time was Dr. Diane Baxter, who helped guide the board in its initial stages.

If you are a previous board member that is not listed here, please contact us so that we can create an accurate historical timeline of CSTA-SD.

In 2010, CSTA San Diego formed a partnership with the San Diego Supercomputer Center Education Program to implement a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant to pilot AP Computer Science Principles course at any high school throughout San Diego County. In 2015, that partnership expanded to include UCSD’s CREATE program.

If you would like to participate in CSTA San Diego meetings and activities, please fill out this contact form here.

Basic membership for the national CSTA is free for individuals, but we strongly encourage our members to join CSTA as CSTA+ members as this provides all of the basic benefits + access to valuable resources. Please click on the CSTA+ Benefits page link for further information about these additional benefits.