Record-Breaking Turnout Highlights Growing Impact of WeTeach_CS9th annual WeTeach_CS Summit event showcases abundant training opportunities, celebrates educatorsbyDamian Hopkins Aug. 7, 2025 Feature StoryMultimedia The ninth annual WeTeach_CS Summit was held in Austin. A record 700 attendees gathered for two days of in-depth, high-level computer science education professional development. CREDIT: Photos by Darrell Williams and Damian Hopkins The United States faces a well-documented shortage of skilled STEM professionals. Texas alone has over 42,000 unfilled cybersecurity jobs, according to cyberseek.org. This critical shortage underscores the urgent need to build a skilled STEM workforce, starting with strong K-12 education pathways.TACC’s Expanding Pathways in Computing (EPIC) team is committed to addressing these shortages by providing educators with the resources necessary to equip students for the jobs of tomorrow.After taking its showcase conference on the road over the last two years to Houston and Fort Worth, the EPIC team held the 2025 WeTeach_CS Summit in Austin. WeTeach_CS serves as the professional development arm of the EPIC program, equipping educators with the tools and training to lead the way.Fueled by generous scholarship support from the Texas Computer Science (TX CS) Pipeline Initiative—a bold, statewide effort to expand K-12 CS access—a record-shattering 700 teachers, advocates, administrators, professional development providers, university instructors, and policy makers gathered for the ninth annual WeTeach_CS (WTCS) Summit. This landmark attendance far surpassed the previous high of 400 set in 2024, underscoring the growing momentum behind computer science education in Texas.“Standing in the ballroom and seeing 700 educators gathered with the shared purpose of expanding computer science education was inspiring,” said WTCS Computer Science Education Specialist Judy Lau. “Educators are all-in on making CS accessible for every student, and the energy at the Summit was palpable.”This year’s Summit included a dynamic array of professional development opportunities for educators of all experience levels. Session topics included tools to expand CS education in classrooms and empowering multilingual learners with CS skills. Attendees also explored strategies for engaging administrators and expanding CS course offerings on their campuses—just a few highlights from the Summit’s rich and varied lineup.“The amazing work of WeTeach_CS has inspired many to teach computer science, providing premiere CS education to students,” said Ebeliz Rodriguez, a teacher at the International Leadership of Texas and a Code.org facilitator at UT Austin. “Providing exceptional professional development resources free of charge is critical because CS teachers are often at a disadvantage when it comes to allocation of school resources.” WeTeach_CS Summit session topics included tools to expand CS education in classrooms and empowering multilingual learners with CS skills. Attendees also explored strategies for engaging administrators and expanding CS course offerings on their campuses. EPIC is guided by a simple principle: every student deserves access to high-quality CS education. The team collaborates with school districts, institutions of higher education, industry leaders, nonprofits, and federal, state, and local government entities to expand opportunities and create new avenues in computer science education.From Access to EngagementA major focus at this year’s Summit was how to expand participation in computing among middle and high school students with 14 sessions offering innovative approaches, proven practices, and fresh perspectives on closing access gaps in CS education. Building a sense of belonging is critical to recruiting, engaging, and retaining students in CS education. When students feel they belong, they are ready to engage on a deeper level.“Today’s students are preparing for the jobs of tomorrow, and the pace of technological change means the window for outdated skills is closing faster than ever,” said WTCS Director Amy Carrell. “CS is all about creativity and nuance. Students must learn these foundational skills to thrive in a future vastly different from our past.”Cybersecurity Education Front and Center The Change Maker and Mini-Grant awards are presented to teachers and administrators who bring innovative strategies to their classrooms and serve as leaders for expanded CS opportunities in their schools and districts. Cybersecurity emerged as a key theme at the Summit with multiple sessions equipping educators with both a deep understanding of the field and practical strategies for teaching it to students. Breakout rooms included exploring how to effectively implement a cybersecurity role-playing game to engage students in real-world challenges. Other sessions detailed the importance of students obtaining cybersecurity certification before they enter the workforce.“WeTeach_CS Cybersecurity lessons provide a treasure trove of resources to help teachers build and facilitate highly successful and engaging cybersecurity programs,” said Jerry Price of Grapevine-Colleyville ISD in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. “Students are our future engineers, entrepreneurs, innovators, and leaders in technology. As educators, we must inspire and equip them with the tools and resources needed to build a better and safer world for generations to come.”Meet This Year’s Award WinnersWeTeach_CS leadership honored 28 exceptional educators with Change Maker and Mini-Grant awards, recognizing their outstanding contributions to advancing computer science education across Texas. Established in 2016, these annual awards are presented to dedicated CS teachers and administrators who bring innovative strategies to their classrooms and serve as leaders for expanded CS opportunities in their schools and districts. A record-shattering 700 teachers, advocates, administrators, professional development providers, university instructors, and policy makers gathered for the ninth annual WeTeach_CS Summit. Award winners were empowered with grants of up to $5,000 to bring their innovative computer science classroom initiatives to life. These awards were sponsored in part by College Board’s AP Career Kickstart program.“At College Board, we’re proud to partner with WeTeach_CS to celebrate and support the educators and administrators driving innovation in computer science education through the Change Maker and Mini Grant awards,” said AP Program CTE Director Alexa Schlechter. “By uplifting those who are leading the way—especially in the fast-evolving field of cybersecurity—College Board is helping to ensure that every student, no matter their background, has access to transformative opportunities like our new AP Cybersecurity course, designed to prepare them for the high-demand careers of the future.”“Winning this award is an honor—it’s validation of the impact I have made on expanding CS education in my district,” said Annababette Diemecke, a digital learning coordinator at Copperas Cove ISD. “It is imperative to teach technology education in our schools because students learn critical thinking skills, creative solutions for complex problems, and how to thrive in a digital world.”List of Winners2025 WeTeach_CS Change Maker Administrator Award WinnerAnnababette Diemecke, Copperas Cove ISD2025 WeTeach_CS Change Maker Teacher Award WinnersElizabeth Kelly, Gateway College Preparatory SchoolIan Webster, Mesquite ISD2025 WeTeach_CS Mini-Grant Award WinnersTiffany Achiu, Fort Bend ISDBlair Bedner, Fort Bend ISDAndrea Carroll, Crowley ISDCord Carter, San Antonio ISDCary-Anne Cope, Little Elm ISDTiffani Cortez, Harmony Public SchoolsAnnababette Diemecke, Copperas Cove ISD Nichole Waggoner Gambulos, Garland ISDJulie Gonzalez, El Paso ISDJames Hernandez, Harlandale ISDJose Hernandez, Calallen ISDCynthia Hopkins, Corpus Christi ISDKameron Koeffler, The University of Texas Charter School SystemHolly Landez, Copperas Cove ISDPriscilla Lumbreras, Granbury ISDJose Quinones Medina, Mesquite ISDRachel Montemayor, Round Rock ISDAmanda Morales, Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City ISDCharlene Murphree, Cuero ISDElizabeth Phipps, San Antonio ISDTai Preuninger, Mesquite ISDStefanie Richardson, Howe ISDConnie Ann Roussel, Randolph Field ISDNasrin Abdolahi Sanati, Horizon Montessori Public SchoolJennifer Simmons, Houston ISDVoices from the Summit: What Educators Are SayingA sample of responses we received from Summit attendees:Summit organizers created an incredible experience. I was impressed with every aspect of the event. From the sessions to the exhibitors and the great teachers that I connected with, this conference was inspiring.So many elements made this Summit special. We learned coding with music, integrating micro-bits into the classroom, and much more. I can’t recall smiling so much at a professional development conference.I’m so blessed to have received a scholarship to attend. I’m at a Title 1 campus and we don't have the money to send teachers to anything like this.Want to be part of a great community of CS educators? Mark your calendars for the 2026 WeTeach_CS Summit set for June 15-16 in San Antonio!
