“No man is an island.” – John Donne
The profound truth behind John Donne’s words resonates in every aspect of our lives. None of us thrives alone—our personal and professional growth is deeply tied to the communities we build and the knowledge we share. This has been especially evident to me over the past few years.
Life-Long Learners, Always Growing
If the past few years have taught us anything, it’s that growth and learning never stop. As educators, the pandemic challenged us in ways we couldn’t have imagined. From hybrid to synchronous and asynchronous teaching styles, we were pushed out of our comfort zones and into uncharted territory.
We had to master platforms like Google Suite, Canvas, MS Teams, and Zoom. We became familiar with seeing ourselves on camera daily and finding innovative ways to engage students remotely. Reflecting now, I realize just how resilient and adaptable we’ve become. Teachers are superheroes—and if no one’s said it to you yet today, you should be incredibly proud of yourself for how far you’ve come.
Community Is How We All Grow
One of the most transformative experiences in my professional journey was attending the AP® Summer Institutes for AP® Computer Science A and AP® Computer Science Principles. There’s something invigorating about being surrounded by fellow educators who share your passion for the computer science curriculum. The collaboration, resource-sharing, and collective wisdom in the room were incredible.
I walked away with not just new teaching strategies and resources, but a renewed sense of purpose. I implemented several of the ideas I encountered, and they had a noticeable impact on my students. That experience affirmed for me that we’re all stronger together—when we learn from one another, we grow.
Let’s Connect!
This blog is my way of introducing myself and starting conversations with like-minded educators. I’d love for you to reach out, introduce yourself, and share your experiences with teaching the computer science curriculum. What challenges have you faced in your teaching journey? What triumphs have you celebrated? Your stories inspire growth—not just for me, but for everyone who reads them.
Sharing and Creating Resources
High-quality resources for the computer science curriculum are sometimes hard to come by, especially ones that encourage creativity and deep understanding rather than rote memorization. We live in a time when answers are often just a Google search away. For me, the challenge is creating resources that push students to engage critically and think independently—to go beyond simply getting the right answer for a grade.
If you’re interested in collaborating to develop these kinds of resources, let’s connect! I’m eager to brainstorm, create, and share tools that benefit both teachers and students in the computer science curriculum.
Seeking Feedback and Advice
Sometimes, I feel like a bit of a “unicorn” in education. I teach both Calculus and Computer Science, and that duality can be challenging during evaluations. Not all evaluators are familiar with the complexities of the computer science curriculum, and it can be difficult to get constructive feedback.
This is where I’d love to hear from you. Have you faced similar challenges? How do you find meaningful feedback when others may not fully understand your subject matter? Let’s learn from one another—I’m eager to hear your insights.
Let’s Build a Community
John Donne’s words remind us that we’re better together. As educators, we have the unique privilege of shaping future generations, and we do that best when we lean on one another for support, advice, and inspiration.
Let’s start a conversation. Comment below or reach out to share your thoughts, challenges, and victories related to teaching the computer science curriculum. Together, we can grow into the educators our students need us to be.
So, what’s one thing you’ve learned or struggled with recently? I can’t wait to hear from you!
