The Snap Inc. Institute for Technology and Education (SITE) at CSUDH honored three local primary and secondary teachers for outstanding achievement in curriculum development and commitment to equitable and engaging computer science education during the second annual SITE Awards held on campus on Dec. 2.
Housed within the College of Education (COE), SITE was founded in 2022 with a $5 million gift from Snap Inc. and a transformational mission of making computer science an integral part of K-12 education in Los Angeles.
“We’re here today to celebrate three amazing local K-12 teachers,” said Mike Karlin, director of institute and host of the SITE awards event. “As a former K-12 teacher, I know how rare it is to get a chance to celebrate the work that our teachers are doing in the classroom.”
SITE and the COE recognized three K-12 educators for this year’s awards:
- Alex Lara, an elementary teacher at the 96th Street STEAM Academy in Los Angeles
- Dr. Chibuzor Ojinna, a middle school teacher at the Jessie E. Nelson Academy in Signal Hill
- Maria Camarena, a high school teacher at Maywood Center for Enriched Studies in Los Angeles
Lara, who teaches 3rd Grade, said a personal interest in computer coding and the assistance of partnering organizations like 9 Dots helped him improve computer education far beyond what was available when he attended primary school.
“Every kid in my class has access to a computer and the internet, and we’ve introduced basic robotics and 3D printing,” said Lara. “I try to expose them to as much stuff as I can, and they just figure it all out. It’s amazing to see their imaginations grow through the use of computer science.”
Ojinna, who recently completed her PhD in educational technology, has taught English at Jessie E. Nelson Academy for more than a decade. In the last two years, she’s taught computer coding and application development through the Project Lead the Way STEM curriculum.
“I want to help my students translate computer skills into their other middle school classes, into high school, and then into their future careers,” said Ojinna.
“Coding improves problem-solving and logical thinking skills, but it also helps students tell stories. Whether you’re building code or writing an essay, it’s all block based. So, students are improving their storytelling skills as well.”
Less than 10 percent of Hispanic/Latine and Black students in the LAUSD take AP computer science courses in high school, and Camarena said this became a catalyst to expand STEM courses at Maywood.
“We wanted to give our students the opportunity to explore careers that could transform their families and change their communities,” said Camarena. “Part of that is showing how these careers connect with their interests and passions, whether that’s writing, biology, or engineering.”
Marcela Rodriguez, who manages tech education outreach at Google, thanked current and future educators in her introductory remarks ahead of the awards ceremony. As a immigrant student, it was education—STEM education, in particular—that gave her a voice and a path for the future.
“In today’s world, computer science isn’t an elective but a fundamental literacy to which all children deserve to have access. It is the language of innovation and an engine of progress for medicine, business, the way we connect with one another, and how we tackle some of our most pressing global challenges,” Rodriguez said.
“The educators we’re here to celebrate ignite that spark in the minds of our children and nurture their curiosity and resilience. You are the unsung heroes, and we’re so grateful for your passion and commitment.”
