I was hired at this position to expand their existing Computer Science program. Over the course of my first year, the student enrollment in STEAM courses more than doubled, requiring us to expand the department from 1.5 full time equivalent positions three full time teachers, where it remains. This year, our combined enrollment in STEAM classes at the HS level is 216, including forty-five students in AP courses.
This growth led directly to the creation of a K-12 STEAM Coordinator role at the school, which I have filled since its creation. In this role, I have led our school’s efforts to vertically align our STEAM curriculum as we prepare for our NEASC accreditation. In addition, I have been involved in refreshing our 3D printer and laser cutter fleets. This has involved looking closely at local providers and equipment to ensure that teachers have equipment which does not need constant servicing by the teacher.
In my first year, I also founded the first international chapter of the CS Honor Society, providing an outlet for students to use their knowledge and mastery of Computer Science to help the community. Over the three years of our program, students have logged hundreds of hours and built multiple web-based programs for communities within the school to help meet their needs. Examples include:
We have also run a STEAM Faire every CS Education Week, in which the students of CSHS lead the way in showcasing student work and accomplishment from all divisions in STEAM classes. This faire is open to the public and the guides within it are all members of CSHS.
In addition to Computer Science, I have also played a key role in the expansion of their robotics competition program. I am the founding head coach for our High School teams. We successfully hosted three tournaments our first year, requiring extensive planning and logistical coordination with our athletics, facilities, and student volunteer teams.
Our first year as a team, students from our program won the Korean National Tournament, earning themselves a space at the 2024 Vex World Championships in Dallas, TX. As part of my role, I chaperoned our school’s first trip to the US, bringing six students to Dallas for a week.
In our second year, we will be hosting four tournaments again, as well a running a League between four other schools in our athletics league. We have expanded the program greatly through capital investments and also through training coaches to provide high quality coaching and mentoring for our teams. I am also a certified Event Partner, meaning I am certified to host Vex Tournaments at any level. I have developed a plan for our school to apply to host a Signature Event (a prestigious tournament category within Vex which requires extensive planning and coordination).
With the rise of generative AIs, I became intimately involved in the role of AI at our school. I was one of the first teachers to require students to use AI in their projects and I did a detailed analysis of the efficacy of AI Detection Tools, which became the foundation of our school’s policy regarding academic dishonesty and AI tools. In 2024, I was a member of our AI Committee and drafted large parts of the document which became our initial policy. I was part of the decision to adopt MagicSchool school-wide as our preferred AI platform. Since that adoption, I have been one of the key trainers for that tool in our school.