Inspire the Next Generation of Tech Leaders

ProFocus Technology and TechStart Launch the Classroom to Career Program

By Linda Barney, Barney and Associates

The need to expand and enhance technology learning is greater than ever. We live in a digital economy, where technical skills are essential for millions of jobs. But many students are not aware of career opportunities in computer science or technology. Starting with the 2026 Fall school schedule, TechStart and ProFocus Technology have joined forces to launch the Classroom to Career Program which is a take-off from the ProFocus Technology Tech Connect Series. As part of the program, tech leaders will visit classrooms, sharing their career story and path from high school to where they are today, plus answer student questions. Volunteering will be easy in terms of time required with no heavy preparations. The benefits for students can be great and have a high impact in helping young people see a path into tech careers. 

“ProFocus Technology is proud to support TechStart, a nonprofit focused on expanding access to computer science education for K-12 students across our region,” states James Lund, ProFocus President. 

Introducing TechStart

The TechStart organization was created by Oregon technology leaders with the goal of expanding access to computer science education for K-12 students. TechStart connects students with technology professionals to help spark interest in computer science and expose young people to real-world tech careers.

“As part of the ProFocus Tech Connect Series, we’re highlighting opportunities for tech leaders to give back by speaking with students about their career paths, lessons learned, and what a future in technology can look like. This is a simple, high-impact way to support the next generation of talent, strengthen our local tech community, and create meaningful connections beyond the workplace,” states John Tortorici, TechStart President. 

We Welcome You to Participate 

The Classroom to Career conversations help students see what’s possible, understand real-world applications of technology, and gain exposure to careers they may not have considered. Whether you’re an individual contributor, people leader, or executive, your story can make a lasting impact.

How to Sign-up to Speak in Classrooms

TechStart has a database of professionals who are willing to come into classrooms to present the reality of high-tech based careers to students. Initial opportunities are currently based in the Portland/Vancouver area but will expand to other regions of Oregon in the future. If you are a teacher, please fill out the TechStart – Classroom to Career School Participation Form indicating your interest in participating in the program. Complete this form if you are a professional who is interested in being a speaker in a classroom.

More details about the program and schedules will be provided in future TechStart and ProFocus articles as well as Oregon Computer Science Teachers Association (OCSTA) newsletters. 

OCSTA SuperQuest 2026: Everything AI in K-12 Education

By Linda Barney, Barney and Associates

Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming both education and industry. There is a deep workflow integration of AI used in industry which makes training K-12 students in AI essential to their future in the workforce. In his 2026 OCSTA Summer SuperQuest session, Jacob Niebergall, OCSTA President, presented how AI is being used in K-12 education. Education and industry attendees discussed policies, challenges, and possibilities in teaching AI to K-12 students. While AI should be viewed as a powerful tool that enhances human capabilities, human judgment, ethics, and critical thinking remain essential.

The Current State of AI Adoption in Oregon: Each District is an Island

A lack of national or state laws surrounding artificial intelligence software and an entrenched history of local control leaves each Oregon school district to determine its own AI policy. While some districts have developed policies and procedures for AI use, others are still exploring how to integrate the technology responsibly. The Oregon Department of Education has created a Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) in K-12 Classrooms Guidance website with information to help school districts develop AI policies. 

AI Governance, Privacy, and Legal Responsibilities

As schools and organizations expand AI use, governance and legal compliance become increasingly important. The session discussed regulations and requirements including the Federal and State laws listed below. School districts must carefully evaluate AI tools before approving them for student use. Filtering responsibilities, student data protection, and vendor agreements are all critical parts of responsible implementation. 

“Oregon K-12 school districts can create strong AI policies. With clear local policies, grounded in Federal and State laws, districts can create educational walled gardens with stricter, enforced access to online and software tools designed to encourage critical thinking and build foundational skills,” states Niebergall. 

Educators need to keep the following laws top of mind as they develop and implement AI policies in their districts and classrooms:

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) – 1974: Federal law which protects student education records. Schools need consent to share personally identifiable information unless the vendor qualifies as a school official with a legitimate educational interest. 

Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) – 1998: Federal law which governs online services collecting data from children under 13. Requires verifiable parental consent- schools may consent on parents’ behalf for purely educational purposes. 

Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA) – 2000: Ties E-Rate funding to internet safety: filtering of obscene or harmful content, monitoring of minors online, and a digital citizenship education requirement. 

Oregon Student Information Protection Act – Oregon 2015 ORS 336.184: Bars operation of K-12 online services from targeted advertising, profiling, or selling student data, and requires reasonable security and deletion on district request.

Access to AI Tools for K-12 Students

There is a wide range of opinions on how K-12 school districts should instruct students about using AI tools and the appropriate age for students to learn about AI. During the session discussion, teachers indicated that some districts teach AI only in Computer Science (CS) courses. Some teachers believe that AI literacy should be developed across grade levels and subject areas rather than limited to specialized computer science courses. Currently, there is no consensus across Oregon schools as to if or when AI is introduced to students. 

AI Programs and Models Used in Schools

Niebergall described three AI programs commonly used in industry and their applications in school districts including Claude Code, OpenAI Codex, and Google Gemini. Attendees discussed teaching students how they use these tools in structured AI class examples. 

AI Prompt Engineering as a Foundational Skill

Students and professionals need to understand how to communicate clearly with AI systems using prompts, refine instructions, and evaluate outputs. A portion of the discussion focused on the importance of teaching students good frameworks for writing AI prompts. Teaching the ChatGPT ABCDQ prompt formula or the Gold Model for prompt writing provides effective methods for interacting with AI systems.

Building AI Literacy and Understanding AI Limitations

Niebergall stressed that students should understand what AI is and how it works rather than viewing it as a mysterious or human-like intelligence. He also warned against anthropomorphizing AI systems. Because AI tools generate responses based on patterns and probabilities, users must recognize their limitations, potential biases, and mistakes. A strong foundation in AI literacy helps students become informed users who can take advantage of AI's strengths while remaining aware of its weaknesses. 

Preparing Students for the Future Workforce

As AI becomes increasingly integrated into workplace tools and processes, familiarity with AI systems will become a standard professional expectation. The session focused on the importance of teaching critical thinking and ethics. Critical thinking is the ability to question, analyze, evaluate evidence, and make informed judgments. AI can support problem solving, but it cannot replace the reflective processes that help individuals develop knowledge and wisdom. Human judgment, skepticism, ethical reasoning, and careful decision making remain critical skills in an AI-driven world.

Strong governance, privacy protections, AI literacy, prompt engineering skills, critical thinking, ethical awareness, and clarity on when AI should or should not be used will help students and professionals navigate an increasingly AI-enabled future. Students must learn that AI is most effective when it augments human capability rather than replacing human thought and judgment.


OCSTA SuperQuest 2026: ODE GenAI for K-12 Classrooms Guidance

By Linda Barney, Barney and Associates

Nathan Shelley and Sol Joye from the Oregon Department of Education (ODE) introduced the updated ODE Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) in K-12 Classrooms Guidance program during an Oregon Computer Science Teachers Association (OCSTA) 2026 SuperQuest training session. ODE’s vision is to ensure that every student, every day, is engaged in meaningful, grade-level learning. Although AI policy design remains at the local level, ODE’s AI guidance helps districts consider key factors in supporting local implementation. 

Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) in K-12 Classrooms Guidance:

ODE recently updated the Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) in K-12 Classrooms Guidance with essential information to help Oregon K-12 school districts navigate GenAI, while protecting students and keeping humans in the driver’s seat. The Oregon Department of Education : Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) in K-12 Classrooms Guidance guidance focuses on six key principles designed to guide AI planning. These principles encourage placing human decision-making and student learning at the center. 


ODE GenAI for K-12 Classrooms Guidance Key Principles:

Professional Learning and Classroom Practice

The ODE session included breakout discussions in which participants explored the need for AI-focused professional development and literacy training. Educators discussed topics such as AI prompt quality, AI errors and sycophancy, bias, curriculum alignment, and the importance of establishing consistent expectations across schools. The group recognized that successful implementation depends on helping teachers build confidence and competence with AI tools. Industry participants also discussed how companies might support classroom learning. 

Balancing Benefits and Risks

Educators acknowledged both the promise and challenges of GenAI, which can act as a tutor, support personalized learning, and increase educator efficiency. However, concerns remain about academic integrity, inaccurate information, overreliance on technology, and inappropriate use. The discussion emphasized that schools must balance innovation with safeguards that protect learning outcomes and student well-being.


Teaching AI Literacy Through Authentic Learning

Through project-based learning, students gain practical experience while developing the critical thinking skills needed to navigate AI-driven environments. Traditional assessments may not fully capture critical thinking, adaptability, or resilience. The conversation emphasized the need to develop broader measures of student success that reflect both academic achievement and real-world competencies.

Durable Skills for the Future

In the age of increased AI use, students need to learn durable skills. What are durable skills? In general, these have been equated with “soft skills” such as critical thinking, information literacy, resilience, communication, and problem-solving. Portland Public Schools (PPS) created a Portrait of a Graduate framework that guides educators on the skills students need before graduation to be ready for the workforce in the age of AI. 


Resources and Implementation Support

The presenters shared a range of ODE Digital Learning and partner implementation resources, including guidance documents, policy-development tools, readiness checklists, and ongoing support opportunities. These robust resources are intended to help school leaders and educators make informed decisions about AI adoption. 


Privacy, Safety, and Future Considerations

The question-and-answer session addressed teacher resistance, plagiarism, process writing, AI literacy, privacy requirements, and student data protection. Participants stressed the importance of maintaining strong privacy protections while preparing schools for continued advances in AI technology.


Conclusion

The ODE GenAI session underscored that AI is no longer a future consideration but a present reality for education. Effective implementation requires clear guidance, thoughtful policies, ongoing professional learning, and a commitment to ethical and equitable use. By focusing on AI literacy and durable skills, schools can help students thrive in a rapidly changing technological landscape.

Oregon Department of Education Supports GenAI Education

By Linda Barney, Barney and Associates


The widespread use of generative AI (GenAI) is having a major impact on K-12 education and will shape the future of jobs and workforce tasks. The ODE Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) in K-12 Classrooms Guidance provides guidance on safe, effective GenAI implementation, with the goal of enhancing student outcomes and preparing them for the future. 

Who is the Target Audience?

The target audience for the Generative AI Guidance includes district leaders, policymakers, teacher coaches, Teachers on Special Assignment (TOSAs), and educators. The guidance is designed to support those who develop district policies and procedures related to AI, as well as educators who are considering using AI in classrooms and their daily work. It provides a framework for districts to develop their own AI guidance or policies, recognizing that approaches to student use of AI may vary across districts.


Access ODE’s GenAI Guidance:

Join ODE to Learn More! 

ODE recognizes the impact of GenAI in K-12 education and is seeking active participation from the education community to share your wisdom and perspective on GenAI. As part of the rollout, ODE has set up two upcoming Office Hours sessions where educators can learn more about the guidance, share perspectives, and ask questions. 

Upcoming GenAI Guidance Office Hours Sessions Sign-up:

Aug. 20, 1 pm

Sept. 3, 9 am

Email Contact:

Educators can also contact ODE to connect 1-on-1 for additional support and longer conversations using this email address:

ODE.DigitalLearning@ode.oregon.gov

Professional Development from ODE and OCSTA 

ODE and the Oregon Computer Science Teachers Association (OCSTA) are doing a great job in collaborating on policies and training relating to K-12 GenAI guidance and training. ODE will establish GenAI Guidance policy and direction. OCSTA will provide professional development expertise and training sessions. 
OCSTA will present updated ODE AI Guidance content at the August 2026 Summer SuperQuest Session on August 11. To attend these SuperQuest sessions, you must register with OCSTA to receive a link to the Zoom session. Click here on the OCSTA website to register. In addition, ODE will participate in the October OCSTA Fall Conference at George Fox University.

TechStart Supports ODE’s GenAI Guidance Document and Training

TechStart is an Oregon-based 501(c)(3) non-profit. The organization was created by Oregon technology leaders more than 20 years ago with the goal of expanding access to computer science education for K-12 students in the state. TechStart is a volunteer organization whose members participate with a variety of organizations supporting computer science, STEM, and technology education. “We are at an inflection point where ODE and OCSTA can use their resources to make a real difference for the future of Generative AI and Computer Science in our schools. We applaud this great collaborative effort,” states John Tortorici, TechStart President.


2026 OCSTA Summer SuperQuest

Free, online professional development computer science courses for teachers

By Linda Barney, Barney and Associates

The Oregon Computer Science Teachers Association (OregonCSTA) is an organization of teachers training teachers in Oregon since 1984. OCSTA’s flagship SuperQuest program is a collaborative technology training series designed specifically for K-12 educators teaching computer science (CS) courses. 

The 2026 OCSTA Summer SuperQuest program includes a variety of online courses designed to empower educators with the skills and classroom tools to build hands-on technology learning directly into their classrooms or after school activities. “Free professional development courses from OCSTA empower teachers to start the school year off strong. SuperQuest 2026 includes training sessions on how teachers can provide students with solid training in Computer Science and software design while also preparing students to use AI and GenAI tools in this age of AI implementation,” states Jacob Niebergall, OCSTA President. There is NO COST to attend thanks to a grant from the South Metro STEM Hub and TechStart!”

The remote online sessions count for Professional Development credits and teachers can attend as many as they want. There are two-hour online Zoom Professional Development sessions, at 10 AM or 2 PM on August 3-5 and August 10-12. You must register for the session to receive an email with a Zoom link. Click here to see more details on the sessions.  Click here to register for sessions.

2026 OCSTA SuperQuest Sessions

AUGUST 3

  • 10:00 AM-CS as a Math Credit, Stephanie Partlow:  Describes how to integrate current Oregon high school math standards and college discrete math standards to an intro Computer Science class so the class can be offered as a high school math credit towards math graduation requirements.

  • 2:00 PM-iOS App Development for HS students, Stephanie Partlow: Describes a year-long development course where high school students learn how to create an iOS application. The session covers App Development tools and how teachers use GitHub and Xcode to set up the environment for students.

AUGUST 4

  • 10:00 AM-Vibe Coding for CS Teachers, Judson Birkel: Describes how teachers can use Vibe coding as an AI-assisted approach to software development while “hammering home” programming concepts in a secondary Computer Science classroom.

  • 2:00 PM-Creating Curriculum Supplements with NotebookLM & Wayground, McKenzie Fuller:  Explores how to leverage powerful AI tools like Gemini, NotebookLM, and Wayground to design dynamic, multilingual core curriculum supplements.

AUGUST 5

  • 10:00 AM-Teaching Software Design in the Age of Agentic Coding: Part 1, Robert Eckstein: Examines what remains uniquely valuable in software design education when implementation is increasingly automated.

  • 2:00 PM-Teaching Software Design in the Age of Agentic Coding: Part 1, Robert Eckstein: This is a continuation of the 10AM session covering how curricula, assignments, and assessment methods may need to change to prepare students for the future.

AUGUST 10

  • 10:00 AM-Coding In Science and Math Classes, Middle and High School Level, Ness Blackbird: Describes using coding curriculum to teach science and math as regular middle school math and science classes where all students, including those without the confidence and background can more easily benefit from it.

  • 2:00 PM-Secondary CS Curriculum Design and Pedagogy, Terrel Smith & Robert Mattox:
    Explores secondary high tech curriculum options, pedagogy, and teaching strategies. Robert Mattox will discuss ways to offer certifications on various topics. Terrel Smith will discuss strategies for student engagement, recruiting and accountability.

AUGUST 11

  • 10:00 AM-Everything AI..if that’s possible, Jacob Niebergall and Friends: This session will look at policies, challenges, and possibilities for teachers and students in an age of AI implementation.

  • 2:00 PM-GenAI Literacy First, Tools Second: ODE’s Updated Guidance for Generative AI in K–12 Classrooms, Nate Shelley & colleagues from Oregon Dept. of Education: Generative AI is rapidly entering Oregon classrooms, often outpacing district policy. The session discusses ODE’s updated guidance document titled, Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) in K–12 Classrooms (v3.0), covering updated GenAI key principles, implementation resources and safety considerations.

AUGUST 12

  • 10:00 AM-Python Power-Up: Data cleaning, analysis and visualization for High School teachers, Montessa Young: Explores first using data analysis tools in Google Sheets and then applying Python library tools to build professional-looking graphs. This session will include notes, and assignments for a full curriculum example.

TechStart Supports OCSTA SuperQuest Training

“Tech education is critical to Oregon's future, and the Oregon Computer Science Teachers Association does more to enable tech education by training teachers than any other organization. TechStart is proud to support OCSTA in their efforts to have teachers training teachers,” states John Tortorici, TechStart Board Chair.

WUFC and OCSTA Host Soccer+STEM 2026 Summer Camp for K-8 students

By Linda Barney, Barney and Associates

It is important for K-12 students to have an understanding of computer science and technology tools to compete in today’s society. To help foster soccer excellence and introduce students to Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), the Willamette United FC Soccer Club (WUFC) and the Oregon Computer Science Teachers Association (OregonCSTA) partnered to put on the inaugural WUFC Soccer+STEM 2026 summer camp for kindergarten through 8th grade students. The camp was held June 22-25, 2026, at Riverside High School in West Linn, Oregon with 120 K-8 kids attending the morning soccer camp. The STEM portion of camp was held after lunch and was split into two of groups of kindergarten through 2nd grade and 3rd through 8th grade students. Attendance for the STEM camp was limited to 20 kids per age group and the camp sold out fast!


Introducing WUFC and OCSTA

The goal of WUFC is to inspire and educate youth members to be strong and productive athletes, citizens, and leaders. WUFC strives to help all children grow physically, emotionally, socially, and academically through the vehicle of youth sports. WUFC is one of Oregon’s oldest and largest youth sports organizations, founded in 1974 and now serving over 2,500 athletes and families in their community. 

OCSTA is an organization of teachers training teachers in Oregon since 1984. Their main focus is professional development in the areas of computer science and engineering education for K-12 educators and extended program volunteers. The mission of OCSTA is to increase the number of Computer Science and engineering programs in Oregon in order to give students the opportunities for a work and college ready diploma upon graduation. 

Terrel Smith, President of OCSTA and long time (now retired) Sherwood High School computer science teacher and Head Track Coach states, “'The partnership between WUFC and OCSTA created a wonderful intersection of sports and technology. Kids were able to explore the game of soccer in the morning and the science behind sports in the afternoon. Camps like this create an exploration of creativity that forms the foundation of fun learning, which keeps kids engaged and involved and wanting more. We were delighted to partner with a premier soccer club to make this experience successful and rewarding for all!” 

Mike Iacolucci, Executive Director of Willamette United in his 15th year with the organization said, “Willamette United is thrilled to have partnered with OCSTA to put on our inaugural WUFC Soccer+STEM Summer Camp. Our student-athletes were able to experience the skill-building and joy of outdoor soccer camp in the morning, and the science of soccer after lunch in the afternoon, all amidst the excitement of the World Cup! Thank you to OCSTA, all of our coaches, teachers, and participants for helping to bring this exciting camp to life. Be on the look out for more WUFC Soccer+STEM camps in the future!”

STEM 2026 Summer Camp Sessions

Both groups in the afternoon STEM sessions were assisted in the classroom by WUFC soccer camp coaches along with CJ Koll, physics teacher at Wilsonville High School.

Kindergarten - 2nd Grade STEM Class

Jennica Smith, long time Sherwood school district teacher and athlete led the K-2nd grade STEM session. Kids designed and engineered a variety of sports related games created from everyday materials like a basketball hoop/court and foosball table. The hands-on creativity in designing and building starts the process of critical thinking in younger students, a foundational learning experience in STEM. Students worked in pairs to plan and execute their build, further cementing the bond of teamwork that began in the morning on the soccer field.

3rd - 8th Grade STEM Class

Derek Runberg led the STEM session for the older kids. Derek is a former Hillsboro School District educator, a seasoned athletics coach, and is the Director of Product at Makey Makey. Each student was issued a Chromebook and a Makey Makey kit. Using basic craft materials and Makey Makey, students designed and tested systems to collect data on sports related drills and activities (plank holds, pushups, lap timers, etc.) By combining sports-centric technology with hands-on STEM projects, student athletes explored the science behind the game and used STEM to improve their soccer skills. 

TechStart Supports WUFC-OCSTA Soccer+STEM Summer Camp

TechStart is an Oregon-based 501(c)3 non-profit. The organization was created by Oregon technology leaders with the goal of expanding access to computer science education for K-12 students in the state. TechStart provides annual cash awards to K-12 teachers and two high school students to aid in continuing their education. TechStart is a volunteer organization whose members participate with a variety of organizations supporting computer science, STEM, and technology education. “Every child should have the opportunity to learn computer science. And thanks to OCSTA and WUFC, this event takes them a little farther down the path,” states Peter Steinfeld, TechStart Executive Director. 

For further information, please contact:

WUFC: mike@wilametteunitedfc.com 

OCSTA: terrelsmith1284@gmail.com

2026 Oregon Game Project Challenge

By Linda Barney, Barney and Associates

The Oregon Game Project Challenge (OGPC) is a video game development competition for middle school and high school students. OGPC uses student interest in making games to develop a wide variety of skills. “Our OGPC mission is to promote Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) and contribute to building a strong technical workforce by running a competition for students to design and create video games,” states Shannon Ernst, OGPC Executive Director. Students write code, create art and music, craft a story and design gameplay. They learn project management and teamwork as they collaborate over multiple months to deliver a project. And they practice their soft skills as they present their project to judges and other students. 

OGPC 2025-2026 Season 19 – Journeys Challenge

The annual OGPC Season 19 Challenge was held May 2, 2026, at Western University in Monmouth, Oregon. The theme for this season was Journeys and teams built a video game that explored various types of journeys such as human treks, journeys of animals and fish, plants, natural elements, dragon flights, alien invasions and other inventive journey ideas. Teams were judged on their interpretation and attempt to represent the theme in all parts of a submission including gameplay, story, art, and sound design.

Participating Teams in the Challenge

A big congratulations to all teams who competed in the Season 19 OGPC Challenge. There were forty teams competing in the May 2 challenge including 36 high school and 6 middle school teams. Click here to see the Season 19 winning entries and have a chance to play the games. 


Game Example Wander

The game example above was the game entry from the Kerfuhncler-Cats team from Marshfield Jr. High School. In this game, a cat named Soy living in the desert is being hunted and the game has various actions the cat might make. As part of the game, students determine the game's core gameplay loop, such as the main game mechanics, goals, challenges, and rewards that the player will experience. The data structures, code, algorithms, game logo, and music or sounds were also defined by the student team. In addition, each team created documentation about their game as well as identifying any logic bugs encountered and how they fixed the issue. Click this link to play the game: https://junilouu.itch.io/wanderkerfuhnclercatsor.

TechStart is Proud To Be Involved as OGPC Volunteers

TechStart powers K-12 computer science education in Oregon. TechStart provides Teacher of the Year annual awards to K-12 computer science teachers who are awarded $1,000 to use for tech education materials to spend in their classrooms on hardware, software, services, or curriculum. TechStart provides Student of the Year awards to two high school juniors or seniors.

“It has been my pleasure to be a judge at OGPC since its inception nineteen years ago.  I can say it’s a great event and provides many benefits to the students who participate.  If you know students who like to play or develop video games, urge them to check out the OGPC.info website,” states John Tortorici, TechStart Board Chair. To volunteer for TechStart, see the Contact page or click here to donate to TechStart.

TAO 2026 OREGON TECHNOLOGY AWARDS EVENT

TechStart Hosts a High School Computer Science Showcase

By Linda Barney, Barney and Associates

The Technology Association of Oregon (TAO) celebrated innovation at the 42nd 2026 Oregon Technology Awards event held on May 5, at the Hilton Hotel in Portland, Oregon. As part of the TAO awards event, the TechStart non-profit organization located in Portland, Oregon hosted a Computer Science High School Student Showcase. 

Student teams from various Oregon high schools and organizations displayed their projects relating to computer science, engineering, programming, game design, robotics, artificial intelligence (AI), and STEM. The students were in a separate room and were able to show off their projects and interact with Oregon Technology Awards attendees. Teams presenting included:

  • Sherwood High School: Godot Game Design and Blender Graphics projects

  • Sunset Hight School: Engineering and programming projects

  • Century High School: GameMaker and MakerSpace projects

  • Southridge High School: Hawkbot1cs Robot demonstration

  • iUrban Teen: Robotics and STEM

Student Projects 

The Bread Fellows team from Century High School located in Hillsboro, Oregon displays their Oregon Games Programming Challenge (OGPC) fame project named Twisted Petal.

Sunset High School (SHS) located in Beaverton, Oregon brought six students to the Showcase event. SHS teacher Jason Galbraith states, “Our engineering students showed off a variety of projects built in classes, including drones, 3D prints, and laser cut projects. Computer Science students demonstrated programs from artificial intelligence, software engineering, and video game design.”

Erin Hamilton of iUrban Teens states, “Our youth were able to talk with attendees about our career pathways and demonstrate our nascent Robotics program.”

The Showcase allowed students to interact with technology industry attendees. The students indicate that attendees who viewed the projects were very engaged and provided some good feedback. 

TechStart is Proud to Sponsor the Student Showcase

K-12 computer science, engineering, programming, game design, robotics, STEM, AI, and software development education is critical to Oregon’s future. TechStart is proud to sponsor the 2026 Student Showcase at the TAO 2026 Oregon Technology Awards event,” states John Tortorici, TechStart Chair of the Board.

TAO 2026 OREGON TECHNOLOGY AWARDS EVENT

TechStart Presents K-12 Computer Science Awards and Hosts a High School Computer Science Showcase

By Linda Barney, Barney and Associates

The Technology Association of Oregon (TAO) celebrated innovation at the 42nd 2026 Oregon Technology Awards event held on May 5, at the Hilton Hotel in Portland, Oregon. This annual event celebrates excellence and innovation within Oregon's technology sector, honoring companies that have made significant contributions to the industry and community.

As part of the TAO awards event, the TechStart non-profit organization located in Portland, Oregon was honored to present monetary awards to K-12 computer science teachers and two high school students. TechStart also hosted a Computer Science High School Student Showcase. There were 12 high school teams where students from various Oregon high schools displayed their computer science projects in areas such as game and application development, robotics, and programming. Click here to see information on the Computer Science Student Showcase.  

Announcing The 2026 TechStart Award Winners

During the event, TechStart presented the 2026 TechStart Technology Teacher of the Year and Student of the Year Awards to the highly deserving winners. The school of each teacher received $1,000 to spend on curriculum, programming, equipment, or professional development. A $2,000 scholarship toward college tuition or related expenses was awarded to two high school junior or senior students. The teachers who recommended the student winners introduced the students and described their impressive achievements. Here are the award winners:

High School Technology Teacher of the Year: Judson Birkel – South Salem High School, Salem, Oregon

Rising Star Technology Teacher of the Year: Andrew Cronk – Southridge High School, Beaverton, Oregon

K-8 Technology Teacher of the Year: Sara Conners – Cal Young Middle School, Eugene, Oregon

Student of the Year: Nathaniel Floyd, Hillsboro High School, Hillsboro, Oregon

Student of the Year: Alondra Saldaña Simiano, Woodburn High School, Woodburn, Oregon

L to R: Peter Steinfeld, TechStart Executive Director, Teacher Terry Alexander (Century High School, Hillsboro Oregon) recommended student Nathan Floyd, student Alondra Saldaña Simiano recommended by teacher Stephanie Partlow (Woodburn High School, Woodburn, Oregon)

L to R: Pete, Sara Connors, Cal Young Middle School, Eugene, OR and Andrew Cronk, Southridge Hight School Beaverton, OR

Oregon Needs Continued Support for K-12 Computer Science Education

TechStart’s bold goal is to see that every Oregon K-12 student has access to high-quality computer science education. “We would like to thank TAO for their continued support of computer science education in Oregon and allowing TechStart to introduce amazing computer science teachers and students to the business community. With the current K-12 education funding issues, it is vital that there is continued advocacy in the Oregon legislature for K-12 computer science, technology, and artificial intelligence education. It is also critical that professional organizations, companies, and individuals get involved. The best thing we can do is to create more computer science teachers and support the ones that we have. To support computer science teachers, please donate to TechStart to help us continue to provide monetary funding to deserving teachers and students. We continually seek volunteers to participate in K-12 programs in robotics, game design, and software development, click here to contact us about volunteering,” states Peter Steinfeld, TechStart Executive Director.   

OCSTA K-12 Computer Science Education Spring 2026 Teachers Conference

Giving Oregon K-12 teachers tools for teaching computer science in the classroom

By Linda Barney, Barney, and Associates

OCSTA Spring 2026 Conference Keynote: Oregon Department of Education Computer Science Standards & Educators Feedback

The Oregon Computer Science Teachers Association (OregonCSTA) is an organization of teachers training teachers in Oregon since 1984. OCSTA’s focus is professional development in the areas of computer science and engineering education for K-12 educators and extended program volunteers. OCSTA held their 2026 Spring Teacher’s Conference on April 11 at George Fox University in Newberg, Oregon. Adrienne Pierce, the Oregon Department of Education (ODE) Well-Rounded, Integrated and Digital Learning Director, opened the conference with a keynote speech about Computer Science Standards to be adopted in Oregon.

There is an expected shortfall in Oregon K-12 funding for Oregon schools. In 2025, the Oregon legislature declined to fund Senate Bill 541, which requires school district boards to ensure all schools offer Computer Science (CS) education in all grades. To enhance computer science education in Oregon, the Oregon Department of Education (ODE) created a Computer Science Initiative which aims to provide CS standards in the state. 

During her keynote speech, Pierce introduced Nate Shelley, as a new ODE Digital Learning & Literacy Education Specialist. Pierce discussed ODE’s new draft of the Computer Science Optional Standards covering CS education national alignment, computational thinking, and AI-readiness. ODE is focusing on concurrent efforts with the National Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA) standards effort. The CSTA National Standards are due for release in summer, 2026.

The ODE Computer Science Statewide Implementation Plan also focuses on these areas: 

ODE Welcomes Educator Feedback on Computer Science Standards 

ODE solicited feedback on the first round of the Computer Science Standards and has revised the standards document based on feedback from educators. Click this link to view the first round of CS Standards.  

Submit Suggestions to Draft 2 of the CS Standards

ODE is collecting feedback on Round 2 of the document beginning in April 2026. Pierce encourages educators to provide feedback on version 2.0 of the ODE draft optional computer science standards through July 2026. Click this link to launch the Spring 2026: Optional CS Standards Update Survey where you can make suggestions to the Standards document.

Goal Final Publication of Optional CS Standards

The ODE goal is to publish the final Computer Science Optional Standards in the winter of 2026/2027. 

New OCSTA President Leads Session on Providing Feedback to DOE

OCSTA held annual elections during the 2026 Spring Conference and elected Jacob Niebergall as OCSTA President for 2026. Jacob Niebergall is a leader in teaching computer science and AI concepts to elementary school students. He received the TechStart Technology Teacher of the Year for grades K-8 in 2024 for his work teaching a sixth-grade course at Sunset School in Coos Bay, Oregon which introduced students to Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics (STEAM) including innovative computer science, artificial intelligence (AI), augmented reality (AR), and virtual reality (VR) concepts. Niebergall is currently acting as a Teacher On Special Assignment (TOSA) focusing on enhancing the literacy systems in his building and district. He is also actively involved in working with ODE on CS and AI implementation plans.

Jacob Niebergall led a session where attendees discussed how AI is changing everything in computer science. Topics discussed included vibe coding, student exposure to AI tools, and what responsible AI integration looks like in K-12 classrooms. The collaborative discussion will help determine what OCSTA should advocate for in computer science education at the state level.

Computer Science Legislation in the Next Biennium

Andrew Cronk, a computer science teacher at Southridge High School in Beaverton, Oregon led a review of the key points from this biennium's SB541 and a discussion of priorities to recommend for a future bill. 

OCSTA K-12 Computer Science Education Spring 2026 Teachers Conference

Giving Oregon K-12 teachers tools for teaching computer science in the classroom

By Linda Barney, Barney, and Associates

The Oregon Computer Science Teachers Association (OregonCSTA) is an organization of teachers training teachers in Oregon since 1984. OCSTA’s focus is professional development in the areas of computer science and engineering education for K-12 educators and extended program volunteers. OCSTA held their 2026 Spring Teacher’s Conference on April 11 at George Fox University in Newberg, Oregon. The conference provided free professional development (PD) learning opportunities for teachers in Oregon teaching K-12 computer science classes. Outgoing OCSTA President, Terrel Smith welcomed conference attendees. In reflecting on the conference, Terrel said “The OCSTA Spring Conference was well attended considering all of the competing events and good weather. The presenters offered useful, and relevant information on challenging issues facing teachers and our K-12 education system.” 

OCSTA Elects New President

OCSTA held annual elections during the 2026 Spring Conference and elected Jacob Niebergall as OCSTA President for 2026. Niebergall is a leader in teaching computer science and AI concepts to elementary school students. He received the TechStart Technology Teacher of the Year for grades K-8 in 2024 for his work teaching a sixth-grade course at Sunset School in Coos Bay, Oregon which introduced students to Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics (STEAM) including innovative computer science, artificial intelligence (AI), augmented reality (AR), and virtual reality (VR) concepts. He is also actively involved in working with ODE on CS and AI implementation plans. Niebergall is currently acting as a Teacher On Special Assignment (TOSA) focusing on enhancing the instructional systems in his building and district.

“I don’t think it’s controversial to say that families in Oregon want kids and teachers to responsibly and effectively interact with the newest generation of AI enhanced devices. To that end, OCSTA is on a collective journey to build-out and clarify Oregon’s CS systems to support those goals for learners, in collaboration with industry,” states Jacob Niebergall, President OCSTA. 

Oregon Department of Education Computer Science Standards Keynote

To enhance computer science education in Oregon, the Oregon Department of Education (ODE) created a Computer Science Initiative which aims to provide CS standards in the state. Adrienne Pierce, ODE Well-Rounded, Integrated and Digital Learning Director, was the conference keynote speaker. Pierce discussed ODE’s new draft of the Computer Science Optional Standards covering CS education national alignment, computational thinking, and AI-readiness. During the session, Pierce covered current standards being drafted and encouraged educators to provide feedback on the CS standards. Click here to see an article summarizing the ODE CS Optional Standards sessions.

AI Conference Sessions

A major focus of the conference was on best practices for teaching artificial intelligence (AI) to K-12 students. The following conference sessions focused on using AI in K-12 classrooms.

AI Drivers for Educators: Issues & Ethics: In this session, Judson Birkel CS teacher at South Salem High School provided information for educators on how to build a safe AI culture for K-12 students. Birkel states, “Generative AI is no longer a futuristic concept; it's in your classroom today. Teachers are using it to plan lessons, students are using it for research, and districts are adopting AI-powered platforms at a record pace. But this rapid adoption has created a legal and ethical minefield for educators on the front lines. Dangers of AI include sycophancy, hallucinations, confirmation bias, algorithmic bias, and the fact that it’s a black box.” But AI guidelines to aid in appropriate AI training for K-12 education are being developed via the AI Warning And Resources for Education (AWARE) Act (HR 5360) which directs the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to create educational materials for parents and educators regarding AI risks and privacy issues. The NSF AI Education Act of 2026 (S.3957) is in process, which would provide grants to undergraduate students for AI training.

AI: Curriculum Design and Response: Jacob Niebergall led a session where attendees discussed how AI is changing everything in computer science. Topics discussed included vibe coding, student exposure to AI tools, and what responsible AI integration looks like in K-12 classrooms. The collaborative discussion will help determine what OCSTA should advocate for in computer science education at the state level.

Fun with AI-Parts 1 and 2: Judson Birkel led two sessions designed to get attendees thinking about what they can do with AI. The Part 1 session focused on what teachers and students can do with AI. Examples included using AI to refine course materials, proofread email responses/requests, and create creative, engaging assignments or worksheets. Part 2 showed examples of how AI can be used outside the classroom to create videos, do vibe coding, and music generation. 

Creating AI – Assignments and Software: Jason Galbraith described how his Sunset High School advanced consumer science class teaches students to create learning software, rather than just using it. The CS Pathway includes basic and advanced classes in computer systems, web design, programming logic, cybersecurity, C++ data structure, finite state machines, networks, game design/board games and robots/self-driving vehicles. Galbraith also uses the CodeHS units on AI, data science and statistics. The session covered AI classroom assignments, and software packages used including Python, and Jupyter notebooks with TensorFlow and Karas libraries. 

High School Programming Competitions

Programming Contest Problems: Coding competitions can be difficult to plan and prepare. George Fox University (GFU) has been hosting a George Fox University High School Programming Competition both onsite at GFU and as a virtual challenge. The 2026 GFU High School Programming Competition was held as a virtual event. Brent Wilson, CS Chair at GFU, led the session presenting a set of programming contest problems that can be integrated into any high school curriculum. 

Programming Competition Prep: Tips and Tricks: 

In this session, Judson Birkel stated, “Let’s talk about a few tips and tricks I give my students when preparing for a coding competition. The session looked at a collection of past GFU coding competitions, to help see the pattern in all problems, and work towards simplifying the process. The language I’ll focus on is Python, but the concepts can be converted to other programming languages. A big focus will be on file reading and input receiving, parsing data, and building functions (divide and conquer).”

What Can STEM Hubs Do for You?

Julia Betts, Executive Director South Salem Metro STEM Partnership, presented the "State of the STEM Hubs" report. STEM Hubs are connectors and capacity builders with 13 Regional hubs across Oregon. The STEM Hubs function as backbone organizations connecting: K–12, higher education, industry, and community partners. The Hubs have system-level impact and stress equity and access across underserved communities. Hubs have these goals for the 2025-2027 Oregon Biennium:

  • Access and exposure (K-12): Provide 1) Early CS K-2 screenless coding and robotics, 2) elementary school integrations (CS + science/math), and 3) lending libraries to aid in removing cost barriers.

  • Educator support: Provide 1) AI + CS professional learning, 2) embedded coaching / co-teaching models, and 3) PLC integration + district-level support.

  • Pathways & Advanced Learning: Provide 1) Dual credit CS (e.g., CS161 partnerships), 2) peer-teaching models (HS through elementary), and 3) robotics, esports, fabrication, and industry-connected experiences.

Funding: Betts indicated that STEM Hubs are positioned relatively well with funding anticipated to be stable with full funding for this biennium since many hubs are just beginning to access 2025-2027 funds. 

Makey Makey: Code-a-Key Backpack Project

This workshop led by Derek Runberg started with a brief introduction to Microsoft MakeCode. Runberg demonstrated using the Makey Makey Code-a-Key Backpack along with a BBC micro:bit to create a computer science and invention literacy super power.

Using ECS as an On-ramp to Computer Science

It can be difficult to bring new and especially under-represented students into CS programs. This session was led by Terry Alexander who teaches computer science and robotics at Hillsboro High School. Alexander provided information on how teachers can use the Exploring Computer Science (ECS) program. The ECS program is a year-long, research-based, high school intro-level computer science curriculum and teacher professional development program that focuses on broadening participation in computing to students who typically encounter barriers to CS courses.

Game Design with Unity

Two introductory classes for Sunset High School use Unity and video game creation. This session led by Jason Galbraith introduced the software, how to use it, and assignments that are covered in the class.

Cybersecurity Session 

Teaching cybersecurity strategies is a critical part of K-12 computer science education. One of the advanced classes in the Sunset High School CS pathway covers topics in Cybersecurity. Jason Galbraith provided information on the cybersecurity course including Unix commands, reverse engineering with assembly language, digital forensics, and decryption techniques. Galbraith recommends “The Code Book” as a good reference source. 

CAD and Rapid Prototyping

Clark Farrand led this attendee-driven roundtable discussion on all things “Engineering” at the high school level. The discussion covered information such as CAD packages, digital fabrication projects, rapid prototyping, and areas for design testing (Fab Labs, Makerspace, or Digital Woodshop). The session also focused on computer science classroom management and best practices, architecture curriculum, and building a Program of Study—whatever it takes to get a program off the ground, or to the next level.

TechStart Supports OCSTA Teachers Training Teachers

“OCSTA’s focus on training hundreds of teachers to teach K-12 computer science since 1984 is unprecedented. There is no doubt that they have positively moved the needle for Oregon’s teachers and thousands of students’ careers and continue to do so. The dedicated volunteers who make this happen are truly knights in shining armor. Thank you to all who participate in this worthy endeavor, we look forward to supporting you and to your continued success,” states John Tortorici, TechStart Chair of the Board.

Introducing Hunter Iddings—the TechStart Webmaster

By Linda Barney, Barney and Associates

TechStart is an Oregon-based all-volunteer organization with the goal of expanding access to computer science education for K-12 students. TechStart provides annual Teacher of the Year and Student of the Year cash awards and team members volunteer with a variety of other K-12 computer science and technology organizations. 

We would like to introduce Hunter Iddings who acts as the TechStart webmaster, creates TechStart LinkedIn posting, manages TechStart technical tasks, and serves on the TechStart Board of Directors. Hunter is a vital member of the TechStart team who has been volunteering for TechStart for over two years while attending Portland State University (PSU) as a full-time student with a computer science major and business minor. Iddings is graduating from PSU in June 2026 and will continue his work with TechStart as he expands his career. 

Iddings indicates that “Working with TechStart has been very rewarding. Managing the TechStart website and LinkedIn has been a great way for me to help highlight some of the amazing work happening in K-12 education in Oregon. Being involved with TechStart has also given me the chance to learn from leaders in the tech and education community while contributing to programs that create opportunities for students.”


John Tortorici, TechStart Board Chair, states, “Thank you for all your invaluable work on TechStart’s technology including the website and much more. Your efforts shape our online presence, but your curiosity and determination shape your future and will open many doors. We can’t thank you enough for all you do, I look forward to working with you on our TechStart adventure.”


TechStart has partnered with ProFocus, a national technology recruiting and consulting company to create the Classroom to Career program. In simple terms, TechStart will facilitate the connections between technology industry professionals and Oregon’s schools. The goal is to expose the kids to technology people who will talk with them about the path from their seat in class to a career in technology. “Hunter has stepped up to be TechStart’s primary contact and will run the program. We are very proud to have Hunter on our team, he has made a big difference in a short time,” according to Tortorici.

Helping Implement Biodegradable Products for Lake Oswego School District

In addition to taking classes at PSU and acting as the TechStart webmaster, Iddings also works a full-time job at BioShell, an Oregon-based biodegradable products company. BioShell provides premium quality compostable service ware items that are compostable solutions, crafted from renewable materials for reduced environmental impact to support sustainability goals. At BioShell, Iddings started in Information Technology and gradually expanded into operations and business-to-business sales. 

As part of the BioShell team, Iddings worked as a consultant with the Lake Oswego School District to identify alternatives to single-use plastic products used in Lake Oswego elementary schools. He suggested switching from plastic to wood utensils as a cost-effective solution that met both operational and environmental needs. He helped source and implement a cost-effective solution to reduce plastic waste while teaching students about sustainable alternatives to reduce environmental impact. For more information on the BioShell work, see this PSU article. 

ORTOP Robotics 20th FIRST® Tech Challenge Championship Tournament

By Linda Barney, Barney and Associates

The Oregon Robotics Tournament and Outreach Program (ORTOP) is a premier organization that is part of a global robotics community. ORTOP provides the FIRST Tech Challenge program to help students begin exploring technical careers, and Oregon has one of the larger FIRST Tech Challenge programs in the nation.

The ORTOP 20th FIRST Tech Challenge Championship Tournament (FTC) was held at Liberty High School in Hillsboro, Oregon on February 28 through March 1, 2026. Each FIRST Tech team is composed of up to fifteen students in grades 7 through 12 that work as a team to design, build, and program a unique robot. The theme for the robotics season was “DECODE” which featured challenges in archeological exploration. The top 48 of 148 teams from around Oregon participated in the 20th FIRST Tech Challenge Championship Tournament. Robots are allowed to block each other in some cases but no destructive behavior is allowed. During each match one pair of robots and their drivers participate with alliance partners for playoff matches.  

Winners of the Championship Tournament

A big congratulations to all teams who competed in the tournament. Team 23918, SUPER SIGMA ROBOTICS won the top award called Inspire. Twenty-seven teams went home with awards and fifteen teams earned advancement slots to the international FIRST Championship and other premier events. The FIRST Championship will be held in Huston, Texas from April 29 to May 2, 2026. A full list of awards given at the Oregon Championship as well as additional information can be found here.

The ORTOP Mission

“ORTOP’s mission is to welcome, engage, educate, and inspire Oregon’s youth and their diverse communities through robotics programs. Through the use of team-based projects and an annual challenge, students learn about science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). While working collaboratively to design and build robots, students learn and practice real-world skills such as problem solving, project management, mechanical design, and programming. Students are invited to demonstrate these skills during seasonal tournaments, where they are welcomed into an engaging community, while showcasing their successes and accomplishments,” states Bruce Schafer, ORTOP Executive Director. To donate to ORTOP or suggest a person or organization who might be interested in becoming a donor or sponsor, see the Support page.

TechStart is Proud To Be Involved as ORTOP Volunteers

TechStart powers K-12 computer science education in Oregon. TechStart provides Teacher of the Year annual awards to K-12 computer science teachers who are awarded $1,000 to use for tech education materials to spend in their classrooms on hardware, software, services, or curriculum. TechStart provides Student of the Year awards to both a young man and young woman high school junior or senior. In addition to awards, TechStart members volunteer as trainers, judges, and assist in organizing ORTOP events as well as working with a variety of other K-12 computer science and technology organizations. According to Peter Steinfeld, TechStart Executive Director, “ORTOP is Oregon's best choice for tech education, and the FTC state tournament is the premier showcase for Oregon's high school students to display their technical prowess.” To volunteer for TechStart, see the Contact page or click here to donate to TechStart.


Nominate K-12 Technology Teachers and Students for TechStart 2026 Cash Awards

Linda Barney, Barney and Associates

With reduced educational funding, K-12 teachers need a source of funding for their K-12 computer science and technology classes. Want a chance to win a cash award to be used in your classroom or nominate a student for a cash award?

John Tortorici, TechStart Board Chair states, “TechStart believes it is important to power computer science education. We will present Technology Teacher of the Year and Computer Science Student of the Year cash awards at the 42nd annual Technology Association of Oregon (TAO) awards ceremony on May 5, 2026. Nominations are open for the cash awards and TechStart has already received nominations. We encourage teachers and administrators in Oregon and SW Washington to nominate teachers and students for the TechStart cash awards.”


K-12 Technology Teacher of the Year Cash Awards

TechStart awards outstanding K-12 Oregon and SW Washington teachers with a cash award of $1,000 for their classroom to spend on tech education materials including hardware, software, services, or curriculum. Here are the award categories:

  • K-8 Technology Teacher of the Year

  • High School Technology Teacher of the Year

  • Technology Teacher Rising Star – Any Grade Level (K-12)

Computer Science Student of the Year Cash Awards: 

TechStart provides a computer science Student of the Year award to high school juniors and seniors. A $2,000 scholarship is awarded to a young man or young woman that can be applied to educational expenses and associated costs.

Nominate a Teacher: Nominate a tech teacher (including yourself) for this cash award. Click here to see criteria you should consider to nominate a great teacher. Once a teacher is nominated, they complete a more detailed Application Form. Click here to access the form to nominate a deserving teacher. 

Computer Science Student of the Year Cash Awards: 

We encourage teachers to nominate a student for this award. Click here to access the form to nominate a deserving student for the award. Once nominated, the student completes a more detailed application form.

TechStart 2026 Nomination and Award Schedule

Click here to see the nomination and award schedule:

January 14: Nominations are open for Teacher of the Year and Student of the Year nominations

March 14: Close nominations for students and teachers

April 1: Close application process for students 

April 8: Close application process for teachers to recommend students and for teachers to apply after being nominated

April 18: Select and notify winners and invite them to the TAO awards

May 2026: Present awards at the TAO Tech Awards event

Intel Oregon 2026 FIRST® LEGO® League Challenge Oregon State Championship Tournament

Held January 17, 2026, at Liberty High School in Hillsboro, Oregon

By Linda Barney, Barney and Associates

The Oregon Robotics Tournament and Outreach Program (ORTOP) is a premier organization that is part of a global robotics community. ORTOP deploys the FIRST LEGO League Challenge program and other FIRST® (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) programs to help students begin exploring science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). The Intel Oregon FIRST LEGO League Challenge Championship Tournament was held at Liberty High School in Hillsboro, Oregon on January 17, 2026.

Each FIRST LEGO team is composed of up to ten students in grades 4 through 8. This year 205 Oregon FLL teams participated, competing at 15 qualifying tournaments across Oregon. The top 60 teams were invited to the championship held on January 17, 2026. This year’s FIRST LEGO League theme is UNEARTHED. Starting in September, each team chose a particular issue relating to archeology, researched that issue and developed a presentation on how that issue should be addressed. They also designed, built, and programmed a unique robot that achieves missions on the UNEARTHED playing field. 

Teams that Competed and Winners of the Championship Tournament

A big congratulations to The Lego Krafters from Portland, who are winners of the championship tournament. They will be advancing to the global 2026 FIRST LEGO League World Festival to be held in Houston, Texas on April 29 to May 2, 2026.

Click here and click on the Radio button next to Registered Teams to see a list of all the great teams that competed in the tournament. Click here for a list of awards given at the closing ceremony of the tournament.

Criteria for FIRST LEGO League Competitions

The FIRST LEGO League program is about more than teaching students programming and robotics skills. Core values of the program teach the young student “coopertition” meaning that learning is more important than competition. FIRST LEGO team members are judged on the following during competitions: 


FIRST Core Values: Teams are encouraged to show good sportsmanship, teamwork, respect for others, and community involvement. 

Innovation: For the 2025-2026 competition, teams were required to research a real problem archeologists face and use design skills to propose that meets criteria of this theme. The team is judged on innovation of their solution and their presentation in describing their project.  

Robot Design and Robot Game: Teams must work together to design a LEGO robot with unique attachments and code to complete missions in the competition robot game. Teams race against the clock using the robot they designed to complete as many game missions as possible in each 2-1/2-minute game match.

Introducing ORTOP

“We believe that all students have the potential to be a scientist, technologist, engineer, leader, and innovator. ORTOP is committed to removing financial barriers for students and communities who have been historically excluded from STEM educational and career opportunities. We provide financial support to underserved and marginalized communities and collaborate with culturally-responsive community partners and volunteers,” states Bruce Schafer, Executive Director of ORTOP/FIRST Oregon. 


ORTOP is the delivery partner in Oregon for a variety of FIRST robotics programs. Click here to see information about ORTOP FIRST LEGO League, FIRST Tech Challenge, and FIRST Robotics Competition programs for students in grades 2 through grade 12.  


Support ORTOP through Donations or Volunteering

ORTOP collaborates with volunteers and works alongside coaches and mentors who assist the organization with events attended by hundreds of spectators. ORTOP needs a variety of volunteers to help with tournaments, see the Volunteer information page for information about ORTOP volunteer roles. To donate to ORTOP or suggest a person or organization who might be interested in becoming a donor or sponsor, see the Support page.

TechStart is Proud To Be Involved as ORTOP Volunteers

TechStart powers K-12 computer science education in Oregon. TechStart provides Teacher of the Year annual awards to K-12 computer science teachers who are awarded $1,000 to use for tech education materials to spend in their classrooms on hardware, software, services, or curriculum. TechStart provides Student of the Year awards to both a young man and young woman high school junior or senior. In addition to awards, TechStart members volunteer as trainers, judges, and assist in organizing ORTOP events as well as working with a variety of other K-12 computer science and technology organizations. According to Peter Steinfeld, TechStart Executive Director, “ORTOP's robotics programs reach more kids than any other tech education program in the state. They teach kids programming, mechanics, research, and teamwork. TechStart is a proud supporter of ORTOP.”

TechStart Provides 2026 Cash Awards for K-12 Technology Teachers and Students

Linda Barney, Barney and Associates

TechStart believes in the importance of K-12 tech education and provides cash awards to both K-12 technology teachers and students in Oregon and SW Washington including areas from Vancouver, Camas, and up to Longview Washington. 

K-12 Technology Teacher of the Year Cash Awards

Please help recognize great K-12 tech teachers who work in a private or public school in Oregon or SW Washington. TechStart annually awards three outstanding K-12 Oregon and SW Washington teachers with a cash award of $1,000 for their classroom to spend on tech education materials including hardware, software, services, or curriculum. If you know a tech educator who deserves recognition, please nominate them. TechStart will be honoring three tech teachers with Technology Teacher of the Year Awards (TOTY), to be presented at the 42nd Annual Technology Association of Oregon (TAO) Oregon Technology Awards:

  • K-8 Technology Teacher of the Year

  • High School Technology Teacher of the Year

  • Technology Teacher Rising Star – Any Grade Level (K-12)

Get involved today by nominating a tech teacher (including yourself) for this cash award. Click here to see criteria you should consider to nominate a great teacher. Once a teacher is nominated, they complete a more detailed Application Form. Click here to access the form to nominate a deserving teacher.

Computer Science Student of the Year Cash Awards: 

TechStart provides a computer science Student of the Year award to high school juniors and seniors. A $2,000 scholarship is awarded to a young man or young woman that can be applied to educational expenses and associated costs. We encourage teachers to nominate a student for this award. Click here to access the form to nominate a deserving student for the award. Once nominated, the student completes a more detailed application form.

TechStart 2026 Nomination and Award Schedule

January 14: Nominations are open for Teacher of the Year and Student of the Year nominations

March 14: Close nominations for students and teachers

April 1: Close application process for students 

April 8: Close application process for teachers to recommend students and for teachers to apply after being nominated

April 18: Select and notify winners and invite them to the TAO awards

May 5, 2026: Present awards at the TAO Tech Awards event

Support for Oregon Statewide Plan for Computer Science Education in 2026

Pete Steinfeld, Executive Director, TechStart

In December, 2023, at the instigation of Governor Kate Brown, Oregon adopted a Plan for Computer Science Education because Governor Brown thought that technology education was critical to Oregon's future.

Here we are, two years down the road, and we've made little measurable progress towards implementing the plan.  We've lost the one full-time computer science position at the Oregon Department of Education, and, in the recent legislative session, the Joint Ways and Means Committee declined to give any funding at all to the implementation of the plan.  At the same time, because of the declining student population, every school district is making budget cuts to protect themselves as best they can.

One result of the current reality is that, in the face of budget cuts, with no incentive to promote statewide computer science education, we’re actually laying off computer science teachers.

This situation has two effects:

  1. First, statewide initiatives will languish since individual school districts have little to no incentive to implement them.

  2. Second, students at schools that are smaller, rural, and have students with lower socio-economic status are missing out on the opportunities that are available to students at the large high schools near Oregon's high high-tech hubs.

If we really think that technology education is important to Oregon's future, we should make policy changes that will:

  • Fund training in computer science and artificial intelligence for existing teachers.

  • Incentivize school districts to reward and retain existing computer science teachers.

  • Incentivize school districts to take steps towards the goals of the Oregon Plan for Computer Science Education.

Pete Steinfeld
Executive Director
TechStart

State of AI and Computer Science Education in Oregon Moving into 2026

Peter Steinfeld, Executive Director, TechStart

Recently, Code.org released its report on the 2025 State of AI & Computer Science Education. This includes both a nationwide summary and a report specific to the state of computer science education in Oregon.  Both reports focus on high school education.  And, for the first time, the reports have data on education in artificial intelligence. Here are the highlights from Oregon's report.

Who's taking computer science

6.1% of Oregon's kids took a computer science course in high school.  According to a study at the University of Maryland, this means that these kids will earn an 8% income bonus on average, regardless of their eventual career path. 

This 6.1% number puts Oregon in 16th place from the top for all the states.  On the other hand, Oregon is in 17th place from the bottom in the number of high schools that offer any computer science courses.  These numbers reflect two realities.  

  • First, Oregon has a shortage of teachers who know how to teach computer science.  Our state has no budget for training teachers in computer science, and Oregon's university system that trains teachers has no special support for creating computer science teachers.

  • Second, Oregon has many small high schools that don't offer computer science courses.  Computer science is an elective, and there's no requirement for schools to offer it or for students to take it.  This means that students who live in rural areas don't have the opportunity to take computer science.

Of the students who do take a computer science course, only 21% of these students are young women.  Contrast this with South Carolina, the top state in this category, where 47% of the students taking a CS course are young women.  This implies that one way to increase our numbers is to simply encourage girls to take a computer science course. 

State policies

Code.org lists 10 policies that drive access and participation in computer science education.  Oregon ranks near the bottom of all 50 states in implementing these policies.  Oregon is hamstrung because we insist on local control of many of these policies.  For example, each school district specifies the graduation requirements for high schools in that district.

There's more bad news.  The Oregon Department of Education recently lost funding for the position of someone to lead computer science education in Oregon.  Also, in the latest legislative session, the Oregon Joint Ways and Means Committee declined to fund Senate Bill 541, which would have provided partial funding for Oregon's Plan for Computer Science Education.  Also, Oregon has no standards for computer science education, no funding, no teacher certification, no high school graduation requirement, no requirement for high schools to offer computer science courses, and no requirement for admission to state universities.


On the bright side, Oregon does have a plan for computer science education, and the Oregon Department of Education is actively working on creating optional standards for computer science education, and these standards include provisions for artificial intelligence.

Call to action

The best thing we can do is to create more computer science teachers and support the ones that we have.  To support computer science teachers, please donate to TechStart.  TechStart recognizes and rewards our best computer science teachers and students.  TechStart also provides funding for the Oregon Computer Science Teachers Association to conduct teacher training three times a year.

We can also support the programs that offer after school programs that excel in providing technical education.  Both my wife and I volunteer for the Oregon Game Project Challenge (OGPC) and the Oregon Robotics Tournament and Outreach Program (ORTOP).  Another great organization is Saturday Academy.

Please consider volunteering for or contributing to OGPC and ORTOP.  Both of these programs offer team and project-based opportunities for students to learn how to work in technology.  ORTOP's state tournament is coming up on Saturday, January 17th, 2026, and they'll need many volunteers.  OGPC's main event will be on May 9th, 2026, and they'll also need volunteers.

Support K-12 Computer Science Education in Oregon with a TechStart Donation

By Linda Barney, Barney and Associates


Businesses increasingly require workers with technology, computer science, artificial intelligence (AI) and math skills to meet future workplace needs. Unfortunately, Oregon schools and educators face funding problems which make it difficult to provide computer science and AI education for Oregon’s K-12 students.


TechStart Powers Computer Science Education in Oregon

TechStart is a non-profit organization in Oregon that supports K-12 computer science education. According to TechStart Chair of the Board John Tortorici, “TechStart’s bold goal is to see that every Oregon K-12 student has access to high-quality computer science education.” TechStart reaches this goal through:

TechStart K-12 Computer Science Technology Student and Teacher of the Year Award 

TechStart provides annual awards to K-12 computer science teachers and a computer science student of the year award to a high school boy and girl.

  • Teacher of the Year Awards: TechStart annually awards three outstanding K-12 Oregon and SW Washington teachers with a cash award of $1,000 for their classroom to spend on tech education materials including hardware, software, services, or curriculum. 

  • Student of the Year Awards: TechStart recognizes a Student of the Year among high school juniors and seniors. A $2,000 scholarship is awarded to a boy and girl winner that can be applied to educational expenses and associated costs.

Help Support Computer Science K-12 Education with a TechStart Donation

Peter Steinfeld, TechStart Executive Director states, “TechStart funds critically needed computer science education programs in Oregon, such as the Technology Teacher and Student of the Year Awards. Please help TechStart lay the foundation of Oregon’s future through a tax-deductible donation. You can make an electronic donation by completing a TechStart Donation form or, if a check is preferred, they can be mailed to:
TechStart
13500 SW Pacific Highway, Suite 121
Tigard, Oregon 97223. 

Oregon Computer Science Education Week 2025

Randy McDonald and Linda Barney


Computer Science Education Week (CSEdWeek) is an annual call to action to inspire K12 students to learn computer science, advocate for equity, and celebrate the contributions of students, teachers, and partners to the field of computer science. This year, along with many other states, Oregon Governor Kotek officially issued a proclamation recognizing December 8 - 14 as Computer Science Education Week. The Oregon proclamation formally endorses plans by the Oregon Computer Science Teachers Association (OCSTA), TechStart, and the Technology Association of Oregon (TAO) to use this proclamation to promote events such as the Code.org Hour of AI across the state. TechStart Executive Director Peter Steinfeld states, “Computer science pervades our everyday life—from cell phones to shopping to how we learn. Our children need to become adept at technology to succeed. Please join us in celebrating Computer Science Education Week for Oregon.”


History of CSEdWeek

Based on an OCSTA article written by Randy McDonald, “The first CSEdWeek was launched by the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) on December 6–12, 2009. It was a joint effort led and funded by ACM with the cooperation and deep involvement of CSTA, NCWIT, the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Anita Borg Institute (ABI), the Computing Research Association (CRA), Google, Intel, and Microsoft.

In July of 2013, the Computing in the Core coalition members agreed to allow Code.org to organize that year’s CSEdWeek around a new idea and theme, the “Hour of Code.” Since 2020, CSTA has been coordinating CSEdWeek, and Code.org continues to organize the Hour of Code.


How to Participate in CSEdWeek

We encourage you to check out the national CSEdWeek site for more information, including their hosted events, beginning with the CSEdWeek Official Kickoff Event on December 8.