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:

Teacher training programs by funding the Oregon Computer Science Teachers Association (OCSTA), an organization of K-12 computer science teachers
Extracurricular student programs in software development, game design with the Oregon Game Project Challenge, and robotics for middle and high school students with the Oregon Robotics Tournament and Outreach Program (ORTOP)
George Fox University High School Programming Contest that requires teams to solve challenging programming problems on tight time frames
Tech career exploration
In-class and after-school learning

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.