“2nd Chance of Opportunity”

An educator for more than 25 years, I currently lead a team that provides academic and organizational supports to NYC’s alternative schools and programs. Prior to this role, I did similar work in Manhattan, as well as a citywide network of schools. My first love will always be School of the Future where I taught math and science, then served as middle school director.

Janthony Roman is a film writer/director. His work was featured in the Nosotros Ya Tu Sabes monologue slam, produced by NBC. His last film, Scarfaced made it into the HBO NYC Latino Film Festival. His latest film Burn, Baby, Burn is currently playing in festivals. He is in pre-production for his next set of shorts scheduled to film in 2022. He currently works for Martin Scorsese's Sikelia Productions as the production assistant to the post team, and personal assistant to Thelma Schoonmaker.

I loved technology when I was a little kid! I would go to yard sales and buy remote controls just to open them up and investigate the chip inside. As I went through school, though, my chances to study technology and computer science was limited. I do not remember a single thing that I learned between grades K and 12. This affected me in college.

I chose to study biology and pre-med since I had experience with them, knew that I enjoyed them, and knew that I could do well in them. I was intrigued by CS, but I didn't want to take a class, risking thousands of dollars in tuition on a subject that I didn't know if I would be good at or enjoy. I distinctly remember seeing the CS majors' projects, programming robots to play music and dance around the floor, and wishing that I could do that...yet I never did.

Fast forward a few years, and I am a high school science teacher. A friend tells me about an opportunity to be trained in something called Exploring Computer Science, an introductory high school curriculum for students with little-to-no background in CS. This is perfect! I can provide my students with the opportunities that I wish I had in school. I ended up creating a pathway for students to take ECS, AP CSP, and AP CSA, but I knew that I had done all I could at that school.

I left to become a professional developer. I now spend my time designing and implementing trainings for K-12 teachers who want to start teaching CS, either as a standalone class or integrated into another subject area. And I still occasionally run coding events for kids at my local library.