The University of Arkansas at Little Rock will help prepare high school educators to teach computer science, thanks to a recent state grant.

With the $35,335 grant from the Arkansas Department of Education, UALR will launch an eight-week program this summer that will provide specialized professional development opportunities for teachers.

Led by UALR Computer Science Professor and Department Chair Dr. Kenji Yoshigoe, the new program will focus on computer science content delivery for high school educators.

Teachers from throughout the state will attend the program, which will take place at the Donaghey College of Engineering and Information Technology building.

The grant enables Yoshigoe and his team to host the training at no cost to attendees.

UALR’s Dr. Chia-Chu Chiang, graduate assistant Suzan Anwar, and UALRTeach Master Teacher Sandra Leiterman are partnering with Yoshigoe to facilitate the program.

Using activity-based lessons, the team will prepare teachers to earn their computer science teaching certification, a mandatory state requirement for individuals hoping to teach high school-level computer science content.

The sessions will provide a place where otherwise unconnected computer science educators can be in a community together, learning from, sharing with, and supporting each other.

As an added incentive, the teachers who attain the Arkansas Department of Education Computer Science Endorsement (or ADE provisional license in computer science) and who support the instruction of one or more of the approved ACT 187 courses for the 2016-2017 school year will receive a stipend.

Pictured at top right: Dr. Kenji Yoshigoe