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CSPDWeek 2026
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Wednesday, August 5
 

7:30am EDT

Morning Java & Help Desk
Wednesday August 5, 2026 7:30am - 9:00am EDT
Start your day with a cup of coffee (or favorite morning beverage) and an opportunity to connect, learn, and get support. Join our Morning Java & Help Desk Virtual Zoom Session for an informal discussion, questions and answers, troubleshooting assistance, and helpful tips. Whether you need technical support, guidance on tools and processes, or simply want to connect with others, this session provides a friendly and collaborative space to get the help you need. Pop in anytime!

Agenda Highlights:
  • Coffee and networking
  • Help desk support and troubleshooting
  • Questions and answers
  • Best practices and helpful tips
  • Open discussion and resource sharing
Bring your questions and enjoy a productive start to your morning! ☕💻📞

Speakers
avatar for Kara Keefe

Kara Keefe

Technology Teacher (K-5), Willingboro Public Schools
Kara Keefe is a Technology Teacher in Willingboro NJ. She currently teaches technology to grades K to 4th grade in one of the elementary schools. Kara has been teaching Technology for the last for the past 12 years to as low as Kindergarten to as high as 5th grade.
avatar for Alicia Somers

Alicia Somers

Teacher/Special Education Teacher
My name is Alicia Somers. I am an educator with 29 years of experience teaching both special education and general education students, ranging from preschool through second grade. I hold a P-3 license, K-5 license and Teacher of the Handicapped N-12. I have a Master's in Education... Read More →
avatar for Jessica LaRosa

Jessica LaRosa

Teacher of Technology & Innovation, Trenton Public Schools
Jessica LaRosa is a Technology & Innovation teacher at Grace A. Dunn Middle School in Trenton, New Jersey. She has over 13 years of experience in computer and technology education, 7 years of experience as a business teacher, and 3 years of experience as a curriculum writer. She creates... Read More →
avatar for Lori Steinhauser

Lori Steinhauser

Vice Principal, Technology Integrator, Gifted and Talented Coordinator, Christ the Teacher Academy
avatar for Sharon Phillips

Sharon Phillips

CS Teacher, Somerset County Vo Tech High School
Sharon Phillips is a computer science educator, technology coordinator and mentor with teaching experience across charter, private, and public school settings serving PreK–12 students.
avatar for Paige Besthoff

Paige Besthoff

CSPDWeek Project Manager, CSTANJ Vice President, Professional Learning Resource Designer, Teach Me For Tomorrow
Paige taught K-12 computers for over 25 years and designed her district’s K-5 CS curriculum based on the CSTA and NJ standards. She is the founder of Teach Me For Tomorrow, where she designs lessons and supplemental resources for popular programming platforms and facilitates computer... Read More →
Wednesday August 5, 2026 7:30am - 9:00am EDT
Virtual

8:15am EDT

Navigating the Future of Computer Science Education: Collaboration, Innovation, and Growth
Wednesday August 5, 2026 8:15am - 9:45am EDT
Join fellow high school computer science educators for an engaging discussion on the evolving landscape of K–12 computer science education. This collaborative meetup provides an opportunity to share ideas, challenges, and best practices while exploring key topics that impact our programs and students.

Discussion topics will include:
  • Incorporating AI into teaching and learning
  • Student recruiting strategies and program visibility
  • Building administrative support for CS programs
  • Enrollment trends and opportunities for growth
  • The new AP Cybersecurity course
  • Upcoming changes to AP Computer Science Principles (AP CSP)
  • The future of computer science education
  • Resources and support throughout the school year
This is a discussion-based session, not a presentation. Bring your ideas, experiences, successes, and challenges, and be prepared to share with the group. The goal is to learn from one another, exchange practical strategies, and strengthen our network of CS educators as we work together to grow and support computer science programs in our schools.

Speakers
avatar for Darci Santella

Darci Santella

Teacher/Advisor/Coach, Sayreville War Memorial High School

Wednesday August 5, 2026 8:15am - 9:45am EDT
Virtual

12:00pm EDT

How to organize, implement and improve a Hackathon in your school
Wednesday August 5, 2026 12:00pm - 1:00pm EDT
Hackathons are an educational tool, because not only does a problem get identified but the solution to the problem is often one that requires vast research. When the solution is implemented using student interest, it can provide the community with awareness to the problem posed and the solution created.

Running a Hackathon may sound overwhelming, especially if one has not been run in your school before. This workshop will provide you with details and guidelines necessary to run a hackathon in your school. Hackathons are an educational tool, if implemented using student interest and community problems can be very effective in educations attendees on solving problems using computer science. Hackathons should be passion driven, propose a solution to a problem in the community and educate the community members on the problem and proposed solution. From this workshop, you will gain knowledge on how to create, implement and improve a hackathon in your school.
Speakers
avatar for Yasemin Kinak

Yasemin Kinak

CS Teacher, Carteret High School
Yasemin Kinak is a 9-12 Math and Computer Science teacher at Carteret High School. She has an undergraduate degree in Computer Science and a Masters Degree in Mathematics with a concentration in secondary education. She has been teaching for over 20 years and has created and developed... Read More →
NT

Nafisa Tabassum

Nafisa Tabassum is a student passionate about Data Science and Technology. In high school, she was involved in extracurricular activities related to such fields, which included serving as the president of Carteret High School’s 25-26 Computer Science Honor Society President. As... Read More →
Wednesday August 5, 2026 12:00pm - 1:00pm EDT
Virtual

1:00pm EDT

Lunch and Watch Party
Attend the in-person sessions at TCNJ and network with other attendees after your in-person session. Enjoy lunch, attend virtual sessions, or network with others.
Speakers
avatar for Paige Besthoff

Paige Besthoff

CSPDWeek Project Manager, CSTANJ Vice President, Professional Learning Resource Designer, Teach Me For Tomorrow
Paige taught K-12 computers for over 25 years and designed her district’s K-5 CS curriculum based on the CSTA and NJ standards. She is the founder of Teach Me For Tomorrow, where she designs lessons and supplemental resources for popular programming platforms and facilitates computer... Read More →
Wednesday August 5, 2026 1:00pm - 4:00pm EDT
Social Sciences Building Atrium
 


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