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n a traditionally male-dominated industry most
notably run by men like Bill Gates (Microsoft), the
late Steve Jobs (Apple), and Larry Page and Sergey
Brin (Google), computer programming is now
broadening in a way that includes more women on
the path to success. And, to find the next generation
of female computer scientists, there is no need to look
any further than Chartiers Valley High School.
Maria Krzeczowski, the AP Computer Science
teacher at CVHS, has been instrumental in building a
computer science program that not only caters to students
interested in that field of study but also excels in helping
females understand that they can succeed in equity with their
male counterparts.
Since joining CVHS in 2003, Krzeczowski has taught
various computer science classes, including AP Coding in
JavaScript, a language that allows programmers to implement
complex features on web pages—everything from timely
content updates to interactive maps, animated graphics,
scrolling video, and more. If a web page features more than
static information, JavaScript is probably involved.
These types of classes and Krzeczowski’s passion for
seeing her students learn and grow helped CVHS win the AP
Computer Science Female Diversity Award. Schools receiving
this award have achieved either a 50 percent or higher female
representation in one or both AP computer science courses, or a
percentage of female computer science examinees that meets or
exceeds that of the school’s female population.
Out of the 20,000 institutions that offer AP courses, 818
achieved this important result during the 2018-19 school year;
however, only 143 of these high schools earned the diversity
award in AP Computer Science and CVHS is one of them, along
with only one other school in Pennsylvania.
“I am proud to be part of a district that is leading the way in
STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics)
education while closing the gender equity gap in computer
science,” says Krzeczowski. “This is an important and growing
field, and having so many females be a part of this is wonderful!”
Krzeczowski was a math and computer science major
in college. She enjoyed the problem-solving aspect of
programming, which is why she chose it as a major.
“My high school didn’t offer any computer classes back then,
so my first exposure was in college when I took it as an elective,”
she recalls. “I was hired after college as a systems analyst and
decided to become a teacher after five years in the field. I love
working with and encouraging students to pursue a career in
computer science.”
As for the Chartiers Valley School District, Assistant
Superintendent of Curriculum and Assessment Misty L.
Slavic, Ed.D., says it is committed to providing all students an
education that is built upon the expectations of the Pennsylvania
Department of Education, as well as the needs expressed by the
community and society in which the students live.
“With a society that has evolved into a technology-dependent
workforce, the district has identified an increased need for
computer science and STEM curriculum,” she adds. During
the 2019-2020 school year, the district was able to jump-start
“This is an important
and growing field,
and having so many
females be a part of
this is wonderful!”
its computer science (CS) and STEM focus by utilizing the
resources provided through the PAsmart grant. This grant
provided funding to purchase technology and professional
development. The district created a CS Committee, made
up of teachers and administrators from each building, that is
entirely focused on a vision that all students will have access to
computer science and STEM learning opportunities.
“One of the committee goals is to ensure that the student
populations who are often underrepresented in CS and STEM,
girls and the ELL population, are provided with additional
access,” explains Slavic. “Through the hard work of the CS
Committee, students are being provided with weekly CS and
STEM activities that introduce the concepts of programming
while reinforcing teamwork, problem solving, and critical
thinking. All students, regardless of gender or ethnicity, are
actively participating in a scope and sequence of CS and STEM
skills that extends from kindergarten to high school. As the CS
Committee continues to implement its goal of CS for all, the
curriculum and activities provided to students will continue to
expand.”
Last year, Krzeczowski held an after-school coding group
for middle school students. Any students in grades 6 through
8 were welcome to participate. She was also accepted to
participate in the “Girls Who Code” organization, which
she is hoping to start in March. “I want it to be more
commonplace for females to pursue careers in computer
science,” she says. “The industry needs more diversity and I
hope I am a part of paving the way for young women to be
comfortable pursuing a career in coding.”
Computer science research jobs are projected to grow 16
percent by 2028, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The median pay is more than $100,000 and thousands of jobs
are added every year.
To learn more about CVHS and its achievements in
computer science, visit CVSD.net. n
CHARTIERS VALLEY ❘
SPRING 2020
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