HowGirlsCode Partnership Promotes Computer Science Education for Females

November 30th, 2017

HowGirlsCode is partnering with the Howard County Public School System to promote female participation in computer science education. The partnership agreement will be formalized with an official partnership signing on Friday, December 1, at Bryant Woods Elementary School in Columbia.

Group photo of all event participants.

Under the terms of the agreement, HowGirlsCode will host annual school-based after-school programs at select Title I elementary schools. HowGirlsCode will provide instructors for computer programming classes, conduct training for instructors, and offer professional learning for HCPSS staff to share specific computer science and programming strategies and techniques.

HCPSS staff members will collaborate with HowGirlsCode to develop strategies to increase female participation in Howard County high school computer science classes and share information about HowGirlsCode opportunities with staff members.

Female students in computer lab working on coding exercises.

HCPSS Chief School Management and Instructional Leadership Officer Frank Eastham, Chief Communication, Community and Workforce Engagement Officer Jahantab Siddiqui, Area 3 Community Superintendent Patrick Saunderson, Career and Technology Education Coordinator Sharon Kramer, and Instructional Technology Coordinator Julie Alonso Hughes will join HowGirlsCode President Lisa Schlossnagle to sign the formal partnership agreement at the December 1 event.

HowGirlsCode provides computer science and engineering education designed to inspire young girls in computer and engineering sciences. Elementary schools girls are introduced to computer science through after-school programs that educate and inspire them to pursue computer science-related activities, courses, and careers and shows girls that computer science is cool.

Partnership signing group holding plaque.

The Howard County Public School System’s Partnerships Office has united schools with more than 1,000 businesses and community organizations to enhance the educational experience of Howard County students. Partnerships benefit schools, businesses and the entire community by leveraging the resources of all participants. Partners may commit human or financial resources or other support.

For more information, contact Partnerships Office Manager Mary Schiller at 410-313-6655 or mary_schiller@hcpss.org.