President

Michelle Coots

Michelle is dedicated to preparing students to thrive in the digital age. Her work includes over a decade of experience in Deer Valley USD, where she has taught, led instructional technology, and developed curriculum. Committed to equitable access in CS education, she has planned and implemented initiatives promoting early exposure to computer science, from Pre-K through high school. Michelle actively participated in shaping Arizona's K-12 CS and Educational Technology standards and contributed to the development of guidance for Arizona school systems on the effective use of AI in education. With a passion for high-quality professional development, Michelle has planned and collaborated on successful events like the annual Deer Valley Tech Fest and Arizona’s CS Professional Development Week. Michelle seeks to strengthen the CS education community in Arizona, connect educators with high-quality professional learning, and broaden student access to computing skills for both today and their futures.

Vice President

Diana Guzman

Diana Lee Guzman is a dedicated leader in equitable computer science (CS) education, leveraging her background as a software engineer and nonprofit founder to expand access to high-quality CS learning opportunities. As the CEO of Coding in Color, she has developed and led initiatives that bring CS education to underserved communities, equipping students with the skills needed to thrive in the digital economy.

As a CSTA-Arizona Board Member, Diana is committed to strengthening the CS educator community by recruiting and engaging more teachers while fostering collaboration between public, private, and educational sectors to drive impactful CS education policies. Her background in the tech industry allows her to bridge the gap between industry and education, creating meaningful learning experiences for students.

Having attended a Title I school herself, Diana understands the systemic barriers many students face. This firsthand experience drives her commitment to designing inclusive programs that empower all Arizona students—regardless of zip code—to explore, pursue, and succeed in computer science.

Treasurer

Daniel Schneider

A long-time advocate for computer science education, with nearly a decade of experience as a CSTA-Arizona board member and extensive leadership in organizing events, building partnerships, and supporting CS educators. Committed to empowering new-to-CS teachers and helping grow district programs, they aim to strengthen CSTA-Arizona’s ability to offer resources, apply for grants, and collaborate with like-minded organizations.

A curriculum developer with Code.org and a past member of the CSTA Conference committee, they bring deep expertise in CS education and professional learning. With a strong focus on equity, they’ve served as a CSTA Equity Fellowship reviewer and led award-winning programs, receiving recognition from NCWIT and the College Board for promoting diversity in computer science. Passionate about fostering inclusive CS environments, they believe in proactive efforts to address systemic inequities and ensure that all students have the opportunity to succeed in computing.

Secretary

Jessie McKinley

A dedicated advocate for computer science education, currently serving as the K-8 Director for CSTA-Arizona since 2021. They are passionate about increasing the organization’s visibility and outreach to educators across Arizona, from urban centers to rural communities. With a focus on strengthening professional connections with the tech industry, they aim to build a more connected and visible CS educator community.

As a leader, they have facilitated CSEd Week professional development, addressing participant and facilitator needs, and have presented at various conferences, including AzTEA and SEATA. An experienced ScratchED meetup facilitator, they bring a deep commitment to equitable participation in CS education. By collaborating with other STEM organizations, they hope to expand outreach and create opportunities that support and empower Arizona’s diverse educator community.

K-8 Director

Tara Menghini

An innovative K-6 computer science educator passionate about providing all students with equitable access to high-quality CS education. As a classroom teacher, they bring a valuable, real-time perspective on the needs of both students and educators. Their goal as a CSTA-Arizona board member is to amplify the teacher voice and advocate for students, ensuring practical, teacher-informed decisions.

A campus leader and active contributor to district initiatives, they teach professional development on AI literacy and adoption, serve on the Chandler Unified School District AI steering committee, and contributed to the Arizona AI in Education Guidance document. With experience presenting at conferences like ISTE Live 2024 and AZTea, they are committed to empowering educators through hands-on projects in design thinking, makerspaces, and physical computing. Their passion for standardizing and expanding CS education across schools drives their desire to create a more consistent and comprehensive pathway for students, particularly at the middle and high school levels.

Northern Arizona Director

Bhawna Verma

Bhawna is a high school computer science teacher at Paradise Valley High School and winner of the Arizona NCWIT Aspirations in Computing Educator Award. She previously served as the Central Arizona Co-director and has helped coordinate NCWIT Aspirations in Computing opportunities in Arizona.

Maricopa County Co-Director

Jaime Hansen

A passionate STEM and Computer Science educator dedicated to promoting equitable access to CS education across all grade levels. Currently serving as a STEM Specialist at a Cognia Designated STEM Academy in the north Phoenix valley, they focus on creating engaging learning opportunities for students and providing professional development for educators. As a CSTA-Arizona board member, they aim to expand training and collaborative opportunities, particularly in north Phoenix and surrounding areas, while strengthening foundational K-8 computer science education to better prepare students for high school standards.

With extensive leadership experience, they organize STEM Career Day and STEM Night events, lead professional learning communities, and represent their school at district-level functions. An award-winning educator, recognized as the 2024 ASTA Middle School Science Teacher of the Year, they have also presented at AAGT and led district trainings in AI, robotics, and STEM education. They actively support equitable participation through after-school programs such as FLL Robotics, Girls Who Code, Chief Science Officers, and a new Esports Club, encouraging diverse student involvement and fostering a lifelong interest in STEM and computer science.

Maricopa County Co-Director

Vacant

Vacant

Southern Arizona Director

Abraham Delos Reyes

A dedicated computer science educator with over 20 years of global teaching experience, recognized for advancing CS education, mentoring students, and leading curriculum initiatives. Passionate about supporting educators and fostering collaboration, they aim to strengthen Arizona’s CS community by promoting professional development and creating new opportunities for both teachers and students.

His leadership encompasses certifying Sonoran Science Academy - East, Tucson as a CS100 School, mentoring students in national competitions, and shaping curriculum development. As a recipient of the 2024 Computer Science Teaching Excellence Award, he is dedicated to creating inclusive learning environments that ensure equitable access to computing education and foster diverse participation in STEM fields.

Chapter Mentor

Janice Mak, Ph.D

Janice researches the intersection of computer science education, policy, and systems change. She has experience as a researcher, CS teacher, assistant principal, and curriculum specialist. She is the recipient of an NSF DRK12 and NSF CAREER both researching CS education, Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching, the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) Making IT Happen award, ISTE Award for Advocacy, and National Center for Women and Information Technology (NCWIT) Educator award, all of which continue were the result of her passion to create and sustain inclusive and equitable CS and STEM learning opportunities for every student. To this end, she has been honored to serve on several boards, including the Arizona State Board of Education, Computer Science Teachers Association, NCWIT K-12 Alliance leadership team, AZK12 Center, and the National Science Teaching Association Technology Advisory Board. She was appointed as chair of Arizona Department of Education's technology task force and worked with stakeholders to create solutions to address the digital equity and opportunity gap. She is currently co-chair of the Association for Computing Machinery’s Education Advisory Committee’s taskforce on ethical and social impacts of GenAI, a CSTA policy fellow, EDSAFE AI Alliance Catalyst Fellow, and ISTE EPP-AI fellow. She is an invited advisor on state and national committees to reimagine computer science, data science, and mathematics education. Her current research interests include computational thinking in elementary science classes with culturally relevant pedagogy, interdisciplinary data science integration in preservice teacher education, and CS education policy.