Meet the Team
Our team is composed of passionate, experienced educators who believe in the importance of providing K-12 Computer Science (CS) education opportunities for everyone.
Core Members
Maya Israel, Ph.D.
Director
Maya Israel, Ph.D. is an associate professor of Educational Technology and Computer Science Education at the University of Florida. She is the Director of the CS Everyone Center for Computer Science Education as well as the Creative Technology Research Lab.
Don Miller
Director of Computer Science Outreach and Implementation
Don is an artist and educator who has promoted K-12 CS education nationwide for over a decade. He served as Senior Director of CS Academics for the NYC DOE and worked at Code.org managing 15 CS PD partners across eight states. Don is an alumni of NYU’s ITP program, dubbed the Center for the Recently Possible.
Leela Kumaran, Ph.D.
Program Coordinator
Leela Kumaran has 17 years of experience coordinating grants funded by federal, state, & private dollars. She currently serves as a senior Research Coordinator with the Office of Educational Research, College of Education. Leela oversees & facilitates all the logistical aspects involved in the work of the Center.
Joanne Barrett, Ed.D.
Teacher Development Specialist
Dr. Barrett spent 25 years as a middle and high school computer science educator. She loves to share her love of CS through professional development for pre-service and experienced educators.
Meize Guo, Ph.D.
Research Scientist
Meize Guo is a research assistant scientist focused on broadening participation in CS integration, CS education and STEM education at the K-12 level.
Nikki Hutchins, Ph.D.
Research Scientist
Dr. Hutchins is a former high school teacher turned computer science researcher specializing in methods for integrating educator insights into and professional development on educational technology, particularly in AI, to enhance its effectiveness for and support of our K-12 classroom teachers.
Nykema Lindsey
Innovative CS Education Teaching and Learning Specialist
Nykema Lindsey is a STEM education training and content specialist, with an emphasis in computer science education. Her interests lie in the use of affordable accessible edtech devices and tools to enrich learning environments.
Carla Strickland
Mentoring Program Coordinator
Carla Strickland specializes in digitally enhanced STEM curriculum, teaching, and learning. She works with elementary teachers and administrators to integrate CS into their existing STEM instruction, with a particular focus on culturally responsive pedagogy and curriculum.
Jule Martínez Ruiz
Graphic Designer
Jule Martínez Ruiz is a visual artist with a passion for blending visual storytelling with accessible learning. Their work with the CS Everyone Center aims to create art that appeals to the center’s many audiences.
Albert Ritzhaupt, Ph.D.
Director of Certification Exam Team
Dr. Ritzhaupt is a Professor of Educational Technology and Computer Science Education. He led the creation of the online assessment practice platform for the FTCE Computer Science K-12 certification examination for CS Everyone, which includes three practice assessments for aspiring CS teachers in Florida.
Michael McKelvey
Web Developer & Accessibility Specialist
Michael is a web developer focusing on IT accessibility for the CS Everyone Center. He works with other staff to develop accessible materials so that the project’s content and deliverables will be usable by all participants.
Postdoctoral Scholars and Graduate Students
Michael J. Johnson, Ph.D.
Post-Doctoral Associate
Michael Johnson is a post-doctoral research associate at the CS Everyone Center. His interests lie in creating teacher supports that combine CS education with the arts, maker technologies, and robotics.
Lauren Weisberg, Ph.D.
Post-Doctoral Associate
Lauren is a post-doctoral associate and former STEM teacher whose research focuses on preparing and empowering K-12 teachers to design equitable and inclusive digital learning experiences for all students.
Andrew Bennett
Doctoral Candidate
Andrew Bennett is a Research Assistant for the Creative Technology Research Lab and a doctoral candidate at the University of Florida. His research interests are related to accessibility, teacher and preservice teacher professional development related to UDL, and integrating UDL into computer science curriculum.
LaToya Chandler
Doctoral Candidate
Latoya Chandler is a doctoral candidate at the University of Florida. Her research is focused on computational problem solving in K-12 STEM Education.
Visiting Scholars
Yong Ju Jeon, Ph.D.
Visiting Scholar
Yong Ju Jeon is a visiting scholar at the CS Everyone Center. He is a professor in the Department of Computer Education at the Andong National University in South Korea. His interests include teaching and learning methods, evaluation methods, and curriculum design in K-12 computer science education.
Special Thanks To
- Richard Bex, Ph.D. – Post-Doctoral Research Associate
- Johnny Delgado – Microcredential Developer
- Tammy Huang, Ph.D. – Post-Doctoral Research Associate
- Shaun Hurley, Ed.D. – CS Assessment Coordinator
- Nimala Arunachalam – CS Assessment Content Creator
- Annmargareth Marousky – CS Assessment Content Creator
- Vijayshree Sundar – CS Assessment Content Creator
- Matthew Feiler – CS Assessment Content Creator
