ECS4Alabama
Join the National Movement to Bring Exploring Computer Science to your school!
An opportunity for high school students to learn authentic computer science!
This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation Grant No 1639971.
Teacher Leaders
Two teachers prepared by the ECS4Alabama program have emerged as ECS Master Teachers. In this leadership role, Master Teachers:
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Lead virtual professional development communities
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provide resources to peer teachers to teach ECS
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Assists in recruiting and advertising of the project
Ms. Pam McClendon
RC3
Hoover City
Mrs. Donnita Tucker
Francis Marion School
Perry County
Mrs. Pam McClendon is currently a teacher leader for Exploring Computer Science (ECS) with the University of Tuskegee. Pam has been teaching for 17 years with the Jefferson County School System in Birmingham, Al. She received her Bachelor of Business Administration Degree at Faulkner University and her Master of Education at Auburn University at Montgomery. She also received her National Board Certification in Career Tech in 2010. Pam is a Career Tech Teacher and has taught a variety of business courses over the span of her career. In the last five years Pam has worked hard to earn the skills necessary to teach Computer Science courses as she strongly believes that every student in Alabama should have the opportunity to learn CS. She currently teaches Exploring Computer Science, IT Fundamentals, Intro to Computer Science through a Teals Partnership and AP Computer Science Principles. Pam is married with two sons and enjoys reading, writing and gardening in her spare time. She is a passionate teacher at a Title I school with many challenges but she loves her students and is dedicated to impacting student learning in a positive way. Her goal is to continue to grow as a CS teacher and step out of her comfort zone and offer courses that will allow her students to take advantage of the many opportunities Computer Science offers.
Mrs. Donnita Tucker is the Business and Information Technology Teacher for the Commerce and Information Technology Department at Francis Marion School. She is a graduate of Alabama A&M University where she received her Bachelor's of Science Degree in Business Education and currently holds a Master’s Degree and “AA” Certification in Business Education. She has 26 years of teaching experience in Career and Technical Education and she has served on the Alabama Future Business Leaders of America Administrative Board. As a member of the Governor's Computer Science Advisory Council, Mrs. Tucker believes that every student in Alabama should have the opportunity to experience and learn Computer Science. Mrs. Tucker currently teaches Career Preparedness, Advanced Business Technology Applications, Multimedia Design, Exploring Computer Science (ECS) and AP Computer Science Principles (AP CSP). Mrs. Tucker is happily married with two daughters and a son and three grandsons. She loves spending time with her family and teaching is her passion. Her desire is to continue to grow in Computer Science and share that knowledge with her students.
Building Capacity for Teacher Training
ECS4Alabama is increasing capacity to provide ECS training from within the ECS4Alabama teacher community. To-date, two Alabama teachers from the ECS4Alabama project have emerged as a trained facilitator (Ms. Tangela Crocker and Mr. Darryl Callen). Three other Alabama teachers are gaining readiness and need another year to be fully certified. In the context of inclusion and diversity in CS, the two trained facilitators and two of the three facilitators in preparation are African American educators.
Ms. Tangela Crocker
Russel County High School
Russel County
Committed to educating future generations, Mrs. Tangela Crocker is a twenty-two-year veteran with secondary and post-secondary experience. An experience that has allowed her to serve in many capacities. She currently teaches Exploring Computer Science, Python Programming, and AP Computer Science Principles at Russell County High School, Seale AL.
Tangela holds an Educational Specialist Degree from Columbus State University, an MBA/CIS Degree from the University of North Alabama, and a Bachelor’s in CIS from Troy University. In addition to teaching, she serves as Facilitator/Teacher Leader for A+ College Ready, ECS4Alabama, and PACS.
Tangela and husband Victor are parents to daughters Kameeria, Keira, and fur baby Pixie. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with reading, gardening, and DIYs in her spare time.
Mr. Darryl Callens
Huffman High School
Birmingham City
Darryl Callens is a computer science teacher within the Birmingham city schools district. In 2018, Darryl was invited to participate in ECS4Alabama (Cohort II). ECS provides year-long professional development (both virtual and face-to-face). Over the last year, Darryl has moved from being an observer in training, to a full-time teacher facilitator for this wonderful project that prepares teachers to teach this awesome computer science curriculum to our students within the state of Alabama. Darryl's favorite aspect of ECS4Alabama is the hands on and fun curriculum that each student that experiences the course enjoys. Whether students have advance technology skills or not, Exploring Computer Science offers an equitable environment for each student.
Mrs. Tiffphanie Hall
Jacksonville High School
Jacksonville City
Mrs. Tiffphanie Hall is a ten year veteran of secondary science education. With a degree in General Science Education Mrs. Hall has been afforded the opportunity to teach 7 science content areas with the addition of Exploring Computer Science a few years ago.
Tiffphanie also holds a Masters of Education in Instructional Leadership from Jacksonville State University. She is thrilled to be able to use her leadership skills coupled with her experience in science and computer science to facilitate empowering teachers with the Exploring Computer Science curriculum.
Katherine Nance
St. Clair County Virtual Preparatory Academy
St. Clair County
Katherine has been teaching for almost a decade and is entering her fourth year as a dedicated computer science teacher. She taught natural science courses at the beginning of her teaching career and was asked to fill the position of computer science teacher and robotics coach at her school. Although she wasn’t keen on the idea of making such a significant content shift, she accepted and survived until she thrived. She now facilitates Exploring Computer Science professional developments and hopes to help new computer science teachers thrive as well. Katherine says she's proud to be associated with the ECS program because of its dedication to cultural awareness and inclusivity in STEM. She currently teaches computer science and digital literacy courses at the St. Clair County Virtual Preparatory Academy.