The Greater Houston Chapter of the Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA) is on a mission to elevate and empower K-12 educators and advocates, striving to bring the vision of Computer Science for All to life.
LaTanya Brooks, an esteemed educator at Jersey Village High School in Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District, is one of those inspiring teachers shaping the future of CS education. Before teaching in Cy-Fair, LaTanya facilitated Tech Apps and Web Design courses at Pearland Junior High South (Pearland ISD) and taught Robotics, Principles of IT, and Tech Apps at Baker Montessori School in Houston ISD. In her current assignment, she leads Computer Science I, II, III, and IV (All K level) with students aiming to challenge the AP CSA Exam and/or earn their IT Specialist Java Certifications.
We sat down with LaTanya to explore her journey in computer science education, her unique insights into the teaching profession, and why she believes CS is vital to every student’s education.
The entire experience was eye-opening. The more we talked and shared ideas, the more it became clear just how important STEM education is if we want our kids to stay competitive in today’s world. What really hit home for me was realizing that every STEM job, in one way or another, is about helping people or solving real-world problems through innovation. That totally aligns with what I believe in at my core.
When I got back home, I dove right in and joined the district’s new STEM Cadre, working closely with the freshly formed STEM department. Not long after, I had the surreal experience of welcoming Michael Resnick from the LEGO Foundation into my classroom to see my students learning Scratch. We had a blast—and honestly, I’ve been hooked ever since."
CSTA Greater Houston: "Do you have a student success story you'd like to share?"
LaTanya Brooks: "During my very first year of teaching, I got hit with a surprise right before Winter Break: when I came back, I’d be teaching Web Design. I asked if there were any teaching materials I could use, and my principal just kind of shrugged and said, “Well, we don’t really have anything… maybe we can figure something out.” Translation? I had two weeks to figure it out myself.
So, I dug through my old college books, scoured the internet, and decided to start simple—teaching HTML using Notepad. Nothing fancy, just the basics. But the magic moment? When my students saved their files as .html and suddenly those odd little tags turned into real web pages—with background colors, fonts, and flashy text. Their eyes lit up, and from that moment on, they were hooked. They couldn’t wait to see what else they could create.
Soon, they were pulling code straight from MySpace (yes, that MySpace!) and remixing it into their own projects. And then there was Bobby—I'll never forget the day he came sprinting into my room with a stack of web design books nearly as tall as him that his parents had bought for the class.
Not a bad first year at all."
CS Greater Houston: "What advice would you give a teacher new to teaching computer science/STEM?"
LaTanya Brooks: "One thing I always tell new teachers: leave your ego at the door and be open to learning. These kids are smart—really smart—and they’ve got the time and energy to deep-dive into things outside of class. Before you know it, one of them might know more about a topic than you do.
And that’s okay.
Whenever you start to feel a little unsure or insecure about that, just remind yourself: their brains are in prime learning mode. Ours slow down a bit over time (ugh, science). So just be honest with your students. Teach with enthusiasm. Show them that you genuinely care.
Some of my best teaching moments have come from a student showing me something new—and I’m not even mad. I’m proud. Other times, a student has asked a question I didn’t have the answer to, and I’d just say, “That’s a good one. Let’s figure it out together.” That kind of humility and curiosity builds trust, and honestly, it’s what makes teaching so rewarding."
CSTA Greater Houston: "Why should teachers join the CSTA Greater Houston network?"
LaTanya Brooks: "Easy—because it’s a total game-changer.
Being a computer science teacher can feel a little isolating at times. Let’s be real: not everyone gets what we do, and sometimes it feels like we’re speaking a different language. But when I go to a CSTA event, I can walk up to someone I’ve never met, and within seconds, we’re geeking out over the same tech talk. It’s like finding your people.
CSTA offers amazing opportunities for growth, connection, and professional development. The last event I went to left me feeling inspired and recharged. I picked up a ton of practical teaching ideas that I brought straight back to my students—and they loved it.
Bottom line: if you’re a CS teacher in Greater Houston, you need to be part of this community."
CSTA Greater Houston: "Thank you for your time and all of the outstanding work you do with Houston area students! We look forward to hearing about the work you are doing!"