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Welcome to the CSTA GLA virtual community!  We're so glad you're here!  We're hoping to make this virtual community the go-to place for computer science teachers to find helpful information and connect with other CS teachers outside of regular events.  With that in mind, please post a quick introduction in this thread. 

We'd love to know:

-Your name
-Your location (this is helpful for us as we're thinking about in-person events!)
-Grade/subject that you teach (or what you do if you're not a teacher!)
-Topics you're knowledgeable about
-Topics you'd love to learn more about (let's start making some connections!)
-Any fun facts about yourself / anything else you'd like the community to know

We're so excited to meet you all!
-CSTA GLA Board

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Megan Myers k12teacher
Los Angeles CA
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Hi Megan and everyone else in the CSTA GLA chapter! Here's my intro:

name: Bill Marsland
location: LA (I live in Mid-City just north of the 10)
grade/subject: currently the Director of Education at Code Ninjas' corporate office (based in Houston, TX) but have previously taught elementary and middle school CS (and music!)
topics I'm knowledgeable about: elementary CS implementation / content-area integration, Scratch, ScratchJr, MakeCode Arcade, Makey Makeys, Bee Bots, lots more!
topics I'd like to learn more about: transition from blocks to text, teaching JavaScript, Unity, game development
fun facts: I'm still pretty new to LA - moved here from SF 1.5 years ago!

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Bill Marsland 🏳‍🌈 (he/him)
Los Angeles, CA
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Your name: Vicky Sedgwick
Your location (this is helpful for us as we're thinking about in-person events!): West San Fernando Valley
Grade/subject that you teach (or what you do if you're not a teacher!): K-6 CS Teacher
Topics you're knowledgeable about: Elementary CS, ScratchJr, Scratch, micro:bit, FinchRobots
Topics you'd love to learn more about (let's start making some connections!): Always looking for new ideas for teaching CS topics & love any information on new CS related books for teachers and students

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Vicky Sedgwick
K-6 CS Teacher
Los Angeles, CA
visionsbyvicky.com
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Hi. I'm Debbie Weissmann in Los Angeles
I teach high school CS
I love to learn.

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debbie weissmann k12teacher
Santa Monica CA
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Your name: Val Brownsmith
Your location: Pasadena/Altadena
Grade/subject that you teach: 7th and 8th Grade Computer Science
Topics you're knowledgeable about: Scratch, Processing, Python, and math!
Topics you'd love to learn more about: Arduino and physical computing
Any fun facts about yourself / anything else you'd like the community to know: I taught math for 14 years before moving into CS and I've never been happier!!

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Val Brownsmith k12teacher
Pasadena CA
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Hi all, 

Here's my introduction: 

name: Alexis Cabrera
location: Long Beach
grade/subject: Executive Director at 9 Dots (9dots.org) 
topics I'm knowledgeable about: K-6 CS Education, teacher training, front end development, data science, curriculum development
topics I'd like to learn more about: teacher experience in CS education, issues in CS Education
fun facts: My hobby is rock climbing

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Alexis Cabrera
Los Angeles CA
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Hi everyone,

My name is Jamie and I live in South Central Los Angeles! I'm a former elementary teacher and am currently a district administrator with LAUSD. My title is  Instructional Leadership Support Specialist and I'm fortunate to work with the Instructional Technology Initiative where our work focuses on supporting the district with Computer Science Education, Digital Citizenship and the ISTE Standards. I have knowledge of these three areas and how to support professional learning. I also have knowledge around elementary mathematics and cognitively guided instruction. I'd love to learn more about adult learning theory and I also have an interest in designing immersive experiences. Fun fact - I started the first CS club at my school in the last two years I was teaching.

Excited to learn from you all!

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Jamie Galgana districtadministrator
Los Angeles CA
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- Your name : Joon Kim 
- Your location (this is helpful for us as we're thinking about in-person events!) : West LA / Westwood area
- Grade/subject that you teach (or what you do if you're not a teacher!) : Computer Science (high school)
- Topics you're knowledgeable about : APCS A, APCS Principles
- Topics you'd love to learn more about (let's start making some connections!) : AI, machine learning, app programming
- Any fun facts about yourself / anything else you'd like the community to know : Love all things NYT Games, especially the Crossword and Spelling Bee

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Joon Kim k12teacher
Los Angeles CA
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Hello all!

My name is Dina and I'm located in Los Angeles, CA near DTLA. I'm the Microsoft Philanthropies Technology Education and Learning Support (TEALS) Regional Manager for Los Angeles, CA. I'm knowledgeable about CS curriculum, Web development, Python, and Robotics. I'd love to learn more about Video Game Development and Data Science!

I'm excited to connect with fellow CS educators in LA!

Dina Salama
dina@tealsk12.org
213 282 2907

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Dina Salama
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