Golden Crab Award

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Do you know a Maryland CS Rock Star? Are you a Maryland CS Rock Star? Let us know! 

We want to celebrate our collective accomplishments.

Call for Nominations for our Golden Crab Aware are on-going.  Self Nominations Welcome!

Nomination Form

Learn more about our Golden Crab Award Winners for 2024-2025 below.

 

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Stephanie Allen

Instructional Technology Teacher | Bryant Woods Elementary | Howard County Public School System

Stephanie is a dedicated educator with 17 years of experience, specializing in instructional technology since the pandemic. She currently teaches at Bryant Woods Elemenatry School. As the "Master Teacher" for elementary technology in HCPSS, she plays a key role in advancing tech education. 

She was a 2022 finalist for the MSET Outstanding Educator award, she also serves as her school’s MESA and Girls Who Code coordinator. 

For the past four years, Stephanie has contributed to George Washington University’s GenCyber program as a teacher contractor. She was recognized by her administration with the "Total Team Player" superlative, she is known for her unwavering support across her school community.

Julia Hill, Ed. D

Computer Science Educator | Stephen Decatur High School | Worchester County Public Schools

Julia, who teaches at Stephen Decatur High School, is a certified Computer Science educator with a doctorate in Educational Technology, she recently completed her first year teaching Advanced Placement (AP) Computer Science Principles (CSP). She had 7 students pass the exam, including two who achieved a score of 5!

A highlight of the year came when a former student expressed that the Foundations of Computer Science class inspired her to pursue a Computer Science program at a local technical school. 

She actively reflects on her teaching practices to enhance student engagement and learning. Additionally, she wrote a grant proposal this summer to secure funding for drones, aiming to incorporate hands-on experiences into the curriculum. 

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Charity Chandiwana

Cabin John Middle School | Montgomery County Public Schools

Charity has actively engaged in various workshops and professional development sessions, demonstrating her commitment to continuous learning and growth in her field. This Fall, she is set to graduate from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) with a Master of Arts in Education.

Charity has been a passionate advocate for encouraging girls to pursue studies in Computer Science at her school. She has successfully created a supportive environment that has led to a remarkable increase in female students enrolling in Computer Science courses at her school within the Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) system. Her advocacy is empowering young women to explore technology and contributing to a more diverse and inclusive future in the field

Kathy Benson

Tequity4All 

Ms. Benson began her career as a software engineer before becoming certified to teach computer science. Drawing on her experience in both fields, she transitioned into teaching elementary technology and coaching robotics, earning recognition as a Maryland Technology Using Teacher of the Year. She has provided professional development across Maryland for organizations such as Code.org, CSTA, and MCCE. In 2019, she founded the Maryland Elementary Computer Science Ambassador Program, developing a cohort of 100+ leaders who champion CS education in elementary schools. These ambassadors implement, mentor, and advocate for CS instruction statewide. Ms. Benson also created ECSNet, a repository of over 1,000 elementary CS lessons. She now leads Tequity4All, a nonprofit focused on transforming K-8 computer science and artificial intelligence education. She also co-chairs the CSTA-MD Advocacy and Policy Committee. 

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Floria Mathis

Retired Computer Specialist 

Floria Mathis is a retired Computer Specialist in the Federal sector. She has dedicated their life to empowering the next generation through technology and education. Even in retirement, her passion for Computer Science shines brightly. As a volunteer after-school advisor in STEM/STEAM clubs and as an Elementary School CS Teacher, she has  opened doors of opportunity for countless young learners.

Floria’s impact extends beyond the classroom—she has  collaborated with MCCE to guide elementary teachers across Maryland, equipping educators with the tools and confidence to bring Computer Science into their own classrooms. Through it all, she remains an active and engaged CSTA member, staying at the cutting edge of the field. Her commitment to making Computer Science accessible to all is truly inspiring, and her work is a testament to the power of lifelong learning and service.

Elissa Hozore

Code in the Schools

Many of us who teach CS know Elissa well!  Whether she’s running a cohort of elementary CS teachers or starting a middle school cohort, she’s got her finger on the pulse of CS education.  

Her lasting legacy is how she is able to connect people together and facilitating their growing abilities.  She is fabulous at putting you in touch with just the right person you need but didn’t know you needed! 

Whether she is working as a teacher, at MSDE, as a consultant, or now at Code in the Schools,  Elissa always has a smile on her face and encouraging words.  You can’t help but leave a conversation with her without a smile on your face and a new tidbit of information to take back to your own classroom!

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Dianne O'Grady-Cunnif

Retired Director | Maryland Center for Computing Education (MCCE)

Dianne is no stranger to the world of Computer Science in Maryland and was a pioneer in our state starting in the early 2000’s when she moved to Maryland and started teaching in our public school system. In search of more interesting resources, she found CS4HS projects at Hood College and Carnegie Mellon and began connecting with other Computer Science teachers and the early CSTA members. Dianne joined forces with Marie DesJardines and Jan Plane at UMBC and UMD who were working to broaden participation in CS.  She had the opportunity to be part of the teams to develop the CS Framework for K-12, the CSTA national standards, the ISTE computational thinking standards, and later the AI4K12 resources.

After legislation was passed to create the Maryland Center for Computing Education (MCCE), Dianne took on the role of director of the center, her dream job. She worked throughout her 5 year tenure to bring computer science statewide. MCCE capitalized on Maryland's diverse and fairly affluent population, strong school systems and higher education programs, and legislators and a governor who saw value in funding computer science education to support our PK-12 and Higher Ed Program leaders with a focus on equity and access to quality computing education for all.