Chapter Leaders

Marginalized students underrepresented in computer science today include Black, Asian, Indigenous or Native, Hispanic or Latinx, Pacific Islanders, girls, students from low socioeconomic backgrounds, English language learners, students who identify as LGBTQ+, and students with disabilities.

Getting Started/The Submittal Process:

1. Go to the application website.
2.  Select "Submit an application."
3. Create a Cvent account, using a personal email address. (Please note that you must create a new account even if you have applied for an award in the past.)
4. Follow application prompts and fill out all required information.
5. You will receive a confirmation message after you submit your application. If you have any questions regarding the process, please reach out to awards@csteachers.org.
6. Please know there are two parts to this award application. Part One asks for demographic information and five short written responses. Applicants will receive notice if they are selected for Part Two in mid-February.
7. Part Two will require a teaching artifact and four written responses. All Part Two candidates will receive notice of their application status in May 2024.

Eligibility Requirements:

To apply for the CS Teaching Excellence Award, you must:

• Live in the United States
• Teach K–12 Computer Science
• Be a CSTA+ member

*Current CSTA Board Members, staff, and their immediate family are not eligible for awards with prizes attached.

*If you are not currently a CSTA+ member, please visit csteachers.org/join. If you currently have a CSTA Basic membership and would like to upgrade your membership, please log into your member dashboard and locate the module titled "My Membership."

*Please know that CSTA+ memberships are non-refundable in the event you are not selected for Part Two of the application process, or as a winner of the award.

*While we require CSTA+ membership, if someone wants to apply, is not an active CSTA+ member, and shows demonstrated need, we have membership scholarships available to offer on a case-by-case basis.

If you are in need of financial support to become a CSTA+ member, we encourage you to register for Amazon Future Engineer, which provides a variety of curricular resources in addition to a scholarship for CSTA+ membership. If you have questions about this process, please contact our Membership Experience Manager at jen.manly@csteachers.org.

The Review Process:

CSTA's mission is to expand equity in CS Education, and this includes expanding equitable practices to our programs and awards. In order to have a fair review process, all applicants are reviewed anonymously by educators that must complete CSTA's equity award training.

Please review the timeline for this awards process below:

• Dec. 19: Part One opens
• Jan. 26: Part One closes
• Jan. 26-Feb. 2: Part One review; finalists are notified of Part Two requirements
• Feb. 9: Part Two opens
• March 24: Part Two closes
• March 25-May 8: Part Two review
• Week of May 10: The Awards Committee selects winners and runners-up; winners are notified.

Regions:

This year, thanks to the continued support of Infosys Foundation USA, we are able to recognize up to 18 educators for the 2023-2024 CS Teaching Excellence Awards at the regional level! Please see the six regions below:

• New England: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont
• Four Corners: Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah
• CSTA Iowa
• CSTA New Jersey
• CSTA South Carolina
• CSTA Wyoming

*Each region must have at least three candidates remaining after the national winners and honorable mentions are selected to be eligible for this award.

Candidates will receive a confirmation message when their application is properly submitted.

If you have any questions regarding the process, please reach out to awards@csteachers.org.

There will be up to 10 national winners, 5 national runners-up, and up to 18 winners at the regional level. All applicants will receive notice of their status in May 2024.

While applying, please be sure to reference the rubric.