Chapter President - Shanna Hays

Lifelong Alabamian with over 10 years in the classroom, and currently teaching high school Computer Science at Clay-Chalkville High School. As a Chapter Leader, I am committed to building community throughout the state between CS educators! I have participated in the past four CSTA Chapter Leadership Summits (2 annual & 2 Mid-Year), along with more than a dozen monthly CSTA Chapter Leader Learning Series webinars over the past 2 years. In short, I am well-equipped with the tools necessary and ready to serve CSTA Alabama and its members in just about any capacity you see fit. My plans include serious commitment to focusing on community building through virtual and in-person chapter meetups, an increased partnership with A+ College Ready and other CS professional development providers, and a strengthened connection to the larger CSTA community.

Chapter Vice President - Jamie McClung

Jamie McClung is the STEM and Computer Science educator for Fort Payne High School. Mr. McClung has been influential in the growth of robotics and computer science in the school system. He has overseen and facilitated the growth at Fort Payne to include competitive robotics teams from 4th-12th grade, computer science classes K-12, and robotics electives at each school in the system. His teams have collected many accomplishments including the FIRST LEGO League state championship twice, the Rising Star Award from the National Space Club, and the prestigious Chairman’s Award at the high school level. Fort Payne is only the third team to ever win one in the state of Alabama. Mr. McClung also serves as the FIRST Senior Mentor for Alabama. In this role, he provides leadership, support, and guidance for robotics teams around the state. It is common to see Mr. McClung hosting outreach events, organizing competitions, and teaching robotics camps around the state and throughout the year.

Chapter Secretary - Taylor Morton

Taylor is the lead computer science teacher at New Century Technology High School, a public STEM-magnet school in Huntsville, Alabama. As the first pre-service Computer Science teacher in Alabama, Taylor has taught both AP Computer Science Principles and AP Computer Science A, as well as magnet-specific courses in Python, C++, and Java. As an A+ College Ready facilitator and a member of the University of Alabama's SEED 4 AL CS Partnership team, Taylor is excited to be a part of the expansion of computer science education around the state!

Chapter Equity Fellow - Candyce Monroe

Candyce Monroe is an educator that believes in the transformative power of creativity and innovation in the classroom. Throughout her career she has worked to provide computer science, engineering and math based learning experiences for her students. Candyce started her educational career as a science teacher in a high-needs, low income district in Birmingham Alabama. Candyce was instrumental in the creation of a computer science program within her former school district. Her drive to improve the quality of life for students led her to write and secure over $50,000 in grants to support the launch of a makerspace for STEM education and to further fund the computer science program. Candyce currently holds the position of Director of Learning at Ed Farm. In this role she supports educators and students through the development of learning experiences and instructional technology practices infused with creativity and innovation.

Chapter Higher Ed Representative

Dr. Jeff Gray, is the university sponsor and mentor for the Alabama chapter of CSTA. Dr. Gray is a Professor of Computer Science at the University of Alabama. He received his Ph.D. from Vanderbilt University, and both a BS and MS from West Virginia University, all in computer science. His core research areas are software engineering and computer science education. He currently serves as the co-chair of the Governor’s Computer Science Advisory Council. In 2008, he was named the Professor of the Year for Alabama by the Carnegie Foundation and became Alabama’s first Distinguished Member of the Association for Computing Machinery. He is a recipient of the National Science Foundation’s CAREER award. He counts his relationships with K-12 colleagues as the joy and highlight of his career. More details about Jeff’s work can be found at http://gray.cs.ua.edu

Chapter High School Representative - Blake Cook

  • BS in Resources Management, Troy University
  • MBA in Finance, Troy University
  • MEd. Secondary Math Education, Faulkner University
  • PhD. candidate in Instructional Design and Technology, Liberty University
     
  • Brantwood Children's Home, Math & Science, 2011-2014
  • Stanhope Elmore High School, Math & Computer Science, 2014- present
     
  • Teaching CS at Stanhope Elmore High School since 2016.
  • Courses taught Exploring CS, AP CSP, AP CSA
  • Programming certifications:
    • MTA Intro to Programming in Python
    • MTA Intro to Programming using Javascript
    • MTA Mobility and Device Fundamentals
    • MTA Intro to Programming using Block-Based Languages

Chapter Middle School Representative - Krista Baker

Educator, innovator, producer, problem solver, and learner of life. I have been in Education in the Pell City School System since 2002. I have held the positions of teacher (Elementary, Middle, and High School), Educational Technology Specialist, Building Technology Coordinator, Safety Coordinator, and Assistant Principal. I currently teach 8th-grade Business Career Technical and Computer Science, as well as hold the positions of Building Technology Coordinator, FBLA-ML Advisor, and Safety Coordinator. I have earned the Alabama Technology Integration Coach certification as well as several grants in technology. I have been married since 1998. I have one daughter that keeps me on my toes. We enjoy being outdoors and she is involved in Softball, Basketball, and Athletic Training. I enjoy reading, gardening, and traveling.

Chapter Elementary School Representative - Amy Fowler

Amy is the Fayette Elementary Library Media Specialist and Technology Coordinator. She has been at the same school for 28 years. She is the Director of the Alabama Consortium for Technology in Education, LLC. Which sponsors technology competitions around the state of Alabama. She is also a member of the Alabama School Library Association (AASL), Alabama Library Association(ALA, Alabama Leaders in Educational Technology (ALET), Alabama Education Association(AEA), and many others.
 
She is on the Board of Directors for the Alabama Education Association-District 7, Alabama Classroom
Teachers Association (ACT), Teacher Retirement System (TRS) and PEEHIP.
 
Amy is very passionate about technology in our schools. She believes the students we work with today are the leaders of tomorrow. In the area of technology, that is ever changing. She wants to make sure our students are prepared for the Digital Future.

Chapter Advisor - Carol Yarbrough

Carol began teaching high school in 2007, embarking on a second career after working in the computer industry for 20+ years. She is currently teaching computer science full-time at the Alabama School of Fine Arts, in Birmingham, Alabama, and serving as the A+ College Ready Computer Science Content Specialist. Carol graduated from the Rochester Institute of Technology with a degree in Computational Mathematics. She then was employed in just about every aspect of the computer industry, doing both scientific and business programming. In addition to being a programmer, she has been a designer, analyst, system administrator, database administrator, technical architect, corporate trainer, and curriculum developer. But, she always wanted to teach, so she studied Secondary Mathematics Education at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She has been a College Board pilot teacher for the AP CS Principles course and a Teacher Leader with the CS4Alabama project. CS4Alabama is training in-service teachers in Alabama to teach the APCS Principles course. Carol enjoys working with bright and creative people and the satisfaction of knowing that her work matters.

Chapter Social Media Liaison - Mary Elizabeth Sammis

Mary Elizabeth Sammis is the STEM Coordinator at Prince of Peace Catholic School in Hoover. She was previously the 7th-8th grade science teacher in the same school and, prior to moving to Alabama, taught grades 5-8 science in Tam-pa, Florida. In addition to teaching STEM and Technology classes to preschoolers through fifth-graders at Prince of Peace, Mary Elizabeth also coaches the middle school Robotics team, coordinates the creation of monthly newsletters, creates social media graphics and posts for events, activities, etc., and writes science, STEM, and technology curriculum for elementary grades. She is a Google Level 2 Certified Educator and holds multiple certifications from VEX Robotics as well as a license for teaching middle grades science in Alabama. Mary Elizabeth is excited to serve in the capacity of Social Media Manager for CSTA to help teachers connect and share their experiences across the state.