Shelly Hollis travels twice to D.C. for K-12 computer science events
Contact: Anne Hierholzer
STARKVILLE, Miss.鈥擜 幺力视频 staff member working to implement the state鈥檚 new Computer Science for Mississippi pilot program is engaging at the highest levels of discussion about technology education.
Shelly Hollis twice visited the White House during September for national programs on computer science training in public schools.听听听听听
At mid-month, Hollis served as Mississippi鈥檚 representative to 鈥#CSforAll,鈥 an invitation-only event focused on President Obama鈥檚 initiative to expand computer science availability in all U.S. schools.
Project manager with the university-based Research and Curriculum Unit, Hollis and other special Washington, D.C., guests were asked to provide updates on training initiatives in their respective states. They also discussed ways to ensure the country maintains a steady supply of licensed CS teachers.
Two weeks later, she returned to the nation鈥檚 capital for a meeting organized by the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy that examined the current state of computer science in K-12 education.
A computer science graduate of Huntington College in Montgomery, Alabama, Hollis is an RCU core-team member currently working to implement CS4MS, Mississippi鈥檚 pilot program.
The project is led by the Mississippi Department of Education with assistance from the RCU and is developing best practices to address the urgent need for more qualified workers in computer science and related fields.
CS4MS hopes to have a comprehensive K-12 computer science curriculum in place for all Magnolia State public schools by 2024. 鈥淭he wheels of change are in motion to make sure computer science becomes a core subject for all students,鈥 Hollis said.
At present, 235 teachers at 156 schools in nearly 40 school districts are part of the pilot program, she added.
Emphasizing how computer science 鈥渉as become too interwoven into our daily lives not to educate our students on the fundamentals of the subject,鈥 she said there is a critical need 鈥渢o prepare as many students as possible to lead the way for future computing innovations.鈥
鈥淭he highlight for me was getting to work with so many leaders in the field of computer science,鈥 Hollis said. During the gatherings, she and other participants examined both barriers and solutions to getting more students interested in pursuing teaching careers. The minimum number of courses necessary for teacher licensure also was covered.
Hollis said she believes MSU is positioned to 鈥減lay an important role鈥 in defining these issues 鈥渇or our state and, possibly, the nation.鈥
More on the RCU project is found via the revolving 鈥淣ews鈥 link at and at .
Details on the Obama Administration鈥檚 鈥#CSforAll鈥 initiative are found at .
MSU is Mississippi鈥檚 leading university, available online at .
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