Maya Israel, Ph.D.

Director

Maya Israel, Ph.D. is an associate professor of Educational Technology and Computer Science Education at the University of Florida. She is also the Director of the CSEveryone: The Kenneth C. Griffin CS Education for All Initiative as well as the Creative Technology Research Lab at the UF. Prior to entering higher education, Dr. Israel was a special education teacher. Her research focuses on strategies for supporting students with disabilities and other academically diverse learners’ meaningful engagement in computer science education through Universal Design for Learning (UDL). She is currently PI or co-PI on several grants including a National Science Foundation project that brings together researchers and educational leaders to address ways to make computer science education more inclusive to students with disabilities. Dr. Israel was a writer on the K-12 Computer Science Education Framework as well as the revisions of the Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA) Standards for Computer Science Teachers. Lastly, Dr. Israel works with multiple school districts on systemic and classroom strategies to more equitably include students with disabilities in K-12 computer science education initiatives.

Leela Kumaran, Ph.D.

Program Coordinator

Leela is a research coordinator with the School of Teaching and Learning at COE, UF and manages multiple grant awards. Leela’s academic background includes masters and doctoral degrees in Biology and also a masters degree in Educational Administration. Before arriving at UF in 2009, her work experience includes being faculty in Zoology for 15 years at the Madras Christan College, Chennai, India, and then a research coordinator at the COE, University of Hawaii. To date, Leela has managed more than $25 million in grant funding. Her diverse and extensive experience in academia and higher educational administration enables her to meaningfully contribute to all programmatic and roll out aspects of grant roll out and management.

Joanne Barrett, Ed.D.

Director of Teacher Development

Joanne is a former computer science classroom teacher who is working as the Director of Teacher Education for the Kenneth C. Griffin Computer Science Education for All Initiative. She earned her doctorate in 2017 from the University of Florida in Educational Technology. Her research interest is K-12 computer science education.

Carla Strickland

Mentoring Program Coordinator

Carla Strickland is the Digital Development Manager at UChicago STEM Education. She is an expert in digitally enhanced STEM curriculum, teaching, and learning. Her work involves working with elementary teachers and administrators to integrate computer science into their existing STEM instruction, with a particular focus on culturally responsive pedagogy and curriculum. Carla brings an Afro-Caribbean perspective and a passion for equitable, high-quality instruction to her work in education.

Johnny Delgado

Microcredential Developer

Johnny Delgado is a member of the Griffin CS For All Initiative. His primary focuses are in developing a microcredential to introduce pre-service teachers to computer science (CS) and supporting the development of teacher candidates at PK Yonge. Before his employment at UF, Johnny worked in secondary education promoting project-based cross-disciplinary learning, and teaching AP CS and Virtual Reality Video Game Design/Development.

Don Miller

Director of Computer Science Outreach and Implementation

Don is an artist and educator working as part of The Kenneth C. Griffin CS Education for All Initiative at the University of Florida. He has worked for the last decade promoting K-12 CS education nationwide. Don graduated from NYU’s ITP graduate program in 2011. After that, he served as the Senior Director of Computer Science Academics for the NYC Department of Education. As part of the Mayor’s CS4All initiative, Don worked to bring computer science to all 1.1 million NYC public school students. After relocating to Florida, he worked for Code.org as a Regional Manager, managing 15 university and nonprofit partners in eight states to facilitate the training of thousands of new computer science teachers at hundreds of schools across the USA. Don’s creative work includes the development of software-based video synthesizers and use of nearly obsolete electronics to create psychedelic low-resolution video art. He has performed, exhibited, and lectured worldwide. Much of the software he creates has been released for free and is open source.

Nykema Lindsey

Innovative CS Education Teaching and Learning Specialist

Nykema serves as the Innovative CS Education Teaching and Learning Specialist on the Kenneth C. Griffin CS Education for All Initiative at the University of Florida. Prior to coming to UF, Nykema worked as a program manager, curriculum/instructional designer and event coordinator for a number of educational outreach/technology companies. Throughout her various roles she has worked to ensure students with various disabilities have access to accessible and inclusive programs and curricula. Passionate about the intersectionality of race, gender, disability, and socioeconomic status, Nykema aims to create low-cost/affordable physically accessible edtech for the 21st century learner.

Albert Ritzhaupt, Ph.D.

Director of Certification Exam Team

Albert D. Ritzhaupt is a Professor of Educational Technology and Computer Science Education, a member of the Institute for Advanced Learning Technologies (IALT), a research member of the Florida Center for Instructional Technology (FCIT), and the President of the International Board of Standards for Training, Performance and Instruction (IBSTPI). Dr. Ritzhaupt led the creation of the online assessment practice platform for the FTCE Computer Science K-12 certification examination on the CSEveryone website, which includes three practice assessments for aspiring CS teachers in Florida.

Michael McKelvey

Web Development & Accessibility Specialist

Michael is a web developer focusing on IT accessibility for the Kenneth C. Griffin Computer Science Education for All Initiative. He works with other staff to develop accessible materials so that the project’s content and deliverables will be usable by all participants, especially those with disabilities. He earned his B.S. and Ed.M. from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He has a particular interest in outreach and engagement work, especially when it involves helping researchers and educators communicate about math, science, technology, and sustainability through web-based games, curriculum materials, and citizen-science initiatives. He also leads a monthly discussion group related to IT accessibility where everyone involved in the development and maintenance of websites and other digital products can bring their accessibility questions to an open dialog.

Andrew Bennett

Andrew Bennett is a Research Assistant for the Creative Technology Research Lab and a doctoral student at the University of Florida. Andrew earned a M.Ed. in Technology, Innovation, and Education from Harvard University, a M.S. in Cultural Foundations of Education from Syracuse University, a M.A. in English / Creative Writing from the University of Nebraska – Kearney, and a B.A. in English from Gustavus Adolphus College. Previous related work experience includes a research internship with the Creative Computing Lab at Harvard, being a teaching assistant for a Universal Design for Learning course at Syracuse University and being an education technician intern for the Special Education division at the headquarters of the Department of Defense Education Activity. Andrew’s research interests are related to accessibility, teacher and preservice teacher professional development related to UDL, and integrating UDL into computer science curriculum.

Meize Guo, Ph.D.

Meize Guo is a post-doctoral research associate at the CS Everyone: Kenneth C. Griffin CS Education for All Initiative. Meize holds a Ph.D. in Instructional Systems Technology with a minor in Science Education from Indiana University Bloomington. Her professional goal is to support both learners and teachers in broadening participation in technology integration, STEM education, and CS education at the K-12 level.