Ben Smith - President
 
 
Ben is a Computer Science Teacher and robotics coach from Rowland Hall School in Salt Lake City. With over 25 years teaching experience in public and independent schools, Ben has a Masters in Instructional Design and Educational Technology from the University of Utah, is a facilitator for the mobileCSP and CSAwesome AP curriculum in the summer. Ben has taught robotics, AP CSP, AP CSA, python and Arduino robotics, FTC robotics, ECS, and is an advocate for Makerspaces and Creative coding.
 
Christian Waters - Vice President 
 
 
Jessica Yauney - President Elect
 
Jessica has taught almost every grade now and loves teaching both AP Computer Science A and Principles. She has taught Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) from preschool to Master's courses. She teaches CS, trains teachers on how to teach CS, does research on how to teach CS, and writes and grades AP CS exams. Jessica was honored as PLTW California Computer Science Teacher of the Year in 2017 and received the NCWIT Educator Award in 2017. Jessica holds a Bachelors in Computer Science, Applied Math, and Math & Science Education from Berkeley and a Masters in Technology Education from BYU.
Nicole Reitz-Larsen - President Elect
 
Nicole is a computer science teacher at West High School.
She has taught AP/IB Computer Science, Computer Science A, Computer Science Principles, Exploring Computer Science, Creative Coding, Programming I and Programming II, Multimedia, Business Courses and German. 
Natalie Johnson - Secretary
 
Natalie began her teaching career 30 years ago as a middle school Art teacher. For thirteen years, she taught all over Australia. She is currently teaching at Monument Valley High School in the Navajo Nation. Best job ever!! She is also a member of Hope Street Fellow. She received her BA at Southern Utah University, MEd at the University of Queensland (Australia), and she’s currently working on a second Master of Education in Education Policy at Southern Utah University. She is endorsed in Secondary Art Education, ELL, FACs, Public Speaking, and Education Technology.
Mike Wood - Treasurer
 
Mike teaches French, College & Career Awareness, Exploring Computer Science, Creative Coding and Web Development at Timberline Middle School. In addition to teaching, he helps advise a Robotics team and is also a coach of Cross Country and Track & Field.
 
Dennis Pedersen - Chapter K-16 Liaison
 
Dennis is a physics and computer science teacher at City Academy in Salt Lake City.
Helen Hu - ECEP State Leader
 
Dr. Helen Hu is a Professor of Computer Science at Westminster College, where she teaches a variety of courses, including CS1, CS2, algorithms, and graphics. She has converted many of her classes to POGIL (Process Oriented Guided Inquiry Learning), a research-based instructional strategy that emphasizes active learning and that has been shown to improve student retention of course content. She earned her PhD from the University of Utah and her bachelors from Princeton University. Dr. Hu is passionate about broadening participation in computer science in Utah. She is the Principal Investigator for the IntroCS POGIL Project, the Utah Exploring CS Initiative, the Westminster Teaching to Increase Diversity and Equity in STEM (TIDES) project. She was presented with the Utah Governor's Medal for Science and Technology in Education for her work introducing an equity-focused computer science course to over 100 Utah high schools. In 2015, she was named one of Insight into Diversity's 100 Inspiring Women in STEM.
Dr. John McGroarty - High School Liaison
 
 
Dr. McGroarty has been within the K-12 environment for the past 6 years in various teaching capacities with subjects in AP Computer Science, CSP, Game Design, Digital Literacy and Coding/Robotics.  He currently teaches Digital Literacy/Coding at Northwest Middle School in the Salt Lake School District.  He just completed his 2nd Master's Degree in Educational Administration from Creighton University and is working on an Elementary/Secondary Internship.
McKay Perkins - Elementary Representative
 
McKay Perkins is dedicated to developing creative instruction to make education come alive for elementary learners. He has five years of elementary teaching experience and has loved every minute of it.
McKay left the full-time teacher role to receive a Master’s degree in Instructional Design at Brigham Young University. Since then, McKay has worked for three years teaching elementary students, elementary teachers, and elementary education students how to code and how to integrate technology in ways that transform their classrooms. He has led professional development sessions on coding and he understands students’ desire to learn this exciting medium.
Traci Rindlisbach - Chapter Social Media Liaison
 
Traci is the Jordan School District's Computer Science Specialist. She works to help others pursue professional learning, actively participates in professional learning networks, and reflect on successes and continually improves their teaching practice.