Mr. Jared Amalong has over 10 years of Computer Science (CS) teaching experience and is the Director of Computer Science and Digital Learning at the Sacramento County Office of Education (SCOE).  Since 2014, he has provided professional learning and coaching services to middle school and high school CS teachers and administrators from 24 school districts located in the 7-county Greater Sacramento Region.  Mr. Amalong was appointed to the California Department of Education Computer Science Standards Advisory Council, where he helped develop the California K-12 CS standards.  Mr. Amalong served as adjunct faculty in the Information Technology Department at Sierra College, where he taught programming, cybersecurity and management information systems courses.  Previously, Mr. Amalong taught Computer Science courses at Granite Bay High School in Roseville, CA, and the 49er Regional Occupation Program of the Placer County Office of Education in Auburn, CA.

Lynn Baltazar is a Program Manager at Californians Dedicated to Education Foundation (CDEF).  As a service-oriented professional, she has worked in various education-focused roles across diverse sectors such as a public university system and an academic medical center.  Lynn has actively engaged in facilitating faculty research projects, provided support in early-career clinical scientists development programs, and shared her knowledge and strategies to empower aspiring graduate students seeking financial assistance for their academic pursuits.

Lily Chu has worked at the Sacramento County Office of Education (SCOE) for the past 4 years. Her passion for fostering inclusive and equitable educational environments drives her commitment as a Project Specialist. In this role, she has honed expertise in managing and executing projects that support Computer Science Professional Learning initiatives across California.

Dr. Julie Flapan is director of the UCLA Computer Science Equity Project at Center X where she is the founding director and co-lead of CSforCA, a multi-stakeholder coalition of K12 educators, communities, higher education researchers, policy advocates, and industry professionals, advocating for access, equity, and inclusion in CS for all students, especially girls, students of color, and low-income students.

Her portfolio sits at the intersection of research, policy, coalition, and capacity building through communications and grassroots organizing strategies to ensure all students have access to a meaningful education that prepares them for college, careers, and democratic participation. She believes public engagement through collective impact is an essential strategy, both personally and systemically, to achieve these goals.

Katherine Goyette is the Computer Science Coordinator for California Department of Education (CDE) where she supports educators in implementing computer science, artificial intelligence, and STEAM. Katherine is an author, learner and educational leader who advocates for inclusive educational opportunities for all students within the communities they reside. Katherine was primary writer for California’s inaugural Computer Science Standards. She has been a keynote speaker, featured presenter, and panelist for organizations across the globe on a variety of educational topics.

Yadira Guerrero is a Program Manager at Californians Dedicated to Education Foundation (CDEF). She joined the CDE Foundation in May 2022. For over 10 years, Yadira has supported the implementation of PreK-12 STEM programs throughout California as well as the growth and articulation of STEM programs at Bakersfield College and California State University Bakersfield. Yadira brings years of experience in working with school districts, higher education institutions, industry partners, and community members to deliver equitable STEM/STEAM educational opportunities to students of all ages and backgrounds.

Dr. Sonal Patel is the Program Manager for Digital Learning and Computer Science Education at the San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools. In this role, she collaborates with her team to design, develop, and implement equitable educational technology, artificial intelligence, and computer science programs. Dr. Patel earned her doctorate in Leadership for Educational Justice from the University of Redlands in 2023, focusing her research on the collective impact approach to broadening computer science access and participation among K-12 students of color. Before joining the county office, Dr. Patel served as a classroom teacher, instructional coach, and administrator. She is also an alumna of the CSTA Equity Fellowship.

Glennon Stratton is the STEAM Initiatives Director at Californians Dedicated to Education Foundation (CDEF). Previously, he led strategic initiatives at Portland Public Schools which included launching 6 new MakerSpaces, engaging 7th-grade students with Career and Technical Education experiences, and creating a trauma-informed continuum of care to support students facing substance use and mental health challenges. At the Colorado Charter School Institute, he led programming for students experiencing homelessness, at-promise youth, and emergent bilingual students. During his Education Pioneers Fellowship at the Los Angeles Unified School District, he supported the implementation of the district’s new professional development and evaluation system. Before working for K-12 agencies, Glennon led dynamic programming for at-promise youth and people with disabilities at the nonprofit U.S. Sailing Center. 

Karyn Warner is Associate Director of STEAM Initiatives at Californians Dedicated to Education Foundation (CDEF). She brings her combined experiences as a former elementary classroom teacher and staff development coach to her position at CDEF. She co-taught the first coding club in her former district and presented Breathing Through Frustration: Teaching Coding to Kids at a prior California STEAM Symposium. Karyn is passionate about supporting student-centered learning opportunities for ALL students with a specific focus on making their learning visible and relevant to their daily lives.