BootUp Professional Development Clears STEMworks’ Rigorous Design Principles and Rubric Standards
January 23 2019 · By Abby Funabiki
Elementary Coding Non-profit Joins Prestigious Honor Roll of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Educators
January 23, 2019, SALT LAKE CITY, UT. BootUp Professional Development today announced its acceptance as a STEMworks accomplished program. STEMworks helps companies, states, and individuals make intelligent investments in their communities by evaluating and cataloging STEM programs that meet rigorous and results-driven design principles.
BootUp trains teachers and district coaches to teach computer science and computational thinking concepts, and fosters equitable access for all students. Through long-term professional development, coaching, and mentoring, their highly-experienced facilitators work closely with districts to design customized plans using research-based methodologies.
“STEMworks has become the go-to resource for finding and investing in the nation’s leading Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics education programs,” said Clark Merkley, Executive Director of BootUp PD. “As an organization committed to teaching computer science to all elementary students, especially girls and underrepresented students of color, we couldn’t be more delighted that our work has been acknowledged by such a prestigious organization.”
With BootUp, teachers learn how to engage students with easy-to-use, block-based programming languages (ScratchJr and Scratch) to create and share interactive stories, animations, games, art, music, and more through problem solving and other fundamental computer science practices. BootUp programs require no prior coding experience and include a free, interest-driven curricula with more than 70 class projects for grades K-6.
BootUp’s Mission is to train teachers to implement elementary coding initiatives that empower all students and create equitable access to 21st century skills. Founded in 2015, the fast-growing organization has served over 200 elementary schools in seven states, with an impact on over 100,000 students. For more information, please visit www.bootuppd.org.
BootUp PD’s STEMworks profile can be found by visiting the STEMworks Web site or by clicking: https://stemworks.wested.org/bootup-pd.
