CL teacher named to state computer science work group

by Marianne Gasaway

Robert Stough, a computer science teacher for the Clear Lake School District, has been named by Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds as a member of a new Computer Science Work Group.  The group was formed in response to a 2020 state law that for the first time requires Iowa’s 327 school districts and 116 accredited nonpublic schools to offer computer science instruction.

Earlier this year, the Governor proposed and the Legislature unanimously passed House File 2629 requiring high schools to offer at least one computer science course by July 1, 2022. Elementary and middle schools must provide computer science instruction in at least one grade level each by July 1, 2023. The bill also calls for the Iowa Department of Education to convene a Computer Science Work Group to make recommendations to strengthen computer science instruction and develop a campaign to promote computer science to K-12 students and families. The work group’s recommendations are due to the General Assembly by July 1, 2021.

“Computer science is no longer an elective course, but a basic skill every student needs to succeed in a technology-driven workplace,” said Gov. Reynolds. “We have made computer science a priority by adopting state standards and expanding professional development so more educators are better prepared to teach computer science. Now, we have assembled a group of talented stakeholders to help us take that next step to bring computer science to every Iowa classroom.” 

The Clear Lake School District currently offers computer science for grades six to 12, however the courses are not required.  

According to Stough, sixth grade students are introduced to the Google Suite and how to integrate its features into their daily academic lives. Seventh and eighth grade students begin the Project Lead The Way (PLTW) 

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Gateway courses.  At the high school, Computer Science Essentials (intro, grades 9-10), Computer Science Principles (level II, grades 10-11), and Computer Science A (advanced, grades 11-12) are offered.

Stough teaches all computer science courses, with the exception of an eighth grade course taught by Seth Thompson.

“My first year (2018-19) we finished with eight students in the high school program. Last school year, 2019-2020, we finished with 23 students. This school year, we currently have 28 students in the program,” said Stough.  “We expect as we continue to add courses, educate the students and their families on the RAI (Regent Administration Index) equation and its importance, and as well as continue to offer PLTW at the grade school and middle school that our numbers will continue to increase.”

The Computer Science Work Group will hold its first meeting remotely Tuesday, Dec. 8, from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Members of the public interested in participating may join remotely through video conferencing or by telephone. The instructions for joining remotely are available in the meeting agenda found on the Iowa Department of Education’s Computer Science Work Group webpage.

The Governor’s STEM Advisory Council and Iowa Department of Education also are partnering with business and industry on the Computer Science Elementary project, which aligns with House File 2629. The project was launched in 2019 to transform 12 high-poverty elementary schools across Iowa into models of innovative computer science instruction.

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