WeTeach_CS Summit 2026: Full Schedule

JUNE 15-16, 2025 - La Cantera Resort & Spa / 16641 La Cantera Pkwy, San Antonio, TX 78256
WiFi Network: WTCS Summit / Password: brilliance26
Participant WTCS Summit 2026 Go-To Guide
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Presentation Google Slides Folder / WTCS Summit Registration Page

9:45am CDT

A Research Inquiry on the use of Vibe Coding for Programming Assignments: Enhanced Learning vs. Academic Integrity Concerns

Monday June 15, 2026 9:45am - 10:45am CDT

San Gabriel A & B - 3rd Floor

This study is an inquiry into both the potential educational benefits and the risks associated with the use of vibe coding, with a focus on novice (early college and dual credit (EC/DC) high school) programmers' ability to grasp core programming concepts, while also addressing the potential for misuse or unethical practices.

Presenters

Arisa Ude

Faculty of Computer Information Technology, Dallas College, Dallas, Texas, Dallas College

My name is Dr. Arisa K. Ude. I retired from a major telecommunications company after twenty-three (23) years of services in various roles – including Software Engineer, Process Improvement Engineer, Senior Technical Manager of Information Technology, etc. Prior to joining the telecom... Read More →

Anna Lambert

Collaborator (CIT Faculty)

Monday June 15, 2026 9:45am - 10:45am CDT
San Gabriel A & B - 3rd Floor

AI/Data Science, High School

9:45am CDT

STEM by the Numbers: Real-World Data Science for Every Classroom

Monday June 15, 2026 9:45am - 10:45am CDT

San Felipe A & B - 2nd Floor

Data is everywhere — are your students ready? Join us to explore practical, engaging ways to bring data science into K-12 STEM classrooms. Experience hands-on activities, real-world datasets, and simple tools that build data literacy, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. Leave inspired with resources and ready-to-use ideas you can implement tomorrow! Discover how data science can fuel inquiry, innovation, and real-world problem solving for K-12 students.

Presenters

Matthew Cushing

Executive Director, Rice University Center for STEM Engagement

Matthew Cushing is the Executive Director of the Rice Center for STEM Engagement at Rice University, where he leads Broader Impacts initiatives that connect research to real-world impact. With over 28 years in education, he’s passionate about bringing STEM to life through partnerships... Read More →

Brittany Templeton

Assistant Director for Computer Science and Mathematics, Rice University Office of STEM Engagement

Monday June 15, 2026 9:45am - 10:45am CDT
San Felipe A & B - 2nd Floor

AI/Data Science, K-12

12:45pm CDT

Amplifying Teacher Brilliance with a Reusable Instructional Loop

Monday June 15, 2026 12:45pm - 1:45pm CDT

San Juan B - 3rd Floor

Many computer science teachers believe in the power of AI but feel unsure how to integrate it into instruction without losing clarity, rigor, or their own teaching voice. This interactive session introduces a classroom-tested, four-day instructional loop (Discover → Practice → Apply → Reflect) that provides a safe, repeatable structure for integrating AI into CS instruction. Participants will experience the loop as learners, explore how AI fits naturally within each phase, and build a mini lesson aligned to their own context. Attendees will leave with ready-to-use templates and strategies that help them confidently harness AI while preserving strong pedagogy and teacher identity.

Presenters

Kole Lovett

Teacher, North East ISD

Kole Lovett is a Computer Science teacher at a STEM-focused high school in North East ISD, where he teaches Fundamentals of Computer Science, Computer Science I, II, and III. He is passionate about creating structured, engaging learning environments that make complex concepts accessible... Read More →

Araceli Lovett

Northeast ISD

Monday June 15, 2026 12:45pm - 1:45pm CDT
San Juan B - 3rd Floor

AI/Data Science, K-12

12:45pm CDT

PANEL: From Classroom to Career: Industry Perspectives on Essential AI Literacy Skills

Monday June 15, 2026 12:45pm - 1:45pm CDT

San Gabriel A & B - 3rd Floor

AI is rapidly restructuring every job sector, from software engineering to marketing and healthcare. This dynamic panel brings together diverse industry professionals to pull back the curtain on this transformation, sharing firsthand how AI is changing their daily workflows and what skills are now critical for new hires. K-12 educators will gain actionable insight into the AI literacy, effective AI usage cases, critical thinking, and ethical reasoning competencies students need—regardless of their career path—to thrive in the AI-integrated workplace of tomorrow.

Presenters

Luis Abbott

Americas Region Site Services IT Leader, HP

Senior Information Technology Leader with 25+ years leading enterprise platform modernization and digital workplace transformation across large, regulated environments. Proven success driving cloud‑aligned target states, operational excellence, and measurable outcomes across collaboration... Read More →

Bobby Simmons

Branch Manager, Freeport, TX, HPC Industrial | Powered by Clean Harbors

Experienced Manager with a demonstrated history of working in the environmental services industry. Highly skilled in PNL Management, Negotiation, Petroleum, Budgeting, Waste, and Operations Management. Strong operations professional who graduated from the United States Navy.

Maaz Amjad

Assistant Professor of Practice, CS, Texas Tech University

Dr. Maaz Amjad is an Assistant Professor of Practice in the Department of Computer Science at Texas Tech University. Before coming to Texas Tech, Dr. Amjad was a Provost Early Career Fellow and Postdoctoral Fellow at The University of Texas at Austin. His research focuses on using... Read More →

Jennifer Simmons

CTE Teacher, CTE Teacher and JTS Instructional Designs, Owner

I am a CTE educator, EdTech leader, and doctoral student in Educational Technology who designs hands‑on, future‑ready learning experiences for diverse learners. My work centers STEAM, coding, AI literacy, and sustainability, empowering students, especially young women, to see... Read More →

Evan Shieh

AI Ethics Researcher and Educator / Executive Director, Young Data Scientists League

As an AI ethics researcher and educator, I could not be doing the work I'm doing without the diverse, multicultural communities I've been blessed to be a part of. Participating in AI ethics requires navigating the tensions, challenges, and insights that come from applying multiple... Read More →

Tiphany Burrell

Development Manager - Houston, Young Women's Preparatory Network

Tiphany Burrell is a Houston-based development leader with more than 20 years of experience advancing education, equity, economic mobility, and community impact. She specializes in fundraising, strategic partnerships, and program sustainability, helping mission-driven organizations... Read More →

WTCS Summit 2026 Panel From Classroom to Career pdf

Monday June 15, 2026 12:45pm - 1:45pm CDT
San Gabriel A & B - 3rd Floor

AI/Data Science, K-12

2:00pm CDT

Ethical AI Policies for High School: Moving Beyond Detection

Monday June 15, 2026 2:00pm - 3:00pm CDT

San Juan B - 3rd Floor

Design AI policies that celebrate student agency instead of assuming the worst. This practical workshop helps educators move beyond detection anxiety to proactive approaches honoring learner judgment and ethical reasoning. Participants will analyze effective policy models from schools nationwide, experience firsthand how students navigate AI tools, and draft context-specific policies that trust student brilliance. Leave with research-backed templates, communication resources, and confidence to lead conversations that celebrate students as capable, thoughtful collaborators with emerging technologies.

Presenters

Terri Eichholz

Instructional Designer/Educator, Mark Cuban Foundation AI Bootcamp

At the Mark Cuban Foundation, I lead AI Bootcamp initiatives for high school teachers across the country, developing curriculum on promoting AI agency for both secondary teachers and their students.

Talk to me about:
Lateral reading and source evaluation in an AI-generated worldWhat "AI agency" actually means for high school studentsEncouraging ethical and responsible use of AIThe tension between teaching students to use AI tools and teaching them to question those same toolsWhy AI detectors do... Read More →

Monday June 15, 2026 2:00pm - 3:00pm CDT
San Juan B - 3rd Floor

AI/Data Science, High School

2:00pm CDT

Modifying CS Courses in the Age of AI

Monday June 15, 2026 2:00pm - 3:00pm CDT

San Felipe A & B - 2nd Floor

The emergence of AI fundamentally reshapes the landscape of computer science education. This session explores practical strategies for modifying existing CS courses to address the age of AI. We will discuss integrating AI literacy, updating curriculum to focus on new essential skills, and designing assessments that remain relevant. Join us to proactively prepare students for a future where AI is central to computing.

Presenters

Elaine Soares

Computer Science Education Specialist, UT Austin - TACC

Chanel Belvin

CS Education Specialist, UT Austin - TACC

Experienced Computer Science Teacher with a demonstrated history of working in the primary/secondary education industry. Skilled in Mobile Applications, Java, Community Service, Youth Ministry, and Training. Strong education professional with a Master of Arts - MA focused in Special... Read More →

Toni Dunlap

CS Education Specialist, UT Austin - TACC

Toni Dunlap joined the Expanding Pathways in Computing (EPIC) program at the Texas Advanced Computing Center (TACC) in August of 2024. Utilizing her prior knowledge and experience as a classroom teacher -- teaching computer science (CS) at the 6th - 12th grade level -- Toni develops... Read More →

Jimmy Newland

CS Education Specialist, UT Austin - TACC

I am a Computer Science Education Specialist with WeTeach_CS. I do secondary CS professional development, develop data science initiatives for our team, and participate in CS education research projects. I am very interested in CS integration into all parts of the curriculum, especially... Read More →

Monday June 15, 2026 2:00pm - 3:00pm CDT
San Felipe A & B - 2nd Floor

AI/Data Science, High School

10:00am CDT

AI-Powered Entrepreneurship: Celebrating Student Brilliance Through Innovation

Tuesday June 16, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am CDT

San Juan A - 3rd Floor

This hands-on session celebrates student brilliance by empowering teachers to integrate AI-guided entrepreneurship into their curriculum. Participants will experience a research-based pedagogical platform that scaffolds high school students through business ideation, pitch development, and startup fundamentals using adaptive AI feedback (aligned with Vygotsky's zone of proximal development). Through interactive demonstrations and authentic learning activities, educators will explore how machine learning personalizes content, provides real-time formative feedback, and prepares students for competitions and real-world innovation. Attendees will gain practical strategies for implementing AI-powered tools that develop computational thinking, ethical technology use, and 21st-century entrepreneurial skills in their classrooms.

Presenters

Lu Sun

AItitut / UC Davis

Alfredo Costilla Reyes

Educator and Entrepreneur, Altitut / UC Davis

Tuesday June 16, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am CDT
San Juan A - 3rd Floor

AI/Data Science, High School

10:00am CDT

Python for Emergent Bilingual students

Tuesday June 16, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am CDT

San Juan B - 3rd Floor

This session demonstrates how Python programming can be made more accessible for Emergent Bilingual students using AutoAuto AI. Participants will explore how AI-supported text-based coding scaffolds English comprehension, vocabulary, and syntax while supporting Python learning, helping educators create more inclusive and equitable computer science experiences.

Presenters

Francisco Gabriel Nila

STEM Teacher, Austin ISD

I’m a STEM teacher who brings computer science to life through hands-on projects like RC cars, micro, and digital fabrication. I’m passionate about making STEM accessible for all learners through inclusive, real-world experiences. Excited to connect and share ideas at the WeTeach_CS... Read More →

Tuesday June 16, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am CDT
San Juan B - 3rd Floor

AI/Data Science, Middle School (Grades 6-8)

11:15am CDT

Prediction vs. Judgment: Teaching the One Skill AI Will Never Have: Why Computer Science Education Must Pivot—Now

Tuesday June 16, 2026 11:15am - 12:15pm CDT

San Juan A - 3rd Floor

AI can predict better than any human. It can't judge. It can't weigh trade-offs or decide if its own output is actually good. That's our job—and it's the job we should be teaching.
This hands-on session introduces a framework for teaching judgment alongside traditional CS skills. You'll learn to design activities where students make real decisions with real stakes, practice "context engineering" (coaching AI instead of prompting it), and apply "factory floor thinking" to redesign workflows rather than just speed them up. Walk out with activities you can use Monday.

Presenters

Curry Tarquinn

Teacher, Long Beach Unified School District

Tarquinn Curry is an experienced middle school educator, AI trainer, and educational innovator based in Long Beach, California. With over two decades in the classroom, he focuses on helping teachers and organizations use artificial intelligence in practical, ethical, and impactful... Read More →

Tuesday June 16, 2026 11:15am - 12:15pm CDT
San Juan A - 3rd Floor

AI/Data Science, Middle School and High School (Grades 6-12)

11:15am CDT

Preparing Students for an AI-Native World

Tuesday June 16, 2026 11:15am - 12:15pm CDT

San Felipe A & B - 2nd Floor

As AI reshapes every industry, students need more than exposure—they need fluency. This session demonstrates how to teach core AI concepts through engaging, real-world labs in language, audio, and video, empowering students to build and think critically with AI.

Presenters

J Whorley

Assistant Director for Operations, Machine Learning Lab and IFML, UT Austin

Tuesday June 16, 2026 11:15am - 12:15pm CDT
San Felipe A & B - 2nd Floor

AI/Data Science, High School

11:15am CDT

Teaching Machines to Learn: Making AI & Machine Learning Visible in Middle School

Tuesday June 16, 2026 11:15am - 12:15pm CDT

San Xavier - 3rd Floor

In this hands-on session, participants will explore machine learning and AI through core concepts from the AI4GA curriculum. Educators will train a real-image classifier using Google’s Teachable Machine by collecting image data, building and testing a model, and iterating to improve accuracy. The session highlights classification, training data, model accuracy, and bias while celebrating student brilliance through creativity, collaboration, and iterative problem solving, helping all learners see themselves as capable AI thinkers and informed digital citizens.

Presenters

Cindy Hopkins

educator, Kaffie Middle School

Facebook.com/cindy.hopkins.35/

Westley Halbardier

Middle School CS Teacher, Hondo ISD

I am a 9-year teacher, teaching computer science and digital media at McDowell Middle School in Hondo.

Tuesday June 16, 2026 11:15am - 12:15pm CDT
San Xavier - 3rd Floor

AI/Data Science, Middle School (Grades 6-8)

1:30pm CDT

ALIGN Participant Poster Symposium (Sponsored Session)

Tuesday June 16, 2026 1:30pm - 2:30pm CDT

San Felipe A & B - 2nd Floor

ALIGN STEM Academy teacher will share their end-of-program artifacts as posters.

Presenters

Elaine Soares

Computer Science Education Specialist, UT Austin - TACC

Allen Antoine

Director, CS and AI Education, UT Austin - TACC

Tuesday June 16, 2026 1:30pm - 2:30pm CDT
San Felipe A & B - 2nd Floor

AI/Data Science, Middle School (Grades 6-8)

1:30pm CDT

Celebrating Brilliance: Making AI Visible, Ethical, and Teachable

Tuesday June 16, 2026 1:30pm - 2:30pm CDT

San Juan B - 3rd Floor

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning are already shaping how students learn across content areas. This hands-on session focuses on best practices for integrating AI/ML concepts into computer science and other classrooms, emphasizing computational thinking, ethical use, and student understanding over the use of tools alone. Participants will explore how machine learning systems are trained, identify sources of bias, and experience classroom-ready strategies that connect CS concepts to real-world applications in core subjects. Attendees will leave with practical frameworks, activities, and resources to confidently integrate AI across disciplines.

Presenters

Carl Mohn

Digital Learning Specialist, Region 7 Education Service Center

Tuesday June 16, 2026 1:30pm - 2:30pm CDT
San Juan B - 3rd Floor

AI/Data Science, Middle School and High School (Grades 6-12)

9:45am CDT

9:45am CDT

12:45pm CDT

12:45pm CDT

2:00pm CDT

2:00pm CDT

10:00am CDT

10:00am CDT

11:15am CDT

11:15am CDT

11:15am CDT

1:30pm CDT

1:30pm CDT

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