March 22, 2014 | by Staff Writer

Students ‘Code Jam’ at Wheaton HS (Photos)

Montgomery County Public Schools announced partnerships with the Hispanic Heritage Foundation and Code.org Monday, March 24 at Wheaton High School.

The partnerships will encourage and prepare students to enter technology careers. Following the announcement, students participated in a coding jam session led by the Hispanic Heritage Foundation and Code.org.

Code.org is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to expanding student participation in computer science. The Hispanic Heritage Foundation through their LOFT (Leaders on Fast Track) program strifes to introduce minority youth to computer coding as a bridge to career paths in technology fields to fill the skills gap in America.

Immediately following the press conference, the Hispanic Heritage Foundation and Code.org staff led dozens of Wheaton High School students in a two-hour coding “jam session” where students learned the fundamentals of coding through interactive activities during this bilingual session.

The Code.org partnership will begin with 10 MCPS high schools in the 2014-2015 school year and will provide increased access to computer science courses, curriculum and resources.

Among those at today’s event:

-Mr. Philip Kauffman, president, Montgomery County Board of Education
-Dr. Joshua P. Starr, Superintendent of Schools
-Ms. Nancy Navarro, Montgomery County Councilmember
-Mr. Antonio Tijerino, president, Hispanic Heritage Foundation
-Mr. Jake Baskin, program manager, Code.org
-Mr. Bennie Green, principal, Wheaton High School

Photos of today’s event: