The Dougherty County School System has been awarded a $25,000 grant to help support computer science opportunities for students in the district, state officials announced recently. 

Computer science is a foundation for many fields, including data science, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and software engineering.

Dr. Michelle Sizemore, the district’s Content Coordinator for Science for Middle and High School, says that the majority of the funding will go to help provide Computer Science endorsements for teachers in the district. 

“Through this grant we have enough funding to fund the endorsement of 15 teachers for Computer Science,” she said. “That will provide enough teachers to expand the curriculum for all of our middle and high schools.” 

Dr. Michelle Bergozza, the district’s Content Coordinator for Science for Elementary Schools, said that the ultimate vision is to expand the Computer Science curriculum into each of the district’s 14 elementary schools. 

“It’s really cool,” Bergozza said. “This grant will help purchase robots and programs that will introduce coding and computer science for elementary students by integrating with what they’re already doing in English/Language Arts, Science, Math and Social Studies.”

The push for a broader computer science curriculum integrated through K-12 is a touch point on one of the district’s top strategic priorities: increasing academic rigor and relevance for all students.

A recent study conducted by McKinsey and Company, shows that the need for technological and soft skills is growing in workplaces across the world and that, for students currently enrolled in the district, learning and understanding computer science skills is more relevant than ever. 

In addition to providing a foundation for specific careers, computer science can also help students develop valuable soft skills such as problem-solving. It can teach students how to break down complex problems into smaller, more manageable parts and how to think logically and creatively to find solutions. These skills are applicable to a wide range of fields and disciplines, making computer science a valuable subject for any student to learn.

Dr. Heather Corbett, the district’s Director of Career, Technical and Agricultural Education, said that the skills gained by students through Computer Science will help prepare them to enter the workforce. 

“The jobs that a lot of our students will be pursuing haven’t even been created yet,” Corbett said. “So by thinking innovatively and staying ahead of the curve when it comes to technical education and higher-order thinking, we’re better able to prepare them for what may be waiting for them when they join the workforce.”