CS Educator Award | CSTA Rhode Island

CS4RI team at RIDE and the Computer Science Teachers Association Rhode Island chapter (CSTA-RI) annually recognize an outstanding Rhode Island computer science teacher for their impact on students and their community. This year and moving forward, the annual award will be named in honor of Dr. Carol Giuriceo a friend, colleague, and integral part of the CS4RI team and Director of the RI STEAM Center at Rhode Island College.

Carol M. Giuriceo passed away on July 30, 2021 after a battle with pancreatic cancer that she faced with courage, grace, and humor. After graduating with a degree in film and television from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, Carol began a multi-faceted career, which included media production, museum exhibition development and design, undergraduate teaching, inclusivity projects, and program evaluation. While working as the Thematic Director, Invention at Liberty Science Center in New Jersey, she became interested in innovation and equity in science education, which led her to doctoral studies in a joint program at the University of Rhode Island and Rhode Island College.

After completing a Ph.D. in Education in 2011, Carol became Director of the Rhode Island STEAM Center at Rhode Island College in Providence in 2013. Her work at the STEAM Center included creating partnerships with formal and informal K-16 education, business and industry, and government agencies to increase science, technology, engineering, arts and design, mathematics (STEAM) literacy among all Rhode Islanders.

Carol’s passion for and commitment to mentoring and fostering inclusion in STEAM fields led to her participation in several related initiatives. She was proud to serve as Chair of the Million Women Mentors, Rhode Island Executive Team, as a member of the Leadership Team of Computer Science for Rhode Island (CS4RI) initiative, and as Co-Coordinator of the NCWIT Aspirations in Computing, RI Affiliate.

In 2018, Carol was recognized with a ‘Rhode Island Monthly and the Tech Collective TECH 10 Award.” This award recognizes local individuals across ten categories from tech education to entrepreneurs who are shaping the future of modern society.

Over the years, Carol’s warm and friendly personality touched friends and family alike. She is remembered not only as a dedicated professional, but also as a creative, loving, smart, fun, inspiring person who believed in putting good out into the world. She was always caring and supportive and her family and colleagues will miss the light of her presence dearly.

2023 Dr. Carol Giuriceo Computer Science Teacher of the Year Award

Elizabeth Patterson

Elizabeth (Liz) Patterson of Portsmouth High School has been selected as the 2023 Dr. Carol Giuriceo Computer Science Teacher of the Year!

Liz was selected from a competitive applicant pool this year which speaks to the volume of exceptional Computer Science teachers in Rhode Island. Liz is a dedicated and passionate Math and Computer Science teacher who engages a diverse group of students with her love of technology. Beyond teaching Java, Video Game Development and AP CS Principles, Liz embraces a growth mindset and fosters a loving school community. Liz takes advantage of every professional learning opportunity that comes her way and pays it forward by sharing her wealth of knowledge and experience with her students. Liz’s advocacy for Computer Science in her school and district has led to increased opportunities for all Portsmouth students to engage in and further pursue Computer Science.

Liz was a part of the team that worked closely with Dr. Carol Guiriceo to develop the Rhode Island Computer Science standards.

2022 Dr. Carol Giuriceo Computer Science Teacher of the Year Award

Patricia Piros

Patricia Piros is the Computer Science Program Instructor at East Providence High School Career and Technical Center. 2022 recipient of the Carol Giuriceo Computer Science Teacher of the Year award, Pati

has been an important member of the CSTA-RI/CS4RI community. Over the years we have witnessed how she provides authentic learning experiences, helping to place students in internships, and meaningful hands-on work-based learning experiences. She regularly gives up her time after school, on weekends, and during the summer to work with students in extracurricular activities such as the Cybersecurity Camp, and managing the school website. Furthermore, Mrs. Piros is constantly engaged in professional development to improve her craft and be able to keep her students up to date with the latest trends in Information Technology. This includes training in 4 URI concurrent enrollment courses, 3 Project Lead the Way courses, 3 Bloomboard Micro-credentials, and being a Raspberry Pi Certified Educator.

CSTA-RI was blessed by Pati who in 2022 was elected Secretary of the chapter!

2021 Dr. Carol Giuriceo Computer Science Teacher of the Year Award

Alison Murray

Alison Murray teaches and inspires students in Central Falls and colleagues across the state. As 2021’s recipient of the Carol Giuriceo Computer Science Teacher of the Year award, Alison embodies all the values that Carol and the CS4RI team hold as a beacon in their work. She has worked tirelessly to broaden the reach of computer science for typically underrepresented students. She has done this by designing a comprehensive Computer Science program for students in Central Falls. She has implemented and broadly shared CS curriculum modifications to increase access for English language learners. She is committed to supporting her CS educator colleagues across the state to achieving the same excellence in their classrooms as she does in hers. As an example, she is committed to connecting students with diverse industry mentors so they can see themselves in the CS field. She has not only worked to connect her own students to a diverse group of industry mentors but has also created a website show-casing diverse Rhode Island CS professionals that serves as a resource for teachers and students across the state. This year’s recipient amazingly finds time serve as the Lead Trainer providing professional development to over 50 colleagues across the state as well as an active member of the Computer Science Teacher Association RI chapter.

As the recipient of the award, Alison will be working with CSTA-RI and CS4RI to share innovative practices and pedagogy in computer science.

2020 CS4RI/CSTA-RI Computer Science Education Award

Doug Rademacher

Doug Rademacher, lead computer science and information technology teacher at the Met School in Providence, Rhode Island has been named the recipient of the 2020 CS4RI/CSTA-RI Computer Science Education Award. The award recognizes an educator who demonstrates a strong commitment to computer science education in their schools, districts, and communities. Doug was selected through a competitive process that was open to all full-time, licensed K-12 teachers in Rhode Island who have at least 3 years of experience teaching and 1 year of computer science teaching.

Doug has been with the Met School in Providence since 2010. Prior to joining the Met, he worked in the IT industry, his last position being VP/CIO at Rhode Island-based APC. Over the past two years, Doug has developed the Met’s CS/IT program and established student internships at several local businesses and organizations. He worked with CS4RI this year to pilot a U.S. Department of Education funded work-based learning course which will be implemented in 10 schools next year. Doug is also a board member of Junior Achievement RI.

As the recipient of the award, Doug will be working with CSTA-RI and CS4RI to share innovative practices and pedagogy in computer science.

2019 CS4RI/CSTA-RI Computer Science Education Award

Bryan Lucas

Bryan Lucas, computer science/literacy teacher at Chariho Middle School has been named the recipient of the 2019 CS4RI/CSTA-RI Computer Science Education Award. The award recognizes an educator who demonstrates a strong commitment to computer science education in their schools, districts, and communities. Mr. Lucas was selected through a competitive process that was open to all full-time, licensed K-12 teachers in Rhode Island who have at least 3 years of experience teaching and 1 year of computer science teaching.

Mr. Lucas has been with the Chariho Regional School District since 2006 after a long and distinguished career with the United States Navy. His local and state involvement include working with the Center for Leadership and Educational Equity for middle school professional development and collaborating with University of Rhode Island faculty, the Rhode Island Department of Education and state offices to develop computer science curriculum for all Rhode island schools under a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant. He also served on the advisory committee that developed the Rhode Island K-12 Computer Science Education Standards.

As the recipient of the award, Mr. Lucas will be working with CS4RI and CSTA-RI to share innovative practices and pedagogy in computer science.