Connect with CSTA Washington at CSTA 2026

ByCSTA Washington Staff
CSTA Conf created by Gemini

Let the Good Times Roll!

The ultimate community gathering for K–12 computer science educators is just around the corner! From July 13 to July 15, 2026, computer science teachers from across the globe are heading to New Orleans for the CSTA 2026 Annual Conference.

CSTA Washington will be out in full force to soak up the city’s vibrant energy, dive into incredible professional development, and represent our amazing Pacific Northwest CS community. Whether you are traveling from across the state or attending virtually, we want to make sure you feel connected to the CSTA Washington family while in the Big Easy.

Here is a guide to where you can find us, learn from us, and network with our chapter members during the event.

🌟 Catch Our Chapter Speakers

We are incredibly proud of our local leaders and educators who have been selected to share their expertise on the national stage. Be sure to add these sessions to your CSTA 2026 app planner and pack the room to support our Washington presenters!

  • July 14, 9:30 – 10:30 | Preparing Students for the workplace with GitHub Education, Jacqueline Russell
  • July 14, 11:00 – 12:00 | Bridging the Gap: ‘TeachReady’ Starter Pack for New Educators, Anthony Barba
  • July 14, 3:00 – 3:20 | Abstraction in EdTech vs. Computer Science Education Standards, Lawrence Tanimoto
  • July 15, 11:00 – 12:00 | Physical Computing + AI Literacy = “Physical AI!” with MakeCode, Jacqueline Russell
  • July 15, 11:00 -12:00 | Visible Mending to Teach CS and Sustainability, Jayne Everson
  • July 15, 1:30 – 2:30 | Ways to Grow and LEAD, Michele Lombardi
  • July 15, 3:00 – 5:30 | Build, Test, Teach: A Hands-On Microsoft Workshop for CS Educators, Jacqueline Russell
  • July 15, 3:00 – 5:30 |Interdisciplinary AI Toolkit — From Theory to Practice, Denise Thompson

👋 Known Attendees: Who is Going?

Looking for a familiar face in the crowd? A fantastic cohort of CSTA Washington members, board representatives, and local CS champions will be walking the conference floors.

The following current and incoming CSTA Washington Board Members will be at the conference:  Michelle Laskowski (President), Melissa Cook (Secretary), Lawrence Tanimoto (Treasurer), Denise Thompson (VP I-5 Corridor), Trish Henry (VP  Eastern North), Erin Murphy (VP Southern), Anthony Barba (Member-at-Large: Membership), Jacqueline Russell (Member-at-Large: Communications), Lauren Bricker (Immediate Past President).

In addition, Jayne Everson of foundry10 and many of the members of the foundry10 Computer Science Educator Fellowship will also be in attendance.

If you spot any of us, please come say hello! We would love to chat about your school year, hear what sessions you are loving, and share ideas to bring back to our state.

☕ Join Us for an Informal CSTA Washington Meetup!

There is nothing quite like sitting down over great food and conversation to process everything we are learning.

For the past few years, CSTA Washington has hosted an informal meetup for members to gather one evening after sessions are over.  We meet up again this year, and as our President, Michelle, knows the best places to go from her days at LSU, it will be even better.

Stay tuned to this blog post and to CSTAWA.org for the exact time and place of this year’s meetup.

🤝 Network and Stay in Touch

With over 200 sessions, specialized tracks covering everything from the launch of the new 2026 CSTA PK-12 Standards to Responsible AI, there’s  going to be a lot to unpack. Let’s keep the momentum going together.

  • Follow Along:  Consider joining the #conference channel on the CSforAll Washington Slack for everything from thought-provoking insights about the keynote to where everyone is meeting up for lunch.
  • Sport Your Washington Gear: If you have a CSTA Washington shirt or Washington-themed gear, wear it proudly on Monday so we can spot each other easily during the morning keynotes!
  • Share Your Insights:   Stay tuned to CSTAWA.org throughout the summer as fellow members share their insights into the conference and more.  Consider creating your own CSTAWA blog post.   And look out for a virtual Lunch and Learn event in September, where we all share a little of our discoveries from the conference, to help kick off the school year.

We can’t wait to learn, celebrate, and bring back fresh inspiration to classrooms across Washington state. See you in New Orleans!

***If you have any last-minute questions about connecting with CSTA Washington at the event, please send mail to washington@csteachers.org.

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