Member Spotlight: Trish Henry
Trish Henry is the CSTA Washington Vice President of the Eastern North Region.
Looking Back and Moving Forward
With more than 30 years of experience serving K–12 students and educators in Washington State, Trish has dedicated her career to creating meaningful learning experiences at the intersection of literacy, STEM, computer science, technology, and creativity.
Recently retired, Trish continues to be deeply engaged in education through her service on the CSTA Washington board. Retirement has provided an opportunity to continue doing what she has always been passionate about: connecting educators, sharing resources and ideas, supporting computer science education, and advocating for high-quality learning opportunities for all students.
Throughout her career, Trish has worked extensively in computer science, robotics, STEM integration, instructional technology, digital literacy, project-based learning, and library programs. Her work has always emphasized hands-on exploration and giving students opportunities to design, create, experiment, and solve authentic problems.
Trish has introduced educators and students to a variety of maker and physical computing tools, including Micro:bits, Makey Makey, 3D printing, and electronic circuits. From programming a Micro:bit and building interactive projects with Makey Makey to designing and 3D-printing creations and exploring circuits, these experiences have helped make computer science and technology tangible and accessible. She believes that some of the best learning happens when students can touch it, build it, break it, rethink it, and try again.
She has served as a trainer, mentor, curriculum developer, and professional learning facilitator and has collaborated with organizations including OSPI, Code.org, AVID, Whitworth University, and Central Washington University.
Her commitment to education has been recognized with the Washington State Library President’s Award and the ISTE Making It Happen Award.
For Trish, continuing to serve through CSTA Washington is about more than computer science. It is about supporting the educators who make learning possible and helping ensure that students have opportunities to be curious, creative, collaborative, and confident problem-solvers.
Community Challenges
That commitment feels particularly meaningful given the community challenges she has witnessed close to home.
Trish lives in the area impacted by the Olds Trail Fires in Spokane, where more than 3,000 acres were impacted. Nearly 700 homes in the Olds Trail area alone were lost, along with more than 900 structures across Spokane County.
In the midst of that devastation, Trish has also seen the important role schools play in supporting their communities. Local school districts made arrangements to bus displaced students to their home schools, helping provide continuity during an extraordinarily difficult time. Dorian, a company widely used by schools for photography, also offered free replacement school photos to families who lost theirs in the fires.
These examples reflect something Trish has understood throughout her career: schools are not simply places where students learn—they are communities of connection, stability, belonging, and support.
As Vice President of the Eastern North Region, Trish brings decades of experience, a deep commitment to educators, and a passion for creating opportunities for students to thrive.
We’re grateful for Trish’s continued leadership and service to CSTA Washington!
