March is Women’s History Month. A teacher and students at Spruce Mountain High School are making a difference currently that could have lasting impacts for women in the future. This is the second in a series about those individuals.

JAY — Individuals at Spruce Mountain High School are again being recognized for computer aspirations.

Teacher Kymberly Bryant and her former student, Lily Bailey were recently named the 2022 Maine affiliate winners of the National Center for Women & Information Technology Aspirations in Computing Educator Award and Aspirations in Computing Award, respectively. They are both Regional Affiliate Award winners, Bryant said.

Earlier this year Bryant and SMHS received College Board’s Advanced Placement Computer Science Female Diversity Award, the only ones recognized in Maine.

“I had Mrs. Bryant for computer science principals as a freshman,” Bailey, now a junior said recently. “She was a great teacher. She told me to go out for this award. I found out there was a teacher one, told her to go out for it too.”

“Students have to be nominated by an educator and educators must have a student nominee to be eligible,” Bryant had said earlier.

“Mrs. Bryant is very articulate,” Bailey said. “Her teaching style is very hands-on, not just standing at a board teaching. She has us do activities to further our understanding.”

“It is pretty cool that SMHS is getting recognized for our outstanding girls in computing!” Bryant said.

Bailey said she has neuromuscular conditions which limit her mobility.

This is not the first time Bailey nominated a teacher for an award. In 2019 she nominated Spruce Mountain Middle School teacher Rob Taylor who was named Franklin County Teacher of the Year. Taylor was one of three finalists for the state award.

“The Maine NCWIT Award for Aspirations in Computing (AiC) recognizes 9th-12th grade women, genderqueer, and non-binary students for their computing-related achievements and interests, as part of an effort to encourage a diverse range of students to choose careers in technology,” according to  a release provided by Bryant. “Award recipients were selected … for their outstanding aptitude and aspirations in technology and computing as demonstrated by their computing experience, computing-related activities, leadership experience, tenacity in the face of barriers to access, and plans for post-secondary education.

“Each recipient will receive recognition and prizes; induction into the AiC Community; access to resources, scholarships, and internship opportunities; and more, the release continued.

“Encouraging all students’ interest in technology careers is critical: our workforce needs their creativity and unique perspectives to produce technology that is as broad and innovative as the population it serves,” said NCWIT CEO and Co-founder Lucy Sanders.

“The Educator Award identifies exemplary formal and informal educators who play a pivotal role in encouraging 9th-12th grade women, genderqueer, or non-binary students to explore their interest in computing and technology,” the release noted. “More than 100 recipients were selected. Each recipient will receive recognition, a trophy, and prizes, including eligibility to apply for professional development funds.

“These educators’ support goes a long way in motivating students to apply their creativity and unique perspectives as they learn computational skills. Students are often more likely to pursue computing education when they are encouraged by their educators and other adult influencers,” Sanders said.

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