Courtney Grimes, a representative from C Spire, has been instrumental in the company’s efforts to support K-12 students in Mississippi through donations and partnerships with educational institutions. The C Spire Foundation recently made a generous donation of $180,000 to Mississippi State University to further promote STEM education and the development of online computer science courses for students in the state. This initiative comes on the heels of a previous $1 million donation in 2021, which aimed to train over 3,000 K-12 teachers in computer science.
The donation from the C Spire Foundation will help schools in Mississippi meet the requirements set forth by House Bill 633, which mandates that all K-12 public schools in the state must teach computer science by the 2024-2025 academic year. To support schools in fulfilling this requirement and to address the need for qualified computer science teachers, the C Spire Foundation has partnered with the Center for Cyber Education at Mississippi State University.
Beth Pickering, the president and executive director of the C Spire Foundation, emphasized the importance of improving lives through technology and supporting STEM education for students in the region. The collaboration with the Center for Cyber Education will provide high schools with free access to quality computer science courses for the upcoming school years.
The Center for Cyber Education plans to offer two online courses as part of this initiative: Exploring Computer Science and Advanced Placement Computer Science Principles (AP CSP). These courses will be taught by qualified Mississippi teachers through online instruction, with schools expected to provide a classroom space and facilitator for students to participate during their regular school day. Exploring Computer Science is an introductory course covering various aspects of computer science, while AP CSP is a college-level computing course that introduces students to the field.
Shelly Hollis, the director of the Center for Cyber Education at Mississippi State University, highlighted the significance of the partnership with the C Spire Foundation in advancing computer science education in the state. The collaboration has led to a significant increase in the number of teachers trained in computer science and the enrollment of students in computer science courses across Mississippi.
The Center for Cyber Education was recognized at the 2023 Global CS Education Conference for Mississippi’s achievement in being number one nationwide for increasing computer science enrollment. The growth in teachers teaching computer science classes and students enrolled in these courses is a testament to the impact of initiatives supported by organizations like the C Spire Foundation.
Since 1997, C Spire has been actively involved in promoting education in Mississippi through scholarships and initiatives that encourage students to pursue careers in STEM-related fields. The C Spire Foundation’s focus on STEM and STEAM education for K-12 students in Mississippi reflects its commitment to inspiring a passion for learning and transforming the communities it serves.
In conclusion, the partnership between the C Spire Foundation and the Center for Cyber Education at Mississippi State University is making a significant impact on computer science education in Mississippi. Through donations, partnerships, and initiatives, these organizations are helping to prepare students for success in a technology-driven world.
