October 2025 Newsletter

The school year is in full swing, and so are the opportunities in computer science! This month’s newsletter highlights resources, professional learning, and upcoming events to keep your CS momentum going. Be sure to check it out—and join our Community of Practice for even more.

Join us in celebrating Cybersecurity Awareness Month this October! Together, we can equip the next generation with the skills they need for a secure digital future and prepare them for exciting careers in cybersecurity.

We’re also excited to launch our new Cyber Bytes webinar series with a special session on Cybersecurity Awareness Month. Jennifer Ehehalt, Senior Education Program Manager at Common Sense Media, will join us to explore how schools and communities can promote safe, responsible, and secure technology use. For more information, to RSVP for this event, and to see future Cyber Bytes topics, just click on this link.

In addition, we’re offering other great professional learning opportunities this fall:

• Cybersecurity Through Capture the Flag Workshops (October)
  

• Cohort 2 of the Cybersecurity Pathway for 7–12/CTE (Starts October 16)

More information on these opportunities can be found in this newsletter or at: www.pattan.net/CSinPApd

Explore even more tools, activities, and classroom resources on our Cybersecurity Resource Page by clicking this link .

Together, let’s create a safer online environment for all learners.

Tamar McPherson, CS Teacher at Plum Borough School District, was selected as a 2025-2026 CSTA Responsible AI Fellow!

The fellows were selected through a rigorous application process from 152 applicants nationwide, based on their demonstrated passion for ensuring all students can engage meaningfully with AI concepts, evidence of leadership abilities, and commitment to responsible AI education. Selection criteria emphasized educators’ understanding of responsible AI development and deployment, ability to work with diverse groups, and clear vision for improving equitable access to AI education.

Tamar, we know you’ll shine in this role!

Educators across Pennsylvania are invited to join an engaging Capture the Flag (CTF) workshop designed to bring cybersecurity to life in the classroom. During this hands-on professional learning experience, participants will tackle challenges in cryptography, web security, and forensics while working together to solve problems aligned with CSTA standards. The workshop in collaboration with Carnegie Mellon University and Pico CTF, includes CTF competition simulation, guidance on creating age-appropriate challenges, and support to design a school-based CTF program plan. Attendees will also have the opportunity to join the Pennsylvania CTF Educator Network, fostering collaboration and long-term program growth.

Workshops will be hosted at three locations: Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh (October 15–16, 2025), PaTTAN Central in Harrisburg (October 22–23, 2025), and PaTTAN East in Malvern (October 29–30, 2025). There is no cost to participate, and breakfast and lunch are provided. Travel and lodging are available for qualifying participants, along with substitute stipends. In addition, educators who complete both days are eligible for a $450 stipend. No prior cybersecurity experience is required, making this an excellent opportunity for computer science teachers, STEM educators, IU staff, and anyone passionate about preparing students for high-demand technology careers.

If you are interested in this unique opportunity please click on this Smore to learn more and register.

This 2025-26 school year, we’ll be launching a asynchronous/virtual 6-month educator cohort from October 2025 to March 2026 to help educators like you learn about a fully accessible programming language Quorum. This unique PD experience for all CS educators on how to use the Quorum programming language, specifically designed to be easy to learn and use for students of all abilities.

Participants in the cohort will receive a $350 stipend along with structured support, hands-on learning, best practices, and ready-to-use curriculum that includes interactive lessons, study aids, and activities. The program also fosters peer collaboration with a community of educators and industry experts, equipping teachers with valuable resources to integrate accessible programming into their classrooms.Visit our Smore for details and registration.

Registration is now open for the first cohort of the 2025 - 2026 School year in our Micro-credential Program.

The following courses are available:

• AI in the Classroom: Introduction (2-hour)

• AI in the Classroom: Integrating AI to Support Student Learning (4- hour)

• Cybersecurity in the K-8 classroom: Introduction (2-hour)

• Using Music to Engage Students in CS Learning (4-hour)

• Empowering all students in CS Learning through a Behavioral approach (4-hour)

• Data Science in K–8 Classrooms: Connecting Concepts Through Computer Science

Additionally, Introduction to CS Education (3 hours) is available on the SAS website. This is our previous foundational CSinPA: Why, What, and How, which can be accessed through the PD Center on the Standards Aligned System (SAS) website. Click the link and follow the instructions to enroll

The CSinPA team is currently hosting a series of webinars covering all the different ways AI is impacting education. You can find the schedule of upcoming topics, along with recordings of past webinars, in this section of our Community of Practice.

Upcoming Topics

10/2 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm – Student Data, Privacy, and AI

10/8 9:00 am - 10:00 am – Creative AI in the Classroom

10/17 2:30 pm - 3:30 pm – AI in the K-3 Classroom

Visit the AI in Education Webinar Series flyer for more information.

We are excited to announce that we will be hosting the CS + AI Summit. Save the date for November 17-18 at PaTTAN Harrisburg. For more information, check out the Save the Date!

Registration is now open! Travel scholarships are available.

Join us for the kickoff of our new CyberBytes webinar series! In recognition of Cybersecurity Awareness Month, on October 2 at 3:30.

We’ll be joined by Jennifer Ehehalt Senior Education Program Manager from Common Sense Media to explore how schools and communities can promote safe, responsible, and secure technology use.

For more information and to RSVP for this event and see future CyberBytes topics just click on this link

We are excited to invite your school to participate in the High School Student Spotlight at The Global Impact Forum (TGIF) 2025, hosted by Penn State on Tuesday, November 4, 2025 in Pittsburgh.

This free, one-day opportunity will bring together nearly 200 high school students across Pennsylvania to explore STEM and AI workshops and connect with educators, innovators, and industry leaders from across the region.

Learn More and Apply Today An educator or advisor must complete the Interest Form on behalf of the school. Schools may bring up to 10 students with a minimum of 2 chaperones. Selected schools will be contacted to complete official registration and required paperwork.

If you are a PA educator interested in attending the full TGIF Conference, AI focused sessions, networking opportunities etc., we’re offering 30% off registration! Apply code PAEDGE at checkout to secure your discount.

The future won’t wait, neither should our classrooms. The Hour of AI makes it possible for any teacher, in any subject, to bring AI literacy into their lessons. One hour can inspire students to think bigger, ask bolder questions, and imagine what’s next.

The Hour of AI is a new global moment launching TODAY (October 2, 2025), built by the creators of the Hour of Code. It’s a free, easy, and exciting first step for students and educators to explore how to shape AI—and how to create with it.

Hour of AI aims to drive student and teacher engagement in AI by demystifying the black box. This year’s theme is “Lead with Empowerment.” Find out more about the engaging, hands-on activities on this site.

The Congressional App Challenge is the official student STEM competition of the U.S. House of Representatives. It’s an annual nationwide competition hosted by Members of Congress designed to inspire middle and high school students to explore STEM fields.

Visit this page to learn more and apply.

The Pennsylvania Department of Education is pleased to announce that the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) is launching its ninth annual Innovations Challenge, which encourages students to use their problem-solving, creative and strategic-thinking abilities to solve real-world transportation challenges in a competition among their peers. The Innovations Challenge is open to all students in grades 9-12, regardless of their school’s learning model.

For this year’s challenge, students are asked to develop a concept for the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in work zones to dramatically improve safety for work crews and road users. The concept must outline how PennDOT can use smarter systems to prevent crashes and protect those who are working to build a better Pennsylvania. The concept should also take into consideration cost-benefit information, statewide deployment implications, as well as public outreach.

For complete Innovations Challenge details, visit www.penndot.pa.gov/innovation and click on the PennDOT Innovations Challenge link. The submission deadline is January 30, 2026.

Accessing the CSinPA Toolkit is now simpler than ever!

Our new, shorter URL — www.pattan.net/CSinPA — is quick to type and easy to remember.

Explore lessons, tools, and supports designed to help bring CS learning to every classroom in Pennsylvania.

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