Celebrating #CSEdWeek at Corliss Early College STEM High School

| Dr. Leonard Harris, Principal at Corliss Early College STEM High School

Each December, Microsoft is proud to partner on a global level with code.org and their Hour of Code program. The Hour of Code is a global movement reaching tens of millions of students in 180+ countries. Anyone, anywhere can organize an Hour of Code event. One-hour tutorials are available in over 45 languages. No experience needed. Ages 4 to 104. Find free tutorials here: https://hourofcode.com/us

To support the Early College STEM Schools and the Computer Science 4 All program, Chicago Public Schools and local nonprofits turn their focus to enhancing STEM and STEAM skills through the Hour of Code (HoC). We’re delighted to share with you a series of guest blogs from leaders at CPS about why  Computer Science skills are so important to students for their long term success. Each story is a little different, but all reinforce the positive impact coding and Computer Science skills have on the education process.

— Shelley Stern Grach

Students at Corliss HS partake in the Hour of Code

We at Corliss Early College STEM High School are proud to celebrate Computer Science Education Week as part of our Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) focus. For the past 4 years Corliss has been a participant in the global movement to provide access to basic concepts of computer programming to students and parents though the Hour of Code. We want to generate exciting discussions creating the technology and engineering marvels of the day. This year, we will host elementary students during Computer Science Education Week. Students will visit various stations where they will participate in coding exercises, prototyping, and an engineering project to solidify their understanding of logical reasoning and critical thinking.  For Corliss students, we don’t start or stop with coding: we teach processes around design cycles and prototyping; we also link our technology studies to literacy, writing, and collaboration strategies that ensure students not only succeed in their content skills but also in reading, writing, math and teamwork. In doing so, over the past four years, our teachers and students have begun an educational transformation which emphasizes Problem Based Learning, solving real-world problems, harnessing challenges in the 21st century global economy.

The STEM Program at Corliss allows students the opportunity take college courses while enrolled in high school and are able to earn an Associate’s degree in three different IT fields (Networking, Web Design, Computer Science.) According to a recent Bloomberg Business article, in the last 8 years of our recovery the economy is adding good jobs in the technical fields that require at least an Associate’s degree. Corliss High School is the premier STEM destination for all students who wish to experience learning by doing, and mastering skills that they can take directly to college or into the workforce to build success in our 21st century job market.

Corliss Early College STEM High School will host The Hour of Code from 9:00-12:00 pm on Friday, December 9th. If technology professionals would like to participate or assist, please contact our STEM Program Manager, Phylydia Hudson at (773)535-5131 or [email protected].  

dr-leonard-harris-11-22-16Dr. Leonard Harris was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois and is a proud product of Chicago Public Schools. Dr. Harris is a lifelong learner with a B.S. in Marketing and M.S in Finance from Roosevelt University. He also has an M.S. in Project Management from Keller Graduate School of Management. In 2015 he was awarded his doctorate degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago in School Leadership. Dr. Harris pursued a career in finance and marketing before moving into education because he wished to make a difference in the lives of children and young adults. He worked first as a Special Education teacher and then moved into administration. Dr. Harris became Principal of Corliss High School in 2012, implementing its new Early College STEM program not far from his boyhood home. He feels blessed to have the opportunity to give back to his childhood community and to bring the much needed technology focus to the students in Pullman Community and the city of and to the skills to his students.

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