Stephen F. Austin State University’s JacksTeach program is helping area educators earn certification to teach computer science at the high school level as part of the Texas Computer Science Pipeline initiative. Pictured front row, from left, are program participants and SFA alumni Trinity Forte ’22, Grapevine-Colleyville Independent School District; Skylar Chunn ’23, Lufkin ISD; and Avery Jones ’22, Grapevine-Colleyville ISD. Pictured back row, from left, are Tristen Benningfield ’24, Nacogdoches ISD, and Olivia Cruse ’23, Center ISD.
Several area educators are earning certification to teach computer science at the high school level through Stephen F. Austin State University’s JacksTeach program as part of the Texas Computer Science Pipeline initiative.
Funded through a $10 million appropriation by the Texas Legislature, the initiative addresses the urgent need for more teachers with computer science certification in Texas’ K-12 schools.
Skylar Chunn, an SFA alumna and Lufkin Independent School District computer science teacher participating in the initiative, said the program has been a helpful “refresher” and an opportunity to network with area computer science teachers.
“While the material was built for teachers, the course really allowed me to get an idea of how students could feel coming into a computer science class with no prior knowledge,” Chunn said. “It gave me opportunities to discuss my own personal coding and practice strategies with others, which I can later tell future students. Finally, more than preparing me for the certification, it gave me the chance to work with a network of teachers who want to improve their district for their students, just like me.”
In February 2025, the JacksTeach program was selected as one of 14 hubs in the state to participate in the initiative led by The University of Texas at Austin’s Texas Advanced Computing Center through its nationally recognized WeTeach_CS program. JacksTeach has coordinated the initiative locally to provide training and support to educators, ensuring students have greater access to high-quality computer science education.
Dr. Jane Long, professor and JacksTeach director, received a grant to support the first two years of the initiative at SFA, and said she plans to re-apply for funding to be a certification hub again next year to support at least 10 teachers working toward certification. Seven educators have earned certification so far, and several of the initiative’s participants are SFA and JacksTeach alumni.
“We are very proud to support these teachers who are doing the hard work to earn certification to teach computer science for the benefit of their students here in East Texas,” said Long, who is collaborating with Anne Marie Eubanks, lecturer of computer science at SFA, to prepare the educators for certification.
JacksTeach allows students majoring in biology, chemistry, physics or mathematics to earn a secondary teaching certification alongside their degree — an approach that directly aligns with TXCSP’s mission to upskill teachers in high-need subject areas like computer science. JacksTeach also has pathways for middle school mathematics and science teaching certification.
Teachers interested in joining the initiative can email Long at longjh@sfasu.edu. For more information about SFA’s JacksTeach program, visit sfasu.edu/jacksteach.
ABOUT STEPHEN F. AUSTIN STATE UNIVERSITY
Stephen F. Austin State University, the newest member of The University of Texas System, began a century ago as a teachers’ college in Texas’ oldest town, Nacogdoches. Today, it has grown into a regional institution comprising six colleges — business, education, fine arts, forestry and agriculture, liberal and applied arts, and sciences and mathematics. Accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, SFA enrolls approximately 11,000 students while providing the academic breadth of a state university with the personalized attention of a private school. The main campus encompasses 421 acres that include 40 academic facilities, 11 residence halls, and 68 acres of recreational trails that wind through its six gardens. The university offers more than 80 bachelor’s degrees, more than 40 master’s degrees and four doctoral degrees covering over 120 areas of study. Learn more at sfasu.edu.
By University Marketing Communications
