"I am Don and I have retired after 30 years of teaching Computer Science at the high school level. I have taught numerous classes include AP CS A, Cambridge Computer Science year 1, IB Computer Science HL-2. Approximately 95% of my students pass the AP CS A exam with an average score above 4.0.

I have been actively involved the AP Computer Science A for 30 years. I served a four term as a member of the development committee responsible for the creation of the AP CS A test and I have attended the grading of the AP test approximately 20 times where I have served many different leadership roles.

I am responsible for the creation of the Wittry programming contest held each March for high school students mostly in the Southern California area.

I have been chosen as the recipient for several awards including the 2019 Stanford Terman Award by an award winning graduate as the influential secondary school teacher who guided them during the formative stages of their academic career, Five times I have been selected by award winning college students as the high school instructor who had the most significant impact on their academic performance and successful entrance into the University of California, Irvine. I was the 2023 Orange County winner of the NCWIT Aspirations in Computing Educator (https://www.aspirations.org) award that identifies exemplary educators who play a pivotal role in encouraging 9th-12th grade under represented students to explore their interest in computing and technology, I was a finalist for the Computer Science Teachers Association CS Teaching Excellence Award (https://csteachers.org/awards/) that is designed to recognize outstanding teaching by K-12 computer science teachers, and I was selected by the PTSA as the Outstanding Teacher.

My personal goal is to improve each students understanding and enjoyment of CS to the point the student wants to take one more CS class.

Since 2000 I have taught & tutored all Math at Fullerton College from Algebra to introductory Calculus." less...