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Windsor Elementary School coding teacher Aubrie Ellis was a finalist for CodeVA’s statewide 2020 Computer Science Educator of the Year award.

The award recognizes educators who go above and beyond while using, teaching or integrating computer science at their schools.

Kris Hardison, a kindergarten teacher at Windsor Elementary, nominated Ellis. There were 18 total nominees.

“She uses coding as the means by which to grab [her students’] attention and work wonders in their lives,” Hardison said. “I’m shocked to have a kindergarten student show me how they created a coding project. Their little faces are so completely absorbed in their project when explaining it.”

Ellis has advocated for computer science integration throughout the school by creating a team of teachers known as “coding coaches.” Using guidance from CodeVA, a nonprofit organization that partners with Virginia schools, parents and communities to bring equitable computer science education to students, she showed how various coding activities could work in almost any classroom setting.

The award ultimately went to Shawn DeLuca of Loudoun County Public Schools in December.