​‘Ilima Intermediate’s Sarah “Mili” Mililanta-Laffin and Kaua‘i High’s Leah Aiwohi were named CS Leaders by Code.org for their work in establishing or expanding access to computer science (CS) for students throughout the district. 

Code.org partnered with DonorsChoose to award the two Hawai‘i schools $10,000 and a no-cost scholarship to attend Code.org’s Professional Learning Program for the CS Leaders. Both schools were presented with a check at their respective campuses. 

Mililanta-Laffin sees this award coming full circle with Code.org. She was part of the first cohort of Hawai‘i teachers to be trained on Code.org in Atlanta during the summer of 2018 and built her computer science network. Mililanta-Laffin was also part of a team who helped to get Act 158 passed through the Legislature, requiring computer science to eventually be offered at all schools in Hawai‘i. She plans on utilizing the prize money to purchase new computers for ‘Ilima Intermediate's growing computer science program.

‘Ilima Intermediate's Sarah "Mili" Mililanta-Laffin and students at the Code.org check presentation during their annual winter fair.

Aiwohi heads the Kaua‘i High electronics section and said the prize money will be utilized to build and strengthen the K-12 computer science initiatives within the Kaua‘i central complex. Her check presentation was shared with colleagues from Kaua‘i High feeder schools King Kaumuali‘i Elementary and Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle. 

Kaua‘i High's Leah Aiwohi with students and colleagues from Kaua‘i High, and representatives from King Kaumuali‘i Elementary, Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle and the Kaua‘i District Office at the Code.org check presentation.

Code.org is a nonprofit organization dedicated to every student having the opportunity to learn computer science as part of their core K-12 education. Visit their website for more information: https://code.org/.