Meet Janet Mejia (she/her), 7th- and 8th-grade science and 6th-8th-grade computer science teacher at Markham Middle School. We connected with her to discuss her computer science elective course and her recent Snap Inc. Institute for Technology & Education (SITE) award.
When science teacher Janet Mejia realized that no teachers from Watts were represented at a GATE computer science (CS) workshop, she saw more than an empty seat; she saw an equity gap. While schools in other parts of Los Angeles offered rich opportunities in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), Markham Middle School students lacked access to even a single computer science course. That realization sparked a vision and mission.
With the support of then-Principal Alex Kim, Ms. Mejia launched Markham’s first CS elective course five years ago. She was determined to ensure her students had the same exposure to coding and robotics as their peers across the city. She was first introduced to CS through a Code.org training. She enjoyed it so much that she continued her learning by self-funding a computer science micro-credential from California State University, Dominguez Hills, building the expertise she needed to bring her vision to life.
From the start, the program reflected Ms. Mejia’s student-centered philosophy. Each year, her students select the projects they want to pursue—from HTML web design to robotics—creating a learning environment fueled by curiosity and choice. That sense of ownership has kept engagement high, with a consistent waitlist of 15-19 students eager to join the class each year.
Ms. Mejia’s science background deeply shapes her computer science teaching. Using the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) inquiry-based approach, she leads students to explore and experiment before diving into technical vocabulary. “I want students to feel the wonder of a concept through hands-on experience first, and then learn the reasoning behind it,” she said. The class’s flexible pacing allows students to learn at their own speed and keeps enthusiasm strong from start to finish.
Today, Ms. Mejia’s efforts have grown into a three-part CS/STEM program at Markham:
- A daily elective course that anchors the school’s CS offerings
- A Thursday lunch club funded by the Partnership’s K-PhD program
- A Thursday after-school club supported by LAUSD
A recent awardee of the Snap Inc. Institute for Technology & Education (SITE), Ms. Mejia hopes to expand access to resources and funding for materials and strengthen collaboration with feeder high schools so Markham students can continue their CS journeys.
For Ms. Mejia, it all comes back to equity. “Our students deserve to see themselves as creators, not just consumers, of technology,” she stated. Due to her persistence and vision, Markham students now have a clear pathway into computer science, and a teacher committed to helping them get there.