Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/1437090
national and international conferences, including at a recent Digital Citizenship Institute summit, where she shared her sessions MythBusters-style to help others understand the pillars of digital citizenship. (One of her students spoke at a session on mental health and algorithms.) "Digital citizenship is not just about being nice online. It's about being informed, alert, balanced, engaged and inclusive. It's about being an impactor, instead of just a consumer. The big piece I try to convey to students is by asking: 'How are you making positive social change in your community — or on a larger scale?' Digital citizenship is about using tech- nology for good to inspire and empower." McNamara is co-chair of the California School Library Association (CSLA) conference in February 2022 and will speak on innovative ways to empower students. She has also organized and served on a CSLA panel about neuro-diverse students. The subject hits home for her: All her life she has had trouble sitting still; she is constantly moving and changing topics of conversation. When her son began having difficulties in school two years ago, he was diagnosed as having ADHD. And so was she, after more than 40 years. "My son and I are on this path together," says McNamara, who grew up in San Bernardino County and was often frustrated in school. "Having ADHD doesn't mean there is a problem. You just see and experience things differently." It turns out that being a teacher librarian — switch- ing from subject to subject and moving around the room to assist students — is a perfect job for some- one with ADHD. "Somehow, I ended up exactly where I needed to be," says McNamara. "I was meant to be in this library helping these students succeed." "My students know I mean business, but they also know I care for them and want them to be their best selves at all times." McNamara on the move in the North High library. CHANTEL PARNELL: Working to Diversify Tech C H A N T E L PA R N E L L'S S T U D E N T S A R E O N LY I N M I D D L E S C H O O L . B U T T H E Y A R E O N A PAT H WAY TO W E L L- PAY I N G CA R E E R S A N D D I V E R S I F Y I N G T H E T E C H I N D U S T RY, T H A N KS TO H E R . Parnell, a teacher at Bret Harte Middle School in Oakland, was named Teacher of the Year by her dis- trict last May for developing computer science and animation courses at her school — and creating the district's only all-girls computer science class. "My girls love being in a girls' class just for them," says the Oakland Education Association member. "We have newcomer girls, too. They are getting stron- ger with their English skills, and we are all learning a whole new computer language together." Parnell sees herself as helping to create a pipeline of women in computer science that will help diver- sify the tech industry in the Bay Area and beyond. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, computer science research jobs will grow 19 percent by 2026. Yet women only earn 18 percent of computer science bachelor 's degrees in the U.S. The percentage of women working in computer science-related profes- sions dropped from 35 to 26 percent between 1990 and 2013. 21 D E C E M B E R 2 0 21 / J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 2