DEED Welcomes Coding and Computer Science Career Coordinator

In August DEED welcomed Faye Tanner as the Statewide Coding and Computer Science Career Coordinator. This position was created to develop and improve software engineering and computer science education programs in Alaska, and to partner with programs and institutions that prepare Alaska’s students for fulfilling careers in fields like coding, cybersecurity, telecommunications infrastructure engineering and network engineering.

Prior to joining DEED, Tanner worked in the computer industry focusing on both hardware and software development and has taught computer science at the post-secondary level, and has held STEM classes for K-12 students in public and homeschool settings.

Increasing career, technical, and culturally relevant education to meet student and workforce needs is one of the five strategic priorities of Alaska’s Education Challenge. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were over 1.6 million jobs for software developments in 2021, with a median pay of more than $109,000. The field is expected to grow 25% between 2020 and 2030.

“Computer science is driving innovation in almost every sector of the US economy,” Tanner said. “Findings show that over 80% of software engineers are currently working remotely full time, and working from home is becoming the new normal work arrangement. All of these present to our students tremendous career opportunities with competitive pay while they continue to live and thrive in the communities that they and many generations before them grew up in.”

Alaska’s Computer Science Standards were adopted in 2019.

“At the beginning of the standard it states that there is ‘an urgent need’ for improvement in computer science education in K-12 to help students become the ‘creators of computing technology,’” Tanner said. “I believe that we need all the help we can get, and all our efforts would be one of the best investments that we can make in Alaska’s students.”

Tanner is eager to work with all teachers, administrators, industry leaders, and Computer Science education enthusiasts to continue pushing forward the expanding K-12 Computer Science education in Alaska! She can be reached at faye.tanner@alaska.gov or 907.631.2158.