People

Meet our dedicated Northern Lights Collaborative staff and contact us with any questions.

Justin Cannady

Justin Cannady, learning experience designer

Justin Cannady collaborates with others to design and develop inclusive computing learning experiences for educators and students. Prior to joining the Northern Lights Collaborative team, Justin was the senior manager of online learning and delivery at the National Math and Science Initiative (NMSI). Through this work, he collaborated with his team of instructional designers, curriculum developers and subject matter experts to create a fully online learning experience for over 6,000 educators from across the nation. During his tenure in computing education, Justin taught math and computer science in middle and high school, developed computing curricular materials, and mentored new CS teachers. In addition to his formal education at the University of Montevallo (BS Mathematic/Computer Science; MEd Secondary Mathematics Education) and the University of West Florida (EdS Instructional Design and Technology), Justin is recognized as a National Board Certified Teacher. Justin is passionate about social change through creating inclusive educational and empathetic learning experiences of all people. He lives in Birmingham, Alabama, with his 2 kids, 4 dogs, 2 cats, and 52+ chickens.

Jennifer Rosato

Jennifer Rosato, director

Jennifer Rosato is the director of the Northern Lights Collaborative for Computing Education at the University of Minnesota, leading efforts to create more inclusive computing education opportunities. She has been supporting educators in K-12 and higher education in efforts to broaden participation in computing for over 20 years. She is passionate about collaborating with partners across systems and stakeholders to increase equity. She has led multiple grants and projects that provide curriculum and professional development for teachers and districts, is a CSforAll-MN steering committee member working on educational policy in Minnesota, and previously served as chair of the CSTA Board of Directors.

Paul Schonfeld

Paul Schonfeld, district support coordinator

Paul Schonfeld leads the implementation of programs that provide school-district-level support for K-12 computer science pathways through professional development, coaching, and district planning. Paul has a Master of Education — Professional Development degree from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and an undergraduate degree in Physics and Geology from Lawrence University. He taught high-school computer science, physics, and engineering classes and coached robotics for 9 years before joining the Northern Lights Collaborative for Computing Education.

Liz Walsh

Liz Walsh, professional development coordinator

Liz Walsh is the professional development coordinator at the Northern Lights Collaborative for Computing Education, where she supports and manages the ongoing professional development of K12 educators for the organization. Along with this, she is the Manager of Curriculum and Instruction at Code Savvy and is a former elementary educator. Liz is passionate about expanding new opportunities for students and educators in computer science across Minnesota. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from the College of Saint Benedict and a Master’s in Education from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota in Learning Design and Technology.

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