2017 Five Star Journal Winter Issue

The award was announced live – and it was
a big surprise to Jackie. “I was really nervous
and I was really excited,” she recalled.
In addition to helping her peers and their
families learn about technology, Jackie and
some of her classmates told Lieutenant
Governor Donna Lynne why tech education
is important to them at the “Crack the Code”
event at the capitol.
“She gave us a lot of advice,” Jackie said of
meeting the lieutenant governor.
Jackie’s favorite subject is math, and teachers
say she is in her element in the computer
science classroom. It was her mother who
encouraged her to attend STEM Launch
because she saw how Jackie excelled at math.
“I think that the educational system based
on science, technology, engineering and
mathematics will lead the way to Jackie’s
future,” Nohemy Pacheco said.
She joked that she wants to keep her
daughter busy, but says that a STEMfocused
education is important to her
because “technology is the future.”
Digital engineering teacher Deb Harding
says that Jackie’s willingness to teach others is
encouraging more Latina girls at her school to
give coding a try.
“Jackie is a natural leader and she shows
the ability to work with any age or ability
level,” Harding said. “She takes initiative to
learn for herself and teach others.”
“Her peers really listen to her,” added STEM
Coordinator Kate Klaver. And that, Klaver
hopes, will have a long-term impact on
the tech industry. “(Jackie) knows that it’s
important for her to be a leader and for her
to continue on this pathway… She wants
to grow that number of minority women in
these jobs,” she said.
As she looks to the future, Jackie says she
wants to either continue her focus in tech
and coding or go after a law degree – she’s
still deciding. But, STEM is an important part
of her future.
“I really want to stay in a STEM school so
they can help me achieve those kinds of
dreams,” she said. •
“Jackie is a natural
leader and she shows
the ability to work with
any age or ability level.
She takes initiative to
learn for herself and
teach others.”
- Deb Harding
Digital Engineering Teacher
Five Star Journal, Winter 2017 | 11