Instruction, Curriculum and Student Services
Linda Sanders, Science and Health Facilitator
1115 N. El Paso Street,
Colorado Springs, CO 80903
(719) 520-2034/Fax (719) 520-2165
Dear parents,
On behalf of Colorado Springs School District 11 and Palmer High School, we would like to invite you and your daughter to an
exciting new program aimed at engaging young women in the possibilities and opportunities in the studies of computer science,
engineering, and entrepreneurial innovation through a multi-grade level club called Tech Chic. The purpose of Tech Chic is to provide
experiences where middle school and high school girls collaborate, create, problem solve and innovate during a variety of
technologically rich exercises such as computer coding, robotics, sensory units, microcomputers, and build-it-yourself input devices.
Your daughter has shown an interest in this type of learning experience which has been recognized by a school staff member. She
may have attended the Girls STEM event at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs to further her interests. Because of her
natural curiosity in these areas, we would like to invite your daughter to participate in Tech Chic, our first technology club for
girls!
th
We will be holding an Information Night for all interested girls and families on March 11 from 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm in Room 153 of
the Digital Media Studies department at Palmer High School. (Please enter through the door on the southwest corner of Boulder
and Weber St). Students and parents will have an opportunity to meet the club sponsor, Mr. Sean Wybrant. Mr. Wybrant teaches
computer science, video game development, website design, and other technology- based classes at Palmer High School.
Refreshments will be served.
District 11 and other community partners proudly sponsor Tech Chic. Research into gender disparity in computer science and
engineering at the college and professional level shows that the gap between men and women graduating with degrees in computer
science and engineering and employment in these fields is significant – only about 18% of the degrees and positions are earned and
populated by women; this is a significant societal problem. Research also shows that young women avoid going into these fields for
a variety of reasons including lack of opportunities to explore technologies at young ages, lack of mentors and positive female role
models, and fear of stereotype threat – the threat that one will either live up to a negative stereotype or will be negatively
stereotyped for lacking conformity. Tech Chic is a club that intends to address these concerns.
The club is built around the premise that young women can and should participate in meaningful ways with society through
understanding and use of technologies. Professional educators, undergraduate women from UCCS, and professionals from the
community will help to mentor young women at the high school level for the first hour of the club meetings. The high school
students and educators/professionals will then mentor the middle school students in the second part of each club meeting. In this
way, young women at the middle school will have opportunities and experiences with technology in a supportive environment with
role models at the high school level, high school students will interact with collegiate role models, and the women at the college
level women will be mentored by role models at the professional level.
Tech Chic is supported by Colorado Springs School District 11, the Foundation for District 11, the Colorado Department of Education,
the Colorado Education Initiative, and the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. Activities will be station based and include
experiences with micro-controllers, robotics, and computer coding programs, magnetic circuitry and more. Please read the brochure
that accompanies this letter for complete details of the learning stations
th
If you are interested in attending the informational meeting on March 11 please contact the club sponsor, Mr. Sean Wybrant at
(719) 238-1844 or by email at sean.wybrant@d11.org. We look forward to hearing from you!
Sincerely,
Sean Wybrant
Educator – Digital Media Studies
Palmer High School
301 N. Nevada Ave
Colorado Springs, CO 80903
Linda Sanders
K-12 Science Facilitator
Colorado Springs School District 11
719-520-2034
linda.sanders2@d11.org