Oklahoma Needs More Computer Science Teachers

In 2022, the State of Oklahoma made a bold move: it passed legislation mandating that all public middle and high schools offer computer science education by the 2024–25 academic year (Oklahoma State Department of Education, 2022). This mandate positions the state to be a leader in digital literacy and innovation—but it also exposes a critical gap: Oklahoma simply does not have enough trained, certified computer science teachers to meet this demand.

According to recent data, fewer than 70 certified CS teachers currently serve a state with over 500 public middle and high schools. Without urgent and strategic intervention, this teacher shortage threatens to widen opportunity gaps and undermine the very intent of the mandate.

The Teacher Shortage Is a Crisis—Especially for Underserved Communities

The shortfall in CS educators is felt most deeply in historically underserved, underrepresented, and under-resourced communities. Schools in these districts often lack the resources to recruit, train, or retain qualified teachers, which risks leaving thousands of students behind at the starting line of the digital economy.

This is particularly urgent in Tulsa, which was recently designated as a federally recognized tech hub. As our region becomes a magnet for tech-sector growth, we must ensure that all students—not just those in well-resourced schools—have access to high-quality CS education that builds comfort, confidence, curiosity, community, and competency.

Urban Coders Guild: Bridging the Gap with Real Solutions

At Urban Coders Guild, we believe every student deserves access to world-class computer science instruction. That’s why we’ve developed innovative and equity-driven programs that address the heart of the CS education crisis:

1. CS Instructor Training and Certification

Our professional development programs equip educators and aspiring teachers with both the technical skills and culturally responsive pedagogies needed to thrive in CS classrooms. We support candidates through certification pathways, ongoing mentorship, and training grounded in equity and inclusion.

In a state where few formal CS teacher prep programs exist, Urban Coders Guild is one of the only community-rooted, nonprofit providers of this kind of comprehensive training.

2. Embedded Instructor Program

At McLain High School and Central Middle and High School in Tulsa, we place trained Urban Coders Guild instructors directly into classrooms. These embedded educators deliver rigorous computer science curricula while modeling inclusive teaching practices. This approach not only addresses staffing shortages but also ensures continuity, cultural relevance, and student engagement.

CS Education Isn’t Just Compliance—It’s College and Career Readiness

Let’s be clear: the mandate is not merely a policy requirement. It’s a pathway to the future. When implemented well, computer science education gives students the skills to thrive in college, careers, and life. It opens doors to high-wage, high-growth fields like cybersecurity, data science, software engineering, and AI.

Failing to act decisively risks leaving an entire generation of students—especially those from marginalized communities—without the tools they need to succeed in a digital economy.

If we don’t solve the teacher shortage, districts may resort to:

• Surface-level programs that don’t inspire or engage,

• Underprepared teachers forced to “figure it out” without support, and

• Lost student interest in STEM, eroding the talent pipeline our tech hub needs.

A Call to Action: Let’s Build the Future Together

This is the moment for bold leadership and creative collaboration.

We are calling on:

• School administrators and districts to partner with Urban Coders Guild to build capacity, deploy embedded instructors, and co-create innovative CS delivery models tailored to their communities.

• Educators, college CS majors, and industry professionals to explore pathways to the classroom through our training and certification programs.

• Funders, policymakers, and community leaders to invest in scalable, sustainable solutions that address the root of the CS education crisis.

Urban Coders Guild is ready to collaborate on:

• Custom training programs for faculty,

• Shared staffing models between schools,

• Curriculum co-development, and

• Support networks for ongoing teacher growth.

Together, we can turn this mandate into momentum, ensure equity in computer science education, and prepare students for real opportunities in tech.