NWECHS Teacher Earns Prestigious Hopper-Dean Fellowship

Kirsten Wieseman, a math and computer science teacher at Northwest Early College High School, has been selected as a 2025–26 Hopper-Dean Fellow through the Hopper-Dean Center of Excellence for K–12 Computer Science Education at the University of Texas at El Paso.

Wieseman is one of a small group of educators chosen from across the Paso del Norte region for the prestigious fellowship, which recognizes teachers who demonstrate outstanding leadership, innovation and a commitment to advancing computer science, computational thinking and artificial intelligence education in K–12 schools.

District officials said the honor highlights both Wieseman’s expertise in the classroom and her dedication to expanding opportunities for NWECHS students. As a Hopper-Dean Fellow, she will participate in yearlong professional learning, collaborate with regional experts and contribute to initiatives aimed at strengthening computer science instruction throughout the Borderland.

“This recognition reflects the incredible work our teachers are doing to prepare students for careers in emerging technology fields,” NWECHS Principal Frank Clark said. “Ms. Wieseman is a model educator whose passion for innovation directly impacts student success.”

The Hopper-Dean Center of Excellence, created through a partnership between UTEP and the Hopper Dean Foundation, supports educators working to integrate rigorous computer science and computational thinking into K–12 classrooms. Fellows are selected based on demonstrated impact, leadership qualities and their ability to serve as ambassadors for high-quality computer science education.

Wieseman has helped expand NWECHS’s computer science offerings through hands-on learning, project-based instruction and real-world applications. Her participation in the fellowship is expected to further strengthen the school’s STEM pathways.