Experience the Difference

Curriculum Detail

Select A Department

School Level

Department

Technology

Principles of Technology and Design

3-D Modeling

Computer Programming I

Robotics I

Robotics II

Computer Science: Java, Advanced

Engineering Design and Analysis Advanced

Faculty

Jared Curtis

Director of Innovative Learning

(832) 204-5900

Brigham Young University - B.S.
University of Houston - M.Ed.

Jcurtis@emeryweiner.org

2012
Bio
Jared has been with The Emery/Weiner School since 2012. Before arriving at EWS, Jared taught in public schools for several years in both Utah and Texas, during which time his dedication and achievements in the classroom earned him a Teacher of the Year Award. He was also the recipient of the Rav Preida Award for Teaching Excellence at EWS in 2016. In addition to his current teaching and administrative responsibilities, Jared also sponsors the Robotics Club, Esports Club, and is one of the founders of “Meh”, EWS’s very own staff and student ukulele band. In his free time Jared enjoys spending time with his family, playing board games, and sharing his love for pickleball.
Brandon Kirby

Upper School Science Teacher

(832) 204-5900

Prairie View A&M University - B.S.
Vanderbilt University - M.S.

bkirby@emeryweiner.org

2014
Bio
Brandon has been with EWS since 2014. Before arriving at EWS, Brandon taught in public and several private schools in Tennessee and Alabama. Brandon has taught various high school science classes, including environmental science, biology, and chemistry. In addition to teaching, Brandon has served as the sponsor for several Science Olympiad teams, assistant coach for a Trap and Skeet team, Student Government Association sponsor, and technology specialist. Formerly the Technology Department Chair and Levine Innovation Lab Coordinator, Brandon teaches various technology classes, including Computer Programming I and II, Computer Science: Java, Robotics I and II, and Principles of Technology and Design courses. Brandon also works with several student groups who’ve expressed interest in web design, game design, and other STEM projects. In his free time, Brandon enjoys archery, gardening, hunting, fishing (inland, coastal, deep sea), learning new programming languages, spending time with his family, and designing experiments for home and school.
David Lankford

Upper School Technology Teacher

(832) 204-5900

University of Massachusetts at Amherst - B.A.
La Salle University - M.S.C.S.
Houston Baptist University - M.Ed.

DLankford@emeryweiner.org

2021
Bio
David has been with EWS since spring 2021. David has served in independent school education since 1992 at a variety of schools in both teaching and administrative positions. David has developed curriculum for innovation and technology classes prior to joining EWS. He now teaches technology classes at EWS. When not Teaching, David is a cycling endurance athlete and enjoys time with his wife Cecilia, also a teacher, and their two children who attend the University of Texas. David continues to serve with the U.S. Air Force Auxiliary in the Texas Wing as an emergency responder.
Gabriella Novak '18

Upper School Math & Technology Teacher

(832) 204-5900

University of Rochester - B.S.

GNovak@emeryweiner.org

2022
Bio
Although Gabby joined EWS in 2022, she has been a familiar face in the community since entering the Upper School as a student in 2014. After graduating from EWS in 2018, she attended the University of Rochester, studying statistics and computer science, and earned a bachelor’s degree in 2022. Gabby brings timely expertise and perspective on the teaching and learning of statistics and technology at the university level and their application in the workplace. In her free time, Gabby enjoys creating recipes with liberal usage of “some” as a unit of measurement, sewing her own clothes, and keeping her coding skills sharp.
Justin Zendt

Upper School Technology Teacher

(832) 204-5900

The University of Texas at Dallas - B.S. & B.A.

jzendt@emeryweiner.org

2024
Bio
Justin joined EWS in 2024. He is a former software developer turned teacher of Computer Science, and is completing his Master's Degree in Computer Science. In his free time, Justin enjoys gaming (both PC and board games), 3D Printing (specifically with resin), and travelling.

The Emery/Weiner School

9825 Stella Link Road Houston, TX 77025
Phone: (832) 204-5900 Fax: (832) 204-5910

A private, pluralistic Jewish, college-preparatory middle and high school serving grades 6-12.
Click here for more information.

Grade Level: 9^th – 12th	Length of Course: 1 semester
Prerequisite: None
Course Description: Through this course, students will learn about computer organization, hardware and software, file management, and computational thinking – the basis of computer science. Students will learn to break down, analyze and develop logic-based solutions to complex problems, to recognize patterns, create computational artifacts, and use algorithms and flowcharts in the development of computer applications. Subsequent technology courses will further develop skills taught in Principles of Technology and Design.

Grade Level: 9^th – 12th	Length of Course: 1 semester
Prerequisite: Principles of Technology and Design
Course Description: The purpose of the class is to prepare students to use SketchUp to develop technology skills and spatial reasoning in order to enhance visual communications of 3-Dimensonal information. Students will learn to build complex 3D models at a variety of scales and will use v-ray for SketchUp to create renderings with proper lighting and photo realism. Some of the models will be 3D printed and/or milled on the CNC machines in the Levine Innovation Lab. The skills learned in this class will assist in engineering, architecture, arts, physics, chemistry, game design, film, fabrication, and other fields that students may pursue after EWS.

Grade Level: 10th – 12th	Length of Course: 1 semester
Prerequisite: Completion of Algebra I and Principles of Technology and Design
Course Description: The Computer Programming I course is designed to introduce students to object-oriented programming. Students will design, write, and debug computer programs. No knowledge of programming is assumed. Students use program flowcharts and pseudocode to map solutions to problems and as a basis for applications. Working with Python 3, students develop and troubleshoot software applications. As an introductory course, the emphasis is placed on keywords and syntax, data types, and program flow and control structures.

Grade Level: 9th – 12th	Length of Course: 1 semester
Prerequisite: Completion of Principles of Technology and Design or one semester of an Upper School Technology Course
Course Description: As an introductory course in robotics, students design and build robots using Tetrix robotics building components. Students create programs to control their robots autonomously and using remote controls. This course focuses on designing and constructing robots to complete assigned tasks. Through implementation of the design process, students transfer advanced academic skills to component designs in a project-based environment. Students build prototypes and test their designs. As part of design teams, students will explore multi-robot solutions to complex problems.

Grade Level: 10th – 12th	Length of Course: 1 semester
Prerequisite: Completion of Robotics I
Course Description: As an intermediate course in robotics, students design and build autonomous and semi-autonomous robots using an array of building materials and their choice of programming language(s). Miniaturized computing modules such as Arduino or Raspberry Pi serve as the starting grounds for robots. Students learn to build circuits and program robot behaviors using traditional, text-based language. Through implementation of the design process, students transfer advanced academic skills to component designs in a project-based environment. Additionally, students may use 3D modeling software and printers to create custom robotics parts.

Grade Level: 10th – 12th	Length of Course: 2 semesters
Prerequisite: Completion of Computer Programming I
Course Description: In this rigorous, project -based curriculum, students dive deep into programming concepts while collaborating to solve a series of socially relevant challenges. Each unit introduces a unique, real-world problem following an overarching course narrative as students “travel the globe” in search of a missing scientist. This curriculum immerses students in Java programming topics (e.g., abstraction, algorithms, data structures, object-oriented programming) and prepares students for advanced college coursework and potential career pathways in computer science. Upon completion of this course, students may opt to take the AP Computer Science A exam. The University of Texas at Austin; UTeach Computer Science A.