Spotlight on Teacher Liaison: Deonna Washington

Empowering Students Through Coding, Curiosity, and Care

For the past five years, Deonna Washington has been a dedicated Teacher Liaison with Bold Idea, making a lasting impact on students at Dr. Frederick Douglass Sr. Todd Middle School in Dallas. As the 8th Grade CTE (Career and Technical Education) teacher, she leads classes in robotics, programming, and career pathways — and serves as a steady advocate for students exploring the world of computer science through Coding Club. Deonna’s journey with Bold Idea began when she stepped into a role once held by a former teacher and board member, Dr. Kelly.

Since then, Deonna has become a valued partner in creating meaningful learning experiences for her students. She speaks highly of the mentors who volunteer their time to support the club:

“I just love the fact that we have someone who's willing to come in and work with our students because I’m not a professional at coding. The mentors are great people and a huge help — not just to the students, but to me as well!”

The impact of Coding Club at Todd is clear. Deonna has seen remarkable growth in her students, including one who has been involved since 6th grade and now helps her peers in class as an 8th grader.

“They’ve learned so much. Even new students in the club are now stepping up in class and helping others. ”

Deonna also reflects on memorable moments like last year’s field trip to Microsoft: “The students loved it. Seeing the robots, interacting with the technology — it really opened their eyes. They were so excited.”

At the heart of Deonna’s work is gratitude — for the mentors, for Bold Idea, and for the opportunities her students now have to explore tech pathways.

“I’m just thankful this program exists. Especially in this area, it’s so important that students get to learn about computer science, robotics, and coding. Thank you for what you’re doing for our students.”

We’re honored to work alongside Deonna Washington and educators like her who are making bold ideas possible, one student at a time.