Karen Mix is the Co-Director of the CS4NorCal Grant Project, a 4 million dollar federal initiative awarded to the California Small School Districts’ Association (SSDA) aimed at building K–12 computer science pathways in small, rural school districts. In this role, she has led efforts to strengthen educator recruitment, develop sustainable programs, and cultivate partnerships across Northern California—ensuring that students in even the most remote communities have equitable access to computer science education.

With more than 25 years of experience in education, Karen has worn many hats in small school settings, including teacher, vice-principal, principal, and superintendent/principal in a rural district. Her understanding of the strengths and challenges unique to small districts enables her to support the diverse needs of the six Northern California counties she serves, while advancing computer science as a foundational opportunity for all students.