Ashley Schaffner is an educator and STEM leader with over a decade of experience supporting teachers and students across Idaho. She began her career as a 1st grade teacher in Blackfoot, Idaho, where she spent seven years teaching and serving in leadership roles including mentor teacher, team lead, and technology coordinator. During this time, Ashley developed a PreK–2 Computer Science curriculum designed to introduce young learners to coding, computational thinking, and foundational digital literacy through developmentally appropriate, hands-on experiences.
Beginning in 2018, Ashley shared this work statewide as a strand provider for i-STEM, the Idaho STEM Action Center’s flagship professional development program, supporting elementary educators in integrating computer science across content areas. She later taught 3rd and 4th grade in Pocatello, where she served on the school leadership team and supported schoolwide professional development and instructional decision-making.
In 2021, Ashley joined the Idaho STEM EcosySTEM as a Regional Hub Coordinator, where she leads cross-sector collaboration among K–12 schools, higher education, industry, and community partners to expand access to high-quality STEM and computer science learning opportunities. Her work includes designing and facilitating professional learning, mentoring educators, coordinating large-scale STEM outreach initiatives, and supporting equitable access to funding and resources.
Ashley is passionate about early computer science education and empowering educators with practical, classroom-ready strategies that build confidence and foster inclusive learning environments. Through her work with Boot Up PD, she is excited to support teachers in integrating computer science and computational thinking in meaningful, engaging, and sustainable ways.