Mark Ahrens

Graduate degree in Curriculum and Instruction (with a concentration in Instructional Technology)

When a friend sent Texas High School Computer Science teacher Mark Ahrens an article about the Amazon Future Engineer Teacher of the Year contest, he thought it looked interesting. After learning more about the award he did what thousands of other teachers across the United States did…he gathered his information and submitted his application.

What happened next, was a bit of a surprise. THS principal Carla DuPree called Mark to the front of the room during a faculty/staff meeting and presented him with the award. Ahrens was one of only 10 educators chosen to receive the prestigious award, which included a plaque along with a check for $30,000. $25,000 of the award is earmarked to expand computer science and/or robotics education at each winner’s respective school, with a $5000 award given to each winning educator.

Ahrens says he hopes to use the school’s prize money to invest in software and components that will help students earn a certification or to become more job ready in computer science upon graduating from high school. He currently teaches Computer Science 1, Computer Science 2, Computer Science 3 Pre-AP, and Computer Science 1 DC at THS.

Mark graduated from DeQueen High School in 2000 and earned his BS in Computer Science from Texas A&M University-Texarkana, before eventually earning his graduate degree in Curriculum and Instruction (with a concentration in Instructional Technology) from A&M-Texarkana as well.

Ahrens had not originally considered a career in education. He was working for the T.I.S.D. Information Technology department when former THS principal Brad Bailey spoke with him about potentially teaching computer science. “I thought about it and after my wife and I talked about it, it seemed like a great opportunity,” Ahrens said. He went through the alternative certification program at TAMUT and the rest, as they say, is history.

Mark has been married to his wife Anna (also an educator) for 19 years. They have two sons, Braden (13) and Christian (11) and one daughter, Isabella (10). They’re an active baseball and softball family, and when not busy teaching can be found at a local ballpark or travelling to tournaments.