“Computer science is not knowing how to do computer science. It’s knowing how to use computer science to figure something out.” —Gary Andersen
As we finish up the 2025-26 school year, we are proud to celebrate our outstanding Game On by Urban Arts teachers. One of those incredible teachers is Gary Andersen, Computer Science teacher at A.L. Brown High School in Kannapolis, NC, who was named a finalist for the NCCAT 2026 Burroughs Wellcome Fund North Carolina Career & Technical Education Teacher of the Year Award. Gary was one of 23 exceptional educators selected from across North Carolina for this distinction, and he joined his fellow finalists for a week of professional development before being honored at a special ceremony this past December.
The award celebrates CTE teachers who exemplify innovation, leadership, and dedication to preparing students for future careers, and Gary embodies every part of that mission. Since 2022, he has transformed what it means to teach computer science and game development in a high school CTE setting. For Gary, the goal was never just technical fluency. As he puts it, “Computer science is not knowing how to do computer science. It’s knowing how to use computer science to figure something out.”
That philosophy shapes how his classroom runs. Gary builds a space where students take the lead, experiment freely, and learn as much from what breaks as from what works. “I find my students learn more when they make mistakes,” he says. “I learn more when I make mistakes. So I love making mistakes.”
“I find my students learn more when they make mistakes. I learn more when I make mistakes. So I love making mistakes.” —Gary Andersen
He has been a tireless advocate for equity, actively recruiting underrepresented students into AP and programming courses and building a classroom where every student feels welcome, supported, and challenged. His teaching blends project-based learning with industry-informed content, and his students regularly present their games at showcases with real confidence and pride. Many have gone on to pursue internships, postsecondary programs, and career pathways in technology. He is also clear that the work belongs to the students themselves. “Teachers aren’t supposed to be the ones doing the work,” he explains. “The kids need to see that their work is meaningful, that they have ownership of it.”
Gary’s impact reaches well beyond his own classroom. He has played a pivotal role in developing the Game On by Urban Arts curriculum, now used in AP Computer Science Principles classes across 16 states. He has strengthened AP alignment by sharing code samples, providing feedback, and facilitating professional learning communities, and his experience as an AP Reader and his collaboration with state coordinators have made him a recognized leader in computer science education. In 2025, Gary visited Urban Arts in New York City and shared insights from his AP Reader experience, observing how game-based learning comes to life in classrooms across the country. He has been a generous partner in shaping the program as it grows, and he values that it keeps evolving. “What I like about Game On is that it’s dynamic,” he says. “They take feedback and incorporate it. There’s no dust settled on it.”
Gary Andersen represents the very best of what Career and Technical Education can offer: creativity, connection, and real-world impact. Congratulations, Gary. We are lucky to have you as part of the Game On community.
