Tinya Fisher

INDIANAPOLIS (February 25, 2025) – Nextech and TechPoint have named Tinya Fisher, an educator at Indianapolis Public Schools’ Arsenal Technical High School, as the 2025 Nextech K12 Computer Science Teacher of the Year.  

The annual award, selected by the Nextech board of directors, honors educators who inspire students and creatively incorporate technology in their classrooms, significantly improving student achievement.  

“Nextech is dedicated to supporting teachers and enhancing the technical, critical-thinking, and problem-solving skills of K-12 students,” said Nextech President Karen Jung. “We aim to ensure Indiana remains a national leader in providing quality computer science education, and Tinya Fisher is a key leader in making that vision a reality at her school.”  

Fisher, who was named Arsenal Tech’s Teacher of the Year in 2022, switched to computer science after teaching finance and preparing students for college and careers for 20 years. The switch came after she completed a professional development program through Nextech.  As part of that program, Fisher was required to develop an app.   

“It was at that moment I realized I loved computer science and wanted to show my students they could learn to code too,” Fisher said, recalling the completion of her group’s project.  

Outside of the classroom, Fisher dedicates part of her summer to helping high school students develop technical and workplace skills as part of the Nextech Catapult Internship. Last year, she focused on supporting young women of color interested in technology through after-school programs. She also works with district STEM Coordinators to smooth the transition from middle school to high school. For her English learners, she uses interpreter earbuds to facilitate communication with simultaneous translation. 

“I believe it is critical for students to start learning computer science early on,” Fisher said. “It fosters problem-solving, creativity, and coding skills, which are essential in every industry. I love seeing my students work together to achieve a common goal. These skills prepare them for future success.”  

The Mira Awards gala will take place Thursday, Feb. 27, at the Palladium at the Allied Solutions Center for the Performing Arts. The event will honor innovation across 20 categories, including technology, life sciences, manufacturing, and academia. It celebrates individuals and organizations that are shaping Indiana’s future in tech and beyond.