Katelin Tharp (she/her) is currently pursuing both her Masters in Education and her Single Subject Teaching Credential in English with additional authorizations in Computer Science and Psychology through the Berkeley Teacher Education Program (BTEP).
Katelin is originally from Mountain View, Calif. Her journey began at Northeastern University, where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Cognitive Psychology with a minor in English. Her academic career extended internationally during a summer semester at University College London, where she achieved distinction studying language cognition and web development. This diverse educational foundation uniquely positions her to understand both the technical architecture of digital systems and the cognitive processes underlying student learning.
Her teaching philosophy emerged through experience as a Computer Science Teaching Assistant, where she supported thousands of students across multiple semesters. She received the 2025 Khoury College Undergraduate Teaching Award, recognizing her ability to make complex concepts accessible to first year computer science students. She pioneered a cross-cultural education program at Northeastern’s London campus, designing lab content and facilitating collaborative learning experiences.
Parallel to her teaching career, Katelin developed her technical expertise through professional software engineering roles. At eMoney Advisor, she independently managed features involving multi-factor authentication and parser development. Her position at the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences furthered her literacy in Student Information Systems, where she created technical specifications and maintained university-level applications.
Currently teaching at Pinole Valley High School, Katelin is developing lesson plans that leverage her unique background to create culturally responsive curricula. Her approach transforms the English classroom into a lab for examining power structures, digital literacy, and the construction of knowledge itself. Through her work, she hopes to teach students that the future of education lies not in choosing between humanities and STEM, but in thoughtfully weaving them together to prepare students for an increasingly complex, interconnected world.
Specializations and Interests
Computer Science & English Education, Digital Humanities, Cross-Disciplinary Curriculum Design, Artificial Intelligence, Berkeley Teacher Education Program
