A Stamford teacher is back home Saturday evening after being honored in Washington, D.C.

Jim Forde, a seventh-grade science teacher at Cloonan Middle School, was named a "Champion of Change for Computer Science Education." He was nominated for the honor by a Stamford public schools administrator.

The White House chose nine people considered "Champions of Change" around the topic of computer science in education. Forde says the group met with top national leaders to talk about inspiring the next generation to use 21st century tools to better their communities.

"Most of the people in the room were from different walks of life and were sharing their perspectives on what we can do to increase the amount of exposure to computer science education to kids and what can we do to make sure that exposure is equitable," he says.

Forde also runs an after-school technology club, helps plan the citywide STEM festival and runs a STEM education Twitter feed.