With over 20 years of education experience ranging from Pre-K to college, Yolanda hopes that her love of learning, curiosity, and adding adventure to everyday life are elements of the legacy she is building in the education field. Currently a Constellations fellow at Georgia Tech, she assists teachers with implementing advanced CS courses in high schools and creating STEAM curricula for middle schools. In these pursuits, Payne encourages students to find the problems that need solving and encourages invention as a solution that can be utilized by all. As a Regional Coordinator and chapter leader with CSTA Georgia, advocating for teachers and classrooms is a part of her every day. Yolanda was recently chosen as a Jim Pope fellow for CreateX, an entrepreneurial initiative at Georgia Tech. She is the founder of her own start-up and is working hard to turn that idea into reality. She loves creating fun memories on a budget with her children in her spare time.