Danah Screen ’11 is the Head of the K-12 Engineering Department, Director of Robotics and a teacher at The Dalton School. Previously, she was an Upper and Middle School Computer Science teacher and Computer Science & Robotics Department Chair at Horace Mann School. Danah earned her B.A. in Biology from Barnard College, an M.S. in Computer Science from Fordham University and is currently pursuing her Master of Education in Private School Leadership from Teachers College, Columbia University.
*Published in the 2024 Alumnae Bulletin
Danah Screen ’11 has always been fascinated by science. “It was a joke within my family that I couldn’t even eat cereal without thinking of other concoctions to make. I was always experimenting.” A toy chemistry set discarded by her sister found a happy home with Danah.
Class 5 science at Chapin — with former science teacher Burnadette Morton-Johnson — also stands out for her. “I can’t recall a specific lesson that sparked my interest in STEM, but I always loved math, and the way labs were set up in science — it was like a puzzle.” She noted that the “inquiry and wonder” of science became enthralling.
It’s no surprise that Danah has since amassed an impressive amount of scientific knowledge. “I’d have to say my favorite is engineering because I can bring in what I love about biology and computer science. I’m such a tinkerer and have a fascination for that field.” She also loves the ever-evolving nature of engineering, saying, “I’m constantly finding new things to incorporate and learn.”
Danah said she felt well prepared for college and a career thanks to her Chapin education, which began in Class 4. “What resonates most with me is how independent Chapin encouraged us to be. It has helped me so much, especially going into STEM as a woman.”
“I always knew I could ask questions, talk to my professors and speak up in class.” Laughing, Danah recalled a memory when a peer in her college Biology class was horrified that she wanted to ask a question during the lecture. “They said ‘Don’t ask that. What if you sound dumb?’ and I was like ‘Who cares! This is going to be on the final!’” Chapin, she said, instills an “authentic confidence” in all of its students.
For Danah, there is no ‘typical day at the office.’ In addition to teaching engineering classes at Dalton, she runs early morning robotics practices, hosts office hours, attends meetings, collaborates with other departments and manages her own team. “Then we have after school,” she said, smiling. After school hours include robotics “build sessions,” during which she coaches students working with laser cutters, saws or in woodshop, and works with kids who are writing code or working on outreach initiatives. “Some days I’m here until 9 o’clock at night,” she added. “But time flies because I’m so busy.”
In addition to her students at Dalton, Danah has also imparted her wisdom internationally. In 2018, she and a former Horace Mann colleague started a computer science and robotics camp in Barbados. “I wanted to take my occupational privilege and give back to others,” she remarked. The two worked with government officials on their educational policies and helped secure funding to further computer science education across the island and offer professional development opportunities. Danah hopes to make computer science and robotics approachable — not daunting — because “it is such an impactful experience.”
“I was just at World Championships for our Robotics league being trained to be a head judge, or what they call a ‘judge advisor,’” she added, gushing about working internationally in an official capacity with the FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics organization.
When reflecting on getting to where she is today, Danah praised the mentorship she received at Barnard. “I have to mostly credit my mom,” she added. “My absolute rock. She’s a Haitian immigrant who came to America for college. She didn’t know English when she got here.” A double major in biology and chemistry, “my mom was always my science nerd friend,” Danah said. “She knew I loved robotics and was there to drop me off every early morning and pick me up every late evening. It would be wrong on my part not to give that back to the next generation.”
A passionate and dedicated educator, Danah was presented the “Compass Award,” which is student-nominated and recognizes an inspiring coach and gracious professional, during the 2018-2019 season at the New York City Regional competition. “I’ve worked hard for [the girls] to see me and think ‘Ms. Screen is really well respected.’ When they see that — especially in this realm where there are very few women, especially women who are Black — they know it’s possible for them, too.”
To decompress from her busy work schedule, Danah bikes to and from work and remains grounded by her faith. “I always strive for peace. Plus, my department laughs a lot! We always find the joy in what we’re doing.”