 PHS Python and AP Computer Science Principles teacher Edward Yin is three months 
into his second year of teaching at PHS, while simultaneously studying at Rutgers to 
obtain his masters degree in Public Informatics. Yin grew up in the neighboring town 
of Plainsboro, and as a child wasn’t interested in computer science.


“I actually hated [coding] a lot as a child — my dad was always like, ‘You have to learn 
JavaScript, you [have to] learn this, you [have to] learn that’ ... I'd be like, ‘Dad, I don't 
know what I'm doing, you [have to] help me out.’ And he'd be like, ‘No, you [have to] 
watch videos’… He didn't [really] teach me anything, so ... I [hated] coding,” said Yin. 


Yin continued his education at Rutgers University, where he graduated in 2024 with 
a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering. His distaste for computer science began 
to soften as his major in chemical engineering introduced the usage of MATLAB, a 
programming language developed by the company MathWorks that is used to analyze 
data, develop algorithms, and create models.


“[MATLAB] was a pain ... to use, but also [I] realized [I’m] pretty good at it. I [was] 
getting my questions done pretty quickly It is very logical [and] intuitive to me. And 
at that point I said okay, I’m gonna do a [Computer Science] minor as well,” said Yin. 


Following the advice of his computer science professor, after receiving his bachelor's 
degree Yin took the initiative to reach out to apply for an opening in PHS’s computer 
science program. 


“[The professor] sent a batch email to the entire student body [of his Introduction to 
Data Science class], which is like hundreds of students ... But he just batched it to all his 
former students, which were any current graduates ... or like master students [saying] if 
you want to do this, just do this. So I was like, alright, cool.” said Yin. 


Yin currently teaches Python Programming and AP Computer Science Principles. 
His primary teaching goal is to balance between having a fun classroom environment 
while at the same time still making sure his students learn the necessary skills involved 
with computer science.


“We're here to have fun. I'm trying to make the class fun, trying to make [computer 
science] approachable. I want to make sure I give out as much information as I can ... to 
teach the most I can. [There] definitely is more ... aggressive push in the sense of: let's 
get stuff done. [But] at the same time, though, I also understand you are human [and] 
you've got to chill and relax,” said Yin.

 
In addition to teaching and studying for his masters, Yin is a lifeguard and swim 
instructor with Princeton Fitness and Wellness at Plainsboro. He also enjoys spending 
time with his friends playing games. 


“We started playing this new card game called Riftbound. We're pretty big card game 
aficionados, so we like [games] like Magic [The] Gathering [and] Riftbound,” said Yin. 
“We play video games on the side too.”


Yin also bring his commitment to fostering personal connection into the classroom.


“I think the human connection is the most important thing,” said Yin. “Helping others 
in general, I feel [has] always been a core principle of most forms of philosophy ... through 
the collective experiences, being alive, going around talking to people; you kind of build 
up that feeling [that] community is important ... [and that] It's a good thing to benefit 
those around me, because then it's going to benefit me [or] another

Yin discusses insertion principles with Bryce Capone ’28 in AP Computer Science 
Principles.

Julia O’Neill's Work