Javier Peraza

Code Mississippi

Master of Science in Social Justice & Criminology 

Graduated, Spring 2019

Jackson, MS

Javier Peraza is committed to living a meaningful life of service through education, believing it is key to a healthy, empowered society. Born and raised in North Hollywood, California, he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Politics with a minor in Criminal Justice from the University of San Francisco. A 2014 Teach For America alum, he currently teaches high school social studies at a high school in Jackson Public Schools.

Project: Code Mississippi

Javier’s entrepreneurial journey began during his 2016–2018 fellowship when he launched Code Mississippi, a computer science summer program designed to increase access to coding education for middle and high school students in Jackson. Through partnerships with Millsaps College and community leaders, he successfully held the first summer program in 2017 and secured funding to expand its reach.

This entrepreneurial work during the fellowship sparked a new passion for Javier, leading him to shift his career focus from traditional classroom teaching to program administration and STEM education. From 2018 to 2021, he worked as a classroom instructor and program administrator for Mississippi coding academies, helping grow access to computer science education statewide.

Javier’s fellowship experience and project were pivotal in launching this new path, blending his dedication to education with his passion for innovation and equity in STEM. In 2021, he returned to teaching social studies but continues to advocate for expanding opportunities for all students to thrive in today’s technology-driven world.