Two college buddies, Hansel Lynn and Wayne Teng, formed The Coder School in 2014 following successful careers in computer science because they believe “coding is our future and all kids should learn to code.”
Key to the success of the fast-growing franchise, including the one we’re lucky enough to have in Ashburn, are the ongoing relationships students forge with experienced Code Coaches®. These coaches help students learn coding principles at their own speed in small classes of up to six students aged 7-18, or in 1:1 or 2:1 coding lessons.
Like the founders, the owner of the Ashburn school, Ellen Hamel, is an accomplished STEM professional and a Loudoun parent who believes learning to code can help children think logically and that it can open up a myriad of career choices. As a woman in STEM, Ellen also recognizes the importance of empowering a younger generation of women coders. One of Ellen’s first hires for the CoderSchool-Ashburn was a brilliant, capable, and enthusiastic code coach named Sanjitha Prabakaran.
Sanjitha didn’t need much in the way of training, having started learning block-based coding from her older sister in sixth grade. From there, she took HTML and JavaScript classes at the library before taking Java for two years and computer science for one year at her magnet school. “Ellen gives us a lot of creative control on how we instruct students, whether we build projects for them or let them freestyle and pick up some concepts,” Sanjitha said.
That flexibility manifests itself in the creativity and enthusiasm she brings to every coaching session. “I love working here; I just love it. The center is a beautiful space. We have great technology. Students come and they feel welcome. There's never a time I don't enjoy coming in.”
As for coding, “I love to create something new and also to see it be applied in so many different ways. The powerful thing about computer science is that it can truly apply to any field. That’s why I love teaching it to other kids. Not only can it apply to anything, it’s also going to be a part of our lives more and more every single day. I love knowing how to code. I tell people it’s my superpower!”
“I love knowing how to code. I tell people it’s my superpower!”
Some students arrive at The Coder School with a basic knowledge of Scratch, a block-based animation programming language that is starting to find its way into elementary schools. “They come in with a little bit of understanding of how to put boxes together and make the character on the screen do something. Then we come in to teach them more of the fundamentals like conditional statements and loops – how things actually work together.”
Speaking like a seasoned instructor, Sanjitha said, that because Scratch is text-based, it helps students move on to more advanced programming languages like Python or Java, “It gives them a better overall understanding of the process.”
Ellen also believes in “giving back” and forged a partnership with INMED Partnerships for Children which has after-school programs for underprivileged kids, putting Sanjitha in charge of the program. “Their students don’t get as many opportunities as other kids who live in our area. I’m truly helping people because coding is such a part of having a necessary 21st Century skill.”
