Animal STEM Coding Class: Code a Game in Scratch to Defend the Turtles

At Coco Coders, our team is made up of passionate, highly qualified educators dedicated to making coding fun, accessible, and empowering for kids. Founded by Elizabeth Tweedale—an experienced education leader and advocate for early tech literacy—Coco Coders has taught thousands of students around the world through engaging, project-based lessons in Scratch, Roblox, Python, and more.

👩‍🏫 Meet Our Teachers: A Diverse Team of Experts

Each Coco Coders instructor is carefully selected not only for their technical skills, but also for their ability to inspire curiosity and creativity in young learners. Our educators bring a wide range of professional and academic experiences:

Dr. Nazia Fakhruddin, with a Doctor of Medicine from the University of Karachi, brings a strong foundation in science and problem-solving to every class.

Natalie Malone holds a Bachelor’s in Computer Science from Western Oregon University and an Indiana Teaching Certificate, combining technical expertise with real classroom teaching experience.

Jessica Gray, a certified Special and Elementary Educator (ID 10122321), creates inclusive, supportive environments for all learners.

Jojo Shum is dual-degreed, with a Bachelor’s in Computer Science from University of the People and a Master’s in Psychology from the University of Toronto, bringing both logic and learner-centered support to her teaching.

Andrea Krisciunas, with a degree in Education and a Michigan Teaching Certificate in Elementary Education and Science (ID CC-053470274978), excels at blending STEM with hands-on exploration.

Sapana Pathak holds a Bachelor of Education from India and is NAMC Montessori certified, supporting a hands-on, child-led learning approach in every class.

Madona Abbott brings deep technical training with multiple certifications, including JavaScript and CSS from Codecademy, web development credentials from W3Schools, and a teaching degree from ICCT Colleges. Her courses are grounded in practical, real-world coding skills.

Together, our team represents a wide spectrum of professional experience—from classroom teaching to software development and early childhood education. What unites them is a shared passion for helping young coders thrive through interactive projects, positive encouragement, and individualized guidance.

At Coco Coders, we believe coding is for everyone. Our classes are designed to nurture every child’s potential through creativity, problem-solving, and digital literacy—skills that will benefit them for life.