Carmel Valley residents open new coding school for kids

Carmel Valley’s Renata Yamazaki and Marcel Brunello have opened theCoderSchool in San Diego, hoping to show the next generation how inspiring and exciting technology can be, providing coding skills for children ages 7 to 18. The couple strongly believes that the ability to understand technology will create countless opportunities for every child’s future.

“We are thrilled to introduce theCoderSchool to San Diego,” said Brunello of the new school on Carmel Mountain Road in Rancho Penasquitos.“Learning how to program computers is an incredibly valuable skill, and one that is in demand right now in any industry.”

The school was founded in Silicon Valley in 2014 by Hansel Lynn and his best friend Wayne Teng. Lynn had wanted more than a website or software to teach his child how to code—he wanted to develop a school with teachers truly helping kids learn the coding skills they needed. Franchising began in 2016 and there are now 26 schools nationwide—the Carmel Mountain location is the only one in San Diego.

“We are always looking for franchisees whose primary goal is to set kids up with a positive, life-long relationship with tech and coding. As we continue to expand our presence in California, it’s crucial to find the right franchise partners who are deeply passionate about the brand and are excited to promote our fun, interactive culture,” said Lynn. “This is why we couldn’t be more excited about this partnership. Marcel and Renata are hardworking individuals with whom we share the same values. They will play an instrumental role in further establishing our brand in the local marketplace and I am confident that their location will thrive.”

Brunello and Yamazaki, natives of Brazil, both come from backgrounds in finance. The couple moved to Carmel Valley from New York a year ago, seeking the sun.

After searching for a local coding school for their son, a then-kindergartner at Solana Highlands Elementary School, they stumbled across theCoderSchool and wanted to help other parents provide the same kind of opportunity for their children.

“Technology is so big and we believe all kids need to learn how to code regardless of what path they choose,” Yamazaki said. “If they keep learning, technology can open so many doors for them in the future.”

The cozy and brightly colored 1,000-square-foot space that fits 20 computers opened in the Plaza Rancho Penasquitos over the summer, starting with summer coding camps. The school is now open from 2:30-6:30 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

“It’s very personalized and kids can learn in their own time,” Yamazaki said. Yamazaki said that every kid learns differently and at their own speed so they use a Coder Tree to chart student’s growth. All trees follow nature’s rules: larger branches need stronger trunks and stronger trunks need deeper roots. At TheCoderSchool, the roots are foundational learning like variables, logical thinking and sequence coding; the trunk is core coding concepts such as math logic and data structures; and the branches are advanced technology like data manipulation, network coding, 3D objects and games and artificial intelligence.

“You have to think of it like learning to play an instrument,” Yamazaki said, noting that students continue to build and layer on skills that lead to mastery.

Every coaching lesson is customized with the help of coaches who use a 2 on 1 approach to teaching.

“Through our 2 on 1, project-based approach, theCoderSchool fills a long-existing void in getting kids involved in learning how to code early,” said Brunello, who also owns and operates a startup focused on financial services market intelligence. “We look forward to improving the ideation and creative thinking skills amongst children in the local community while also having lots of fun.”

For more information, visit thecoderschool.com