Code Ninjas Debuts In Smyrna To Teach Kids Coding In A Cool Way

SMYRNA, GA -- Say the words, “video game” and kids are bound to stop and listen. The local owners of a new Code Ninjas, a learning center that debuts on May 11 at 4691 S. Atlanta Road in Smyrna, know that video games aren’t only fun, but educational. Code Ninjas will serve the local area by teaching children computer coding and problem solving skills while having fun building video games.

The Smyrna/Vinings location is owned and operated by married couple and local residents, Darren and Juanita Cato. Darren immigrated to the U.S. from St. Lucia in 2000 and has lived in Smyrna/Vinings for eight years.

In college, Darren didn’t know what he wanted to study and was introduced to computer science when things just "clicked" for him and graduated with degrees in math and computer science. Now he works for Oracle, where he’s been a senior software engineering manager for the last seven years.

Juanita has spent much of her career in the education industry working in the Cobb school system before retiring in 2010. A passionate educator dedicated to teaching lifelong learning, Juanita is looking forward to helping expand children’s minds through coding.

“Our 6-year-old son taught himself to read at the age of two by searching and playing computer games and watching YouTube videos on his own. We want to foster his creativity and empower him to be a creator and not just a consumer. After discovering the Code Ninjas concept and how it can impact the lives of our children for the better, we knew this was a concept we wanted to bring to every single child in the Smyrna/Vinings community, so that they can have this experience no matter their learning ability,” said Juanita.

Everything about Code Ninjas is built around fun, which keeps kids coming back. But the center also provides the results that parents are looking for, as their children gain coding and problem-solving skills they’ll need for the jobs of the future.

Code Ninjas accomplishes this with a game-based curriculum made up of nine belts, just like martial arts. The curriculum is self-paced, but not self-taught; kids get immediate help and encouragement from staff and fellow students as they advance from white to black belt. The program keeps kids motivated with little wins along the way, and “Belt-Up” celebrations where they receive color-coded wristbands to mark their graduation to the next level. By the time a child finishes the program, they will publish an app in an app store.

Code Ninjas founder and CEO David Graham is a professional software developer who previously owned a chain of coding camps for adults. After numerous inquiries from parents, Graham realized there was an unmet demand to teach children coding skills. He launched the Code Ninjas brand in 2016.